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<DIV>Ellen, Saundra, et al,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am glad that the <EM>Daily News</EM> has finally decided to pay some
attention to the Sitler case other than their previously published whines
of Douglas Wilson and Roy Atwood about the harm to NSA and other facets of the
Christless Church Cult without a word of the effect on the real victims, the
children who were the psychically mutilated objects of Sitler's
debauchery.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It is too bad, however, that the <EM>Daily News</EM> did not publish
legitimate, timely, and relevant news about Sitler's case while it was
under adjudication. Public opinion may have changed the outcome and may
have made further tragedies more unlikely.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The article in last weekend's edition contained some excellent information
about the effects of lax sentencing in cases of pedophilia. I cite it
below my signature for your renewed consideration.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The was another piece of information that was disturbing and angering in
the news article:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff>'<FONT color=#000000>[Prosecutor William]</FONT>
Thompson said every sentence is unique, but "the majority (of sex offenders) go
into probation right off the bat."'</FONT>
<P>Citizens of Latah County have a legitimate expectation that the
locally elected prosecutor and other public officials be a little more concerned
about the community and its children than doing what others do. Thompson's
statement attempting to justify his role in the Sitler case is of the
"Monkey see, monkey do" mentality. Justifying just behavior because
little Johnny does it is simply not acceptable. </P>
<P>I am greatly saddened, angered, and disturbed that, <FONT
color=#0000ff><STRONG>if true</STRONG></FONT>, the majority of serial
pedophiles go into probation right off the bat. However, Latah
County citizens do not want such to happen <FONT color=#ff0000
size=4><STRONG>here</STRONG><FONT color=#000000>,</FONT></FONT> where
as taxpayers and voters we have a small voice in the conduct of the
criminal justice system, and, more importantly, have a real concern for the
children of our community.</P>
<P>In the Sitler case, we are not dealing with a one-time offender or even one
of lesser impact:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">From:<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Case No. Cr-2005-02027, RULE 11 PLEA AGREEMENT</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">2.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The State agrees that it will not recommend a sentence greater than a
judgment of conviction with the court retaining jurisdiction. The prosecuting
attorney has been made aware by counsel for the defendant that <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: red">the volume and
extent of acts by the defendant are greater than the investigator's
documentation.</SPAN></B> The prosecuting attorney has also been made aware by
counsel for the defendant that <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: red">similar acts occurred in connection with minor</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">s</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red"> now residing in other
state</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">s</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: red">.</SPAN></B> The State agrees that it will not charge Steven
James Sitler with <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">any </SPAN>other
crimes of a similar nature to Lewd Conduct with a Minor Under Sixteen Years of
Age based on facts he discloses in connection with this
case.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Dear Mr.
Thompson:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">I have reviewed the Rule II
Plea Agreement in State v. Steven Sitler, Cause [sic] No. CR-2005-02027,
specifically paragraphs <st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">2 and
3</st2:bcv_smarttag>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I find
that both paragraphs accurately stale my position in this matter, wherein no
charges will be pursued concerning disclosed <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Stevens</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: red">victim</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">s</SPAN></B> for <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: red">crime</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">s</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red"> </SPAN></B>similar to Lewd
Conduct with a Minor Under Sixteen Years of Age.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">/s/<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">John G.
Wetle<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Prosecuting Attorney for
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Stevens</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">From:<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Letter to Judge Stegner from a victim's parents</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Steven has admitted to <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: red">several
incidents</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: red"> </SPAN>of sexual perversion. We
personally only know of the full details of his molestation of our daughter,
Elizabeth. <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: red">When
she was only two years old, Steven offered to take her downstairs and watch her
while the adults were talking upstairs. At that time he forced her to kiss his
erect penis.</SPAN></B> It was painful enough to be told of the perversion that
Steven committed against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:City></st1:place> yet now we have watched for the last
six months as an admitted child molester has been living in the comforts of his
parent's home, whiling away the days that should be spent in jail.</FONT></P>
<P>In addition to repeated defiling of very young children in their formative
years and most likely damaging them for life, Sitler kept a trophy photographic
website which included some of his victims. Pathological.</P>
<P>Repeat: With Sitler we are not dealing with a one-time offender or even
one of lesser impact!</P>
<P>Being repetitive even more:</P>
<P><FONT color=#0000ff>"<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>However, the
reality is that predicting whether a particular offender will re-offend or not
re-offend is very risky business. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It seems to me to be very, very risky
business when the offenses are numerous, over a long period of time, over wide
areas, and where the offender kept a photographic trophy website including some
of his victims."<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P>Hence, although the <EM>Daily News</EM> editorial was welcome, it was quite
milquetoast. The depravity and number of the offenses were not made
plain as neither were the names of local officials who produced the
sentencing decision nor the role that the extremely unqualified, hypocritical,
but persuasive Douglas Wilson played.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Here is another problem not yet discussed on V 2020 as far as I remember:</P>
<P>By giving Sitler an early release and by allowing Sitler to avoid doing any
hard time, the court may have done Sitler himself a great disservice. </P>
<P>It is certainly not clear that his brief period of treatment has been
effective, and it is far from clear that the short, soft incarceration
has had a sufficient amount of deterrence value to prevent Sitler's
pedophilic urges from escaping control. In other words, it is very likely
that Sitler could have benefited from a longer and harder incarceration and
continued treatment while incarcerated.</P>
<P>At any rate, the community and its children would be at lesser risk.</P>
<P><BR>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow, ID
83843</P>
<P>(208) 882-7975<BR><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR></P>
<P> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Sue Fellon, executive director
of the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, said the time sex
offenders serve ultimately depends on the severity of the case and the sentence
that was handed down.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG>"When someone gets a
life sentence and only does a little over a year, treatment certainly cannot be
monitored during that short of time," she said. "I think the jury's still out on
(whether) treatment helps everybody."<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG>She said there is no
guarantee treatment will keep those convicted of sex offenses from
re-offending.<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman">"Pedophiles choose a child and
are seeking power and control," Fellon said. "(They) made a choice, nobody makes
them do it."<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman">She said pedophiles usually
aren't the type to cause problems in prison and generally are well-behaved,
which may help some get out early for good
behavior.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Fellon said there's a message
sent to victims when offenders are released early.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><FONT
color=#ff0000>"Victims of sex abuse and assault often choose not to report and
go through all this," she said. "This is another threat on the pile. (Sitler)
gets a slap on the hand; you'd get more prison time if you got a couple of
DUIs."<o:p></o:p></FONT></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#ff0000><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>She
said the system is there to help the victim, but offenders often are treated
with more compassion.<o:p></o:p></FONT></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#ff0000><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ff0000><STRONG>Fellon
said it's the victims who end up serving the life sentence because they must
live with the crime for the rest of their lives.</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN> </P></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=gussie443@hotmail.com href="mailto:gussie443@hotmail.com">Ellen
Roskovich</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=sslund@roadrunner.com
href="mailto:sslund@roadrunner.com">sslund@roadrunner.com</A> ; <A
title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 17, 2007 9:28 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] OUR VIEW: Time to revisit sex offender
sentencing</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=RTE>
<P><STRONG>Saundra, I read that yesterday evening and thought it wasn't enough
information, because nowhere does it mention exactly what you brought up. . .
that the convicted molester was allowed out of jail unsupervised for
therapy for a year. The newspaper needs to make that point really clear to
the public because I'd be willing to bet most of Latah County doesn't have a
clue.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>Yesterday, on CNN, they were reporting about a little girl back
east who fought off an attacker after school. Family members held him down
until the authorities picked him up. It was reported as an attempted
kidnapping. He was out on the streets the next day.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>So, it looks like the way authorities/courts handle child
preditors is a problem in many communities across
America.</STRONG></P><STRONG></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Ellen Roskovich</STRONG>
<P><BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #a0c6e5 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-FAMILY: tahoma,sans-serif">
<HR color=#a0c6e5 SIZE=1>
<DIV></DIV>From: <I>"Saundra Lund"
<sslund@roadrunner.com></I><BR>To: <I><vision2020@moscow.com></I><BR>Subject: <I>[Vision2020]
OUR VIEW: Time to revisit sex offender
sentencing</I><BR>Date: <I>Thu, 17 May 2007 16:43:11
-0700</I><BR>>This is from yesterday's paper, and I thought it pretty
good. Personally, I<BR>>think it's revolution time in Idaho --
it is sheer insanity, IMHO, that we<BR>>allow convicted predators out of
jail UNSUPERVISED to get themselves to and<BR>>from
therapy.<BR>><BR>>SL<BR>><BR>>"OUR VIEW: Time to revisit sex
offender sentencing<BR>>By Murf Raquet, for the editorial
board<BR>><BR>>Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:00:00
AM<BR>><BR>>Victims of crime expect and deserve
justice.<BR>><BR>>Victims often suffer the tragic consequences of a
crime long after the trial<BR>>and incarceration of the
guilty.<BR>><BR>>Sentencing is predicated on many factors, including the
type of crime and an<BR>>offender's record. The worse the crime, the longer
the time.<BR>><BR>>That's not quite how it works in Idaho, and that must
change.<BR>><BR>>It is expected that murderers will spend longer in jail
than someone who<BR>>steals a loaf of bread.<BR>><BR>>Likewise, you
would expect a sex offender to spend more time locked up than<BR>>a person
convicted of a drunken brawl. In Idaho, though, that sex offender<BR>>could
be back on the street in less than two years.<BR>><BR>>Recently, a man
convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor child<BR>>under the
age of 16 was released on parole after serving 20 months of a
life<BR>>sentence. He is a first-time offender.<BR>><BR>>The average
time in an Idaho prison for any sex offender is about 42
months.<BR>><BR>>We believe the system is broken if it allows such short
sentences.<BR>><BR>>Child molestation is a heinous crime. The victim
usually knows the<BR>>perpetrator and is trusting of that
person.<BR>><BR>>The molester violates that trust and robs the child of
so much more we hold<BR>>important.<BR>><BR>>Prison is the preferred
form of vengeance in our society. Prison also is<BR>>supposed to
"rehabilitate" the offender.<BR>><BR>>Serving 20 months hardly will
achieve either result.<BR>><BR>>The victim and victim's family must be
able to feel secure in their lives as<BR>>they adjust to post-crime life.
Often it takes years of therapy. Knowing the<BR>>person who assaulted you
is back on the streets is of little comfort.<BR>><BR>>We don't advocate
locking every sex offender away for life without parole.<BR>><BR>>If,
however, the legal system continues to utilize prison as its main
source<BR>>of deterrent and retribution then use it like you mean
it.<BR>><BR>>The number of sex-abuse cases involving children are
increasing. Something<BR>>must be done to bring down that number. The
problem will not go away if the<BR>>offenders are walking the streets with
monitors on their
ankles."<BR>><BR>><BR>>=======================================================<BR>> List
services made available by First Step Internet,<BR>> serving the
communities of the Palouse since
1994.<BR>> http://www.fsr.net<BR>>
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>>=======================================================<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR
clear=all>
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<P>
<HR>
<P></P>=======================================================<BR> List
services made available by First Step Internet, <BR> serving the
communities of the Palouse since 1994.
<BR>
http://www.fsr.net
<BR>
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>=======================================================
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>
<DIV>
<DIV class=RTE>
<P><STRONG>Saundra, I read that yesterday evening and thought it wasn't enough
information, because nowhere does it mention exactly what you brought up. . .
that the convicted molester was allowed out of jail unsupervised for
therapy for a year. The newspaper needs to make that point really clear to
the public because I'd be willing to bet most of Latah County doesn't have a
clue.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>Yesterday, on CNN, they were reporting about a little girl back
east who fought off an attacker after school. Family members held him down
until the authorities picked him up. It was reported as an attempted
kidnapping. He was out on the streets the next day.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>So, it looks like the way authorities/courts handle child
preditors is a problem in many communities across
America.</STRONG></P><STRONG></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Ellen Roskovich</STRONG>
<P><BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #a0c6e5 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-FAMILY: tahoma,sans-serif">
<HR color=#a0c6e5 SIZE=1>
<DIV></DIV>From: <I>"Saundra Lund"
<sslund@roadrunner.com></I><BR>To: <I><vision2020@moscow.com></I><BR>Subject: <I>[Vision2020]
OUR VIEW: Time to revisit sex offender
sentencing</I><BR>Date: <I>Thu, 17 May 2007 16:43:11
-0700</I><BR>>This is from yesterday's paper, and I thought it pretty
good. Personally, I<BR>>think it's revolution time in Idaho --
it is sheer insanity, IMHO, that we<BR>>allow convicted predators out of
jail UNSUPERVISED to get themselves to and<BR>>from
therapy.<BR>><BR>>SL<BR>><BR>>"OUR VIEW: Time to revisit sex
offender sentencing<BR>>By Murf Raquet, for the editorial
board<BR>><BR>>Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:00:00
AM<BR>><BR>>Victims of crime expect and deserve
justice.<BR>><BR>>Victims often suffer the tragic consequences of a
crime long after the trial<BR>>and incarceration of the
guilty.<BR>><BR>>Sentencing is predicated on many factors, including the
type of crime and an<BR>>offender's record. The worse the crime, the longer
the time.<BR>><BR>>That's not quite how it works in Idaho, and that must
change.<BR>><BR>>It is expected that murderers will spend longer in jail
than someone who<BR>>steals a loaf of bread.<BR>><BR>>Likewise, you
would expect a sex offender to spend more time locked up than<BR>>a person
convicted of a drunken brawl. In Idaho, though, that sex offender<BR>>could
be back on the street in less than two years.<BR>><BR>>Recently, a man
convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor child<BR>>under the
age of 16 was released on parole after serving 20 months of a
life<BR>>sentence. He is a first-time offender.<BR>><BR>>The average
time in an Idaho prison for any sex offender is about 42
months.<BR>><BR>>We believe the system is broken if it allows such short
sentences.<BR>><BR>>Child molestation is a heinous crime. The victim
usually knows the<BR>>perpetrator and is trusting of that
person.<BR>><BR>>The molester violates that trust and robs the child of
so much more we hold<BR>>important.<BR>><BR>>Prison is the preferred
form of vengeance in our society. Prison also is<BR>>supposed to
"rehabilitate" the offender.<BR>><BR>>Serving 20 months hardly will
achieve either result.<BR>><BR>>The victim and victim's family must be
able to feel secure in their lives as<BR>>they adjust to post-crime life.
Often it takes years of therapy. Knowing the<BR>>person who assaulted you
is back on the streets is of little comfort.<BR>><BR>>We don't advocate
locking every sex offender away for life without parole.<BR>><BR>>If,
however, the legal system continues to utilize prison as its main
source<BR>>of deterrent and retribution then use it like you mean
it.<BR>><BR>>The number of sex-abuse cases involving children are
increasing. Something<BR>>must be done to bring down that number. The
problem will not go away if the<BR>>offenders are walking the streets with
monitors on their
ankles."<BR>><BR>><BR>>=======================================================<BR>> List
services made available by First Step Internet,<BR>> serving the
communities of the Palouse since
1994.<BR>> http://www.fsr.net<BR>>
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>>=======================================================<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR
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