A travesty.
Jan 9, 2008 - The District Attorney condemned the sentence given Andrew Dumont, 27, for of gross sexual assault of a 7-year-old boy. He called the sentence "light" and "disappointing." Dumont was a teacher at the time of the assault in 2005 and was visiting family over the Christmas holiday.
Dumont was found guilty in September. The prosecution called for 20 years with all but 12 years suspended. Justice Nancy Mills sentenced Dumont to 15 years with all but three years suspended.
The prosecutor said he believes Mills is a good judge, but he is concerned because the Dumont case is only the latest in which a judge has handed down what he feels is a light sentence to a sex offender.The prosecutor said he felt even that sentence was restrained given the facts of the case and the passage of a new law calling for tougher sentences for sex offenders.
"This is one of the most difficult cases after trial to reconcile the actual sentence with what actually happened to a very young child," said [District Attorney Evert N.] Fowle.
A law that went into effect about seven months after Dumont abused the boy requires judges to use a base sentence of 20 years. That base sentence can be made longer or more shorter depending on aggravating or mitigating factors.
That law was passed after the crime occurred, but Fowle said the intent of the Legislature was clearly to impose tougher sentences on sex offenders.
TT - another sentencing by Mills.
The District Attorney recommended a sentence of five years, with all but two years suspended and eight years' probation. She sentenced Ryan J. Gauthier, 28, to three years in jail, with all but one year suspended, and eight years of probation for sexually abusing a girl half his age.
(And he'll have to do 100 hours of community service.) Comment at story: "Sad. you can get more time for growing marijuana than rape. what a country."
