Judge’s decision did not match offense

I am stunned at Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman’s decision regarding Roy Hodges Haralson (“Child rapist avoids long jail term,” May 8, news story). What message is the judge giving? Is the little girl not important enough? Was Mr. Haralson’s conduct not despicable enough? This was a premeditated crime, drugging the child prior to the rape. And, it seems this was not the first time he committed this despicable act.

How can child-rape warrant out-patient treatment? Anyone committing the heinous crime of rape of a child does not deserve leniency. He needs sexual deviancy treatment, not out-patient treatment. Children must be protected from such crimes by locking up the child rapist for a very long time.

Everett