The former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on campus misled the court about his past, documents reveal.
Brock Turner wrote in a letter to the judge he was from a small town in Ohio and didn't have much experience partying. He told the judge a culture of drinking and drug use contributed his behavior the night of the assault and said he was taking cues from older members of the swim team.
"The swim team set no limits on partying or drinking, and I saw the guys take full advantage of these circumstances, while I was shown to do the same," Turner wrote in the letter. "I witnessed countless times the guys that I looked up to go to parties, meet girls and take the girl they just met back with them."
Other students were skeptical of Turner's claims.
"There are plenty of people on campus who drink who don't rape other students," said Stanford student Elisabeth Dee. "There are plenty of students on the Stanford campus who are sexually active that don't rape other students."
In court documents obtained by NBC Bay Area, investigators cite multiple text messages indicating Turner used drugs both at Stanford and in high school. The documents mention messages about taking acid, smoking weed and drinking.
"Oh dude I did acid with [redacted] last week," he texted one friend, according to the documents.
U.S. & World
"Do you think I could buy some wax so we can do some dabs?" he allegedly texted another, referencing a highly concentrated marijuana oil.
His attorneys have not commented publicly on the allegations that Turner lied.
Turner had also been arrested on campus before, the documents indicate. He was allegedly caught drinking while underage and using a fake ID, the "Today" show reports.
Turner was sentenced last week to six months in county jail and three years' probation for sexually assaulting an intoxicated, unconscious woman after a fraternity party in January 2015. He faced up to 10 years in prison.
"I had hoped for more time. We fought for more time," Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Alaleh Kianerci told the "Today" show. "The victim deserved more time."
Many have decried the sentence as too lenient, and a petition to remove Judge Aaron Persky from the bench has garnered more than 800,000 signatures. Persky has also received threats against him and his family, NBC News reported, but retains support from both prosecutors and the defense.
Brock Turner's Letter to Judge Aaron Persky.
Stanford sexual assault victim's statement which she read out in court.
Brock Turner's father's letter to Judge Aaron Persky.
Brock Turner sentencing court documents.
