I fixed the letter Brock Turner’s father wrote to the judge.

As someone who has gone on record with my own incident of rape in college, I was disgusted by both the ridiculously lenient sentence handed down to Brock Turner and the letter his father wrote trying to defend him. In order to get through the letter, I made some changes that I think are appropriate and explain the real story much better.

Honorable Judge Aaron Persky,
I am writing this letter to tell you about my son Brock and the person that I know he is (a rapist). First of all, let me say that Brock is absolutely devastated by the events of January 17th and 18th 2015 (when he raped an innocent woman). He would do anything to turn back the hands of time and have that night to do over again (the night he raped a woman behind a dumpster). In many one-on-one conversations with Brock since that day, I can tell you that he is truly sorry for what occurred that night and for all the pain and suffering that it has caused for all of those involved and impacted by that night (except the woman he raped). He has expressed true remorse for his actions on that night (but has not apologized to the woman he raped). Living under the same roof with Brock since this incident, I can tell you firsthand the devastating impact that it has had on my son (the world knows he's a rapist now). Before I elaborate more, I would like to share some memories of my son that demonstrate the quality of his character (besides being a rapist).
Brock has an easygoing personality that endears him to almost everyone he meets (except the woman he raped). He has always been a person that people like to be around whether they are male or female (unless he is raping them). This has been true from the time Brock was in pre-school to today (minus that raping incident). I have never seen Brock raise his voice to anyone and he doesn't pre-judge anyone (he did, however, rape someone). He accepts them for who they are no more, no less (even if he is raping them). He has a very gentle and quiet nature and a smile that is truly welcoming to those around him (unless he is raping them). I have never once heard him brag or boast about any  accomplishment that he has ever achieved (even getting a slap on the wrist for rape). He is simply a very humble person who would rather hear about someone else's accomplishments rather than talk about his own (ability to rape). Brock has an inner strength and fortitude that is beyond anything I have ever seen (from a rapist). This was no doubt honed over many years of competitive swimming and has been a major reason for his ability to cope over the last 15 months (after he raped an innocent woman).
Brock has always been an extremely dedicated person whether it was academics, sports, or developing and maintaining friendships and relationships (or raping someone). Brock's dedication to academics started early in grade school (before he was a rapist). My fondest memory is of helping Brock prepare for his weekly spelling test (which never included the word rape). Doing well on these tests was very important to Brock and he would start preparing the day before by memorizing the words and making sure he had everything together in his mind (just like he memorized his made-up version of events for the night he raped a woman). I would have to quiz him over and over just so he was sure he would do well on the test (like his lawyer quizzed him when he was on trial for rape). He would make me give him a final preparation quiz as we drove to school on Friday mornings (unlike the rape, which took place on a Saturday night/Sunday morning). I can assure you that Brock always did well on these exams (just like he did well wriggling out of serious punishment for the rape he committed). While this example may seem trivial, it was an early indicator of the importance he placed on academic achievement that never left him (and also he's a rapist). As he got older and progressed in school, he needed my intervention less and less as he is gifted in his ability to understand very complicated subject matter (but not the basics of how not to rape a woman). This natural ability along with an extremely strong work ethic lead to academic success at all levels (except being a non-rapist).
Brock was equally talented in athletics participating in baseball, basketball, and swimming (and, eventually, rape). I was his baseball and basketball coach and his Cub Scout den leader for many years during his grade school years (before he was a rapist). I was so proud to participate and serve as his coach and leader as it meant that I got to spend more time with him (before he ruined broke my heart by raping someone). I was also a parent chaperon for many school outings and often times was the only dad along on these field trips (with my son, the eventual rapist). For me, I loved every minute of it because Brock was a pleasure to be around and he always treated the other kids, parents, and teachers with-respect (unlike the woman he raped). I will cherish the memories of those years forever (since now he's a rapist).

In the late summer before Brock's senior year in high school, he applied to Stanford with the dream of taking both his academic and athletic talents to the next level (but he'd end up raping someone instead). Brock had a large amount of interest from many Division-1 coaches due to his swimming success and outstanding grades in school (since they didn't know he would rape someone). Many college coaches pursued Brock based on the entire body of work that he represented (but are probably happy now they didn't recruit a rapist). However, Stanford was always the apple of his and the ultimate prize for someone who had worked so hard for so long (to eventually become a rapist). Brock and I first visited Stanford in the summer of 2011 between his freshman and sophomore years in high school (before he was a rapist). Brock was there to compete in his first national level swim meet called the USA Junior Nationals (with people who would not go on to be rapists). We were both totally in awe of the campus, the swimming facilities, and the rich history that the university represented (which is now scarred by his raping someone there). I remember commenting to Brock at the time that wouldn't this be a great place to go to school (and not rape someone)? It was incredible to think of the number of Olympic swimmers that had attended Stanford (and not become rapists). This first exposure to Stanford made a lasting impression on Brock (now a convicted rapist). Our family was full of pride and joy when we found out in the fall of 2013 that Brock had been accepted to Stanford (where he would rape someone). This was a culminating event for Brock as we knew how much work he had put in to get to that point (before he became a rapist). The thing that made us most proud was the fact that Brock had to be accepted academically before he could be considered for an athletic scholarship (they didn't ask if he planned on raping anyone). This was especially significant given Stanford's 4% acceptance'rate for that particular year (most of whom probably aren't rapists). Brock was awarded a 60% swimming scholarship by the university (where he would eventually rape a woman). Even with such a generous offer, my wife and I both knew it would be a financial struggle for our family for Brock to attend Stanford, but we were determined to make it work because we knew the
value of a Stanford education (and didn't know he would rape someone). As Brock's senior year passed, he was characteristically humble about being admitted to Stanford and continued to work hard until the very last minute of high school on academics and swimming (and managed not to rape anyone yet).

When Carleen and I took Brock to Stanford in September 2014 to begin his freshman year, we both felt he was totally prepared for the experience (of raping someone). He had been to many national level swim camps and meets and was comfortable being away from home (unlike the women who have to be scared of rapists like him). We were very excited for Brock as he settled into Stanford during that first quarter as a brand new student athlete (and eventual rapist). He excelled in school that quarter earning the top GPA for all freshmen on the swim team (and probably all rapists). What we didn't realize was the extent to which Brock was struggling being so far from home (where he would eventually rape someone). Brock was working hard to adapt to the rigors of both school and swimming (and din't have time for rape yet). When Brock was home during Christmas break, he broke down and told us how much he was struggling to fit in socially and the fact that he did not like being so far from home (where he would rape someone). Brock was nearly distraught knowing that he had to return early from Christmas break for swimming training camp (and other non-raping activities). We even questioned whether it was the right move to send him back to Stanford for the winter quarter (when he would rape someone). In hindsight, it's clear that Brock was desperately trying to fit in at Stanford and fell into the culture of alcohol consumption and partying (and the non-culture of raping). This culture was modeled by many of the upperclassmen on the swim team and played a role in the events of Jan. 17th and 18th 2015 (if you want to be a dick about it and find any scapegoat for his being a rapist). Looking back at Brock's brief experience at Stanford, I honestly don't believe it was the best fit for him (unlike jail, which is where he should be, since he is a rapist). He was ready academically and athletically, but it was simply too far from home for someone who was born and raised in the Midwest (and a rapist). He needed the support structure of being closer to family and friends (to stop him from dragging an unconscious woman behind a dumpster and raping her).

As it stands now, Brock's life has been deeply altered forever by the events of Jan. 17th and 18th (when he raped a woman). He will never be his happy-go-lucky self with that easy going personality and welcoming smile (hiding a rapist). His every waking minute is consumed with worry, anxiety, fear, and depression (because he raped someone). You can see this in his face, the way he walks, his weakened voice, his lack of appetite (and the fact that he was convicted of rape). Brock always enjoyed certain types of food and is a very good cook himself (when he isn't raping someone). I was always excited to buy him a big rib-eye steak to grill or to get his favorite snack for him (before he became a rapist). I had to make sure to hide some of my favorite pretzels or chips because I knew they wouldn't be around long after Brock walked in from a long swim practice (before he became a rapist). Now he barely consumes any food and eats only to exist (as a rapist). These verdicts have broken and shattered him and our family in so many ways (since we know our son is a rapist). His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve (because he chose to drag an innocent, passed-out woman behind a dumpster and digitally rape her, only stopping because he was caught). That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20-plus years of life (GO FUCK YOURSELF. GO. FUCK. YOUR. SELF.)The fact that he now has to register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life forever alters where he can live, visit, work, and how he will be able to interact with people and organizations (who will be happy to have warning he is a rapist). What I know as his father is that incarceration is not the appropriate punishment for Brock (because he is white and middle class and society doesn't take rape seriously enough). He has no prior criminal history and has never been violent to anyone including his actions on the night of Jan.  17th 2015 (when he RAPED SOMEONE). Brock can do so many positive things as a contributor to society and is totally committed to educating other college age students about the dangers of alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity (which have nothing to do with the fact he raped someone). By having people like Brock educate others on college campuses is how society can begin to break the cycle of binge drinking and its unfortunate results (like hangovers, since binge drinking does not make someone a rapist like Brock is). Probation is the best answer for Brock in this situation and allows him to give back to society in a net positive way (like getting the world mad enough that attention is drawn to rape, and no one will forget his name: BROCK TURNER).

Very Respectfully,
Dan A. Turner (the father of a rapist)