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IRS agent gets 7 to 8 years for raping intern at gunpoint after handcuffing her

A Suffolk Superior Court judge yesterday sentenced James Clarke, 46, to 7 to 8 years in state prison following his conviction for two counts of aggravated rape and one count each of rape, indecent assault and battery, strangulation, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for two sexaul assaults on the same woman on July 26, 2019, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

According to the DA's office:

[O]n the evening of July 26, 2017, the defendant invited a student intern at the Boston IRS office for after-work drinks and insisted on driving her to South Station to catch a train.

Inside the defendant's IRS-issued vehicle at the Government Center parking garage, he placed the victim in handcuffs, put his IRS-issued service weapon in her mouth, and raped her. After driving her to South Station, he sexually assaulted the victim again.

After exiting the vehicle, the victim called a friend to disclose the sexual assault. She then called 911. The pursuant investigation by the Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit and Suffolk prosecutors led to the discovery of the victim's DNA on the defendant's IRS-issued firearm.

In a victim statement to the court, the woman said:

I'll never truly know whether that gun he forced into my mouth was loaded but the thought that it might have been, the thought that at any moment had he accidentally hit the trigger while it was in my mouth, reminds me each day how thankful I am to be alive and to be here. He took advantage of what he didn't know then but should see now is an incredibly strong woman.

DA Rachael Rollins said in a statement:

Sexual assault is about power and control. This defendant used every tool available to him – his position as the victim's supervisor at the IRS, his status as a member of federal law enforcement, and the government-issued vehicle, firearm, and handcuffs that he had at his disposal – to exert his power, will, and control over and rape this victim. I am in awe of the strength and courage that she has shown at every step, and I'm grateful for her bravery and willingness to come forward and to hold her attacker accountable.

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Comments

7 to 8? Why so low?

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Definitely should be.

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5 years

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Is there a reason that an IRS agent needs a gun? Was he tasked with collecting arrears from outlaws in the Wild West?

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Some IRS agents assist other agencies in investigating organized crime, money laundering, drug trafficking, etc., and may need a firearm if they're going out in the field with their fellow LEOs.

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I see, so because IRS Agents may be going out on police operations for tax evasions alongside armed LEOs, therefore the IRS also needs to carry firearms, rather than waiting for trained LEOs to clear active danger first? Are IRS Agents trained equivalent to police in armed combat? And are IRS agents expected to carry these firearms at all times, not just during said operations? If not, couldn't they sign out weapons from an armory prior to such engagements? EMTs also work frequently alongside LEOs in hostile situations, but last I checked do not frequently carry weapons.

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This guy is scum. We don't need to undermine all IRS agents because of this bastard. It is easier for government employee to get a concealed carry permit. If he wanted to carry a gun, he could have, whether or not his agency wanted him too.

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I don't want to undermine IRS agents. Gun ownership is correlated with a higher risk of gun death of the owner themself - of suicide, homicide by someone else using their weapon, and accidental discharge. It would be far safer for IRS agents therefore to not be armed.

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That isn't applicable in this discussion. And for the reason I pointed out, It would not reduce access to guns in this specific population.

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Each branch of the Federal Government has an inspection service and a criminal service. There are armed agents of every federal department- even the Department of Education- who investigate and prosecute crimes.

Remember, Al Capone was sent to prison for tax evasion, not murder, bootlegging or extortion.

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Usually it's because someone has failed to pay income taxes and owes money to the federal government but that person operates cash businesses where payroll records are tough to crack and get money from. So instead of locking them up these agents will go into the owners businesses with search warrants and other federal papers and seize cash, and other things that may be evidence of tax evasion crimes.

Most of the time they just execute search warrants for white collar stuff, but the cash seizing operations were always interesting IMO.

Hopefully this scumbag dies in prison.

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I have seen cash seizure's before and the state police did all the heavy lifting.

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And who has jurisdiction. That usually determines who does what.

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To rape interns, apparently.

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Very glad he was convicted, but that's way too low a sentence for someone convicted of "two counts of aggravated rape and one count each of rape, indecent assault and battery, strangulation, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon."

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I would hope this guy has to register as a sex offender as well.

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Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum urged Kaplan to impose a sentence of at least 14 years, arguing that Clarke “essentially blamed the victim” after raping her.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Kaplan sentenced Clarke to seven to eight years for aggravated rape and placed him on 10 years probation. Clarke must register as a sex offender and stay away from the woman after his release.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2020/01/07/irs-agent-sentenced-years-f...

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...I'm gonna guess, given the slam-dunk nature of this case, that's probably typical.

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people are pretty naive about what happens to sex offenders.

For instance, if Kavanaugh's case had been reported and prosecuted at the time he would still be on the supreme court and his victim would have been prevented from speaking about it because he was 17.

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Who the f#$# pulled strings for this scum?

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.

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Excellent question. Seems like a slap on the wrist.
Perhaps the DA should also have charged him with kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon etc.

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Hon. Mitchell Kaplan

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The Transit cop who sexually assaulted two female keolis employees at South or North station?

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