Contention in the courtroom

Before sentencing Steven Schurgard, Judge Chet Tharpe allowed him to make a statement expressing regret to the court Thursday. "The things I did even go against my own moral values," Schurgard said. Afterward, Schurgard's attorney asked the judge for a reduced sentence. But then the prosecutor showed the judge some graphic videos that Schurgard produced involving underaged children [non pornographic videos: pictures of boys combined with love songs]. During one video set to music, Schurgard sang along under his breath. The judge glared at Schurgard, cracking his knuckles with apparent rage. Afterward, the judge refused to let Schurgard speak again. Instead, he let him have it. "I've never called a defendant a liar before," a clearly angered Tharpe said. "But your words initially wanting me to think you had some remorse are shallow and without merit. You are a coward. "You are a parent's worst nightmare. You are one nightmare that I'm going to put to rest today." [...]

Tharpe made it clear he didn't want to see Schurgard ever released from prison. "The only regret I have is that I can only sentence you to 85 years," Tharpe said. [...]

Schurgard has spent the last five years in solitary confinement while prosecutors built their case against him.

source: Article 'Contention in the courtroom'; www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/4/5/236964.html; baynews9.com; 6 April 2007