Potential Sentence for Judge Is Perplexing

Re “O.C Judge Faces Additional Molestation Charge,” Jan. 1: What is perplexing is that if convicted of the additional child molestation charge, this trusted public servant would be subject to a maximum state prison term of only 14 years? How is it that a nonviolent, albeit recidivist offender, who pilfers vitamins and videotapes to support a drug habit, can receive life in prison while a sexual predator who would use a position of trust to prey upon our youth receives any kind of release date at all?

Consider that this elected jurist has been dealing out hard time to criminal defendants for more than 25 years. Perhaps the time has finally come to take a thorough look at our states’ sentencing guidelines and implement a change that would both repair the disproportionate sentences that are handed out, and simultaneously get our judicial priorities in order. If convicted, we should start with Judge Ronald C. Kline.

Timothy P. Ralbovsky

Orange