Brock Turner's parents, Dan and Carryl Turner, became infamous following the conviction of their son for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at Stanford University in 2015. Their subsequent statements and actions in the aftermath of the crime shed light on the deep-rooted sense of privilege and entitlement that often accompanies wealth and social status.
In a letter to the judge pleading for leniency, Dan Turner described his son as "a great kid, a good kid" who made a "huge mistake." He went on to lament the impact the conviction would have on Brock's future, arguing that a prison sentence would be "a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life." This statement drew widespread criticism for its lack of empathy for the victim and its suggestion that Brock's actions were somehow excusable due to his age and social standing.
The Turners' sense of entitlement was further evident in their attempts to blame the victim for the assault. In a letter to the judge, Carryl Turner wrote that her son "was not a monster" and that the victim had been "partially responsible" for her own assault by "drinking excessively."