Emily Simpson

Much of the time at sentencing hearings, judges give brief explanations of their decision.

Some judges give no speech at all.

Judge Jill Cummins was no such judge.

Mr. Levengood, what I will tell you is I've read every letter that everyone has submitted on your behalf, your letters from your daughters, your co-workers, your

The judge had only just seen those videos in preparation for the sentencing.

They shifted her entire understanding of the case.

Then, the judge addressed the psych evaluation.

After watching those videos, the very first question in my mind was,

That's not someone who's saying, I know what I did was wrong.

You were a predator to Ms.

Inwood.

Mr. Levengood, you have received the benefit of a plea agreement.

Your guidelines are 49 years.

She's referring to the sentencing guidelines for second-degree rape.

If the case had gone to trial, these are the instructions the judge would have used to ensure fair sentencing.

Suspend all but 18 months.

The judge believed Mike's crimes warranted a 15-year sentence, but his defense team had struck a deal with the state.

As part of the plea agreement, they decided on a maximum amount of time Mike would spend behind bars, 18 months.

18 months is a magic number in Montgomery County.

It meant that Mike would go to county jail instead of state prison.