According to online records gathered through Google, the online article with Wagner released Sunday evening around 10 P.M., has received 4,903 views as of early Friday morning.
Wagner’s descriptive account of that night in June 2012 has captured the attention of area law enforcement officials, Calhoun County domestic violence and sexual assault counselors, Jacksonville State University faculty and staff, as well as those from Wagner's hometown of Decatur, Alabama, a city of about 55,000 people west of Huntsville.
"Jade Wagner is a very courageous young woman," says Julie Nix, Director of Counseling Services for Jacksonville State University. "I think that her disclosure of what happened to her on June 6, 2012 provides an opportunity for men and women on our campus to have a discussion about the reality of and devastating effects of sexual assault."
Trace Fleming-Smith, who is the Sexual Assault Program Coordinator for the 2nd Chance Domestic and Sexual Violence Safe Shelter in Anniston, says she too, was proud for Wagner coming forth with her story and hopes that in doing so, Wagner's story contributes to a community based effort in stopping rape and sexual assault all together.
"I was hugely moved by Jade’s story," said Fleming-Smith. "Her willingness to share her experience is inspiring. Breaking the silence that surrounds the crime of sexual assault helps us as a community to begin to talk about how we can work together to stop it from happening."
"Our amazing daughter is so strong and brave to have gone through this," says Wagner's mother, Rhonda Wagner. "Now, telling her story is brave as well. If this helps just one young lady, it will be worth it. We love and support you Jade Alexis Wagner."
Timothy K. Long, who was the SGA President at JSU from 2010-2011, tweeted this statement Wednesday in response to Wagner's story: "I am extremely proud of Jade Wagner! An incredible, remarkable and empowering young woman!"
Fleming-Smith says with all the support Wagner has received, it is also important that the prevention of victim blaming remains the number one priority in stories such as this.
"Stopping victim blaming is also imperative. Rape and other forms of sexual assault are not caused by what a person wears, where they are, how much they have to drink, or any other circumstance. Rapists cause rape. We all must work to change our communities at a fundamental level so that we stop victim blaming, hold rapists accountable for their actions, and help survivors get the care that they need. Rape is a repugnant crime. It's time we make it clear that it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
Nix from JSU Counseling Services agrees.
"Many victims believe that their actions contributed to the assault or that they should have been able to act in some way to prevent the assault," she says. "Dispelling such myths about rape must be part of the dialogue about sexual assault. Rape does not occur because of what a person wears, what they drink, or where they go."
Nix also goes on to say that not every victim who is being raped will react the same way. Some may react to their rapist with violence and some may not.
"There is the misconception that a victim could have fought back or somehow escaped or called for help, but the truth is every situation is unique and people respond differently when faced with the genuine fear of harm or death. Perpetrators look like everyone else. They can appear nice, polite, clean cut, and normal. A rapist can be a professional, a student, a leader, an athlete, a musician, a husband, or a boyfriend. A rapist can be anyone.
"By law, a person must give consent to have sex," says Shawn Giddy, Chief of Police for Jacksonville State University. "There are a number of people who cannot give that consent. Someone who is under 16 [cannot give consent in Alabama]. If you are two years older than [the 16-year-old], they cannot give consent. If the person is physically helpless, and that could be [for] a number of reasons, [they also cannot give consent.] If [the person] is mentally incapacitated, meaning they are too drunk, [they may not give consent.]
Like countless other rape victims throughout the country, Wagner has declined to pursue prosecution of the man who she says raped her, nor has she publicly revealed his name.
According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network or (RAINN) in Washington D.C, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, 54% of sex crimes go unreported, with only 3 out every 100 offenders ever serving an actual sentence for their crimes.
Legal analysts in Alabama say Wagner's account to Moore of what happened that night in 2012 could more than likely fit the offense of 1st degree rape, which according to the Alabama State Code, means a man who "engages in sexual intercourse with a female who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless or mentally incapacitated."
Wagner says she was intoxicated during the incident, which by law, would make her unable to give consent.
The punishment for 1st degree rape in the state of Alabama would be no less than 10 years in prison with a maximum of 99 years or life in prison. If a deadly weapon was used during the commission of a rape, an offender's sentence would be a minimum of 20 years in prison.
Anyone convicted of a sex crime in Alabama must register as a sex offender for the rest of their life.
"I always want [people to think] where [they can] take care of themselves," says Chief Giddy. "Sometimes while drinking, [males] are more aggressive and engage in things that they normally wouldn’t when they are not drinking. [However], there is no way you can justify [rape]. It’s not [a girl's] fault that it happened because they were drunk. In the end, that’s what most important. If a girl says 'I don’t want to continue to do this,' it becomes rape."
To access Wagner's exclusive interview with Moore, please click here: http://wljs919fmnewsjacksonvilleal.blogspot.com/2013/09/jacksonville-alabama-wljs-in-exclusive.html
This report was made through WLJS News in Jacksonville, Alabama on 9/20/2013 at 3:11 A.M.
