'If you hadn't been there none of this would have happened': Female judge tells groping victim she brought attack on herself because she was at a BAR

PUBLISHED: 18:53 EST, 7 September 2012 | UPDATED: 09:52 EST, 8 September 2012

A female judge is being urged to resign after telling a woman who was groped by an off-duty police officer that she brought the attack on herself because she was at a bar.

Judge Jacqueline Hatch, of Arizona's Coconino County Superior Court, told the unnamed woman 'if you wouldn't have been there that night, none of this would have happened to you,' at a sentencing hearing on Wednesday.

Hatch then went on to tell the courtroom that even going to the grocery store after 10pm was dangerous for women, according to the Arizona Daily Sun.

Controversial comments: Coconino County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Hatch, pictured, is being urged to resign

Groper: The comments came as Robb Gary Evans, pictured, was sentenced for putting his hand up the woman's skirt in a bar

Groper: Judge Jacqueline Hatch's comments came as Robb Gary Evans, pictured, was sentenced for putting his hand up the woman's skirt in a bar

The victim is demanding the judge apologise for her controversial remarks.

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More than 6,969 people have signed a petition on social activism website Change.org calling for the judge to resign.

The comments came as former Department of Public Safety officer, Robb Gary Evans, 43, was sentenced to two years' probation for the incident, which took place last summer.

Echoes of 'The Accused'

Jodie Foster plays a provocatively dressed rape victim in 'The Accused'

The case has echoes of the renowned 1988 film 'The Accused' starring Jody Foster in which a woman named Sarah Tobias is gang-raped in a bar.

She has spent the night taking drugs that night and is acting provocatively toward men in the bar in the hours leading up to the rape.

In the aftermath the district attorney battles to prove that Sarah's behaviour was no reason for the brutal attack and that the rapists should be brought to justice.

The story was based on the real-life gang-rape of Cheryl Araujo in Massachusetts.

It was one of the first Hollywood films to directly deal with rape.

The jury found Evans guilty of felony sexual abuse after walking up behind the woman in the bar, in Flagstaff, Arizona, putting his hands up her skirt and touching her inappropriately.

He was fired by DPS after his conviction.

Hatch said she wasn't blaming the victim in the case but insisted that all women must be vigilant against becoming victims.

But the woman who was groped told the Arizona Daily Sun that despite her explanation, she was 'shocked' by the judge's comments, particularly because she was female.

'It felt like she was saying to me, "If you wouldn't have been there that night, it wouldn't have happened to you."

'Yeah, well, it probably would have happened to someone else,' she told the newspaper.

'I'm still kind of in shock that she said that to me.

'Coming from a woman, I would expect her to be a little bit more realistic about women being strong and independent and the fact that there's nothing wrong with that.'

Hatch, a Republican, was appointed to the bench by Governor Jan Brewer in June 2010 and elected to a full term that November.

Her seat will be up for election in 2014.

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She sounds almost as bad as Los Angeles judge Carol Boas Goodson who said similar remarks at my trial against assaulter actor Andres Salazar!

- Lagirl1 , Los angeles, United States, 09/9/2012 04:45

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I find it very sad that people like this Judge ? are amongst us and spread about the planet even in a minority they push us normal people to distraction and should be showed the door as soon as possible> I am not sexist in any stretch of the imagination but this woman should be sacked asap and let someone with the correct sence of justice take her place. She should be there to judge the crime not distroy the victem. She is not a worthy person at all.

- rh585 , Dawesville, 09/9/2012 03:28

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If HE hadn't of been there none of this would have happened. HE is the one who made life hell.

- Stateofmind , Being, 09/9/2012 03:04

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She is not fit for purpose !! Where do I sign? - Jane , Staffordshire, 09/9/2012 02:28****************SEE the article above and the word 'petition' in a different color. Click on the word 'petition' in the different color and that links you to the petition.

- Stateofmind , Being, 09/9/2012 02:43

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She is not fit for purpose !! Where do I sign?

- Jane , Staffordshire, 09/9/2012 02:28

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The trouble with society....Men have to have sex in order to feel fullfilled... It is so important for mothers to shower their little boys iwth love otherwise quite afew may end up serial killers or sexual abusers...

- Adored , Sydney Australia, 09/9/2012 02:23

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Ask any cop if women should go into dangerous places populated by dangerous people in dangerous areas of town. Even college campuses tell all new women students how to keep themselves safe. Certain areas, bars, even the sidewalks at the college are not safe at night. Women should use common sense and live defensively. Watch your back at all times. The world has changed in the past 50 years. Just because women have rights doesn't mean they should be stupid and believe men will respect them. Plenty won't.

- lindyevans , springfield-il, 09/9/2012 02:16

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Someone like this shouldn't be in a position of power.

- commandrea , houston, 09/9/2012 02:02

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What a sexist idiot

- chris , Bahamas, 09/9/2012 01:46

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Men should be able to control themselves no matter where a woman is. End of story. - Anne, Green Gables, 8/9/2012 10:15 ----Those type of men do not understand what "should be" means. I can't guarantee a stranger man will not assault me. I have to take care of myself because no one can be trusted in this society. Unfortunately, they prey on women anywhere, anytime, but ESPECIALLY where women are most vulnerable. Women need to be more cautious, like go out with friends, instead of alone, and if going alone to make sure it's a public place with people constantly around. Does a woman deserve to be assaulted? ABSOLUTELY NO! But, is a man able to assault a woman? ABSOLUTELY YES. Justice should have been served for the woman, and the judge should have handled it differently.

- Valbonaa , USA, United States, 09/9/2012 01:46

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