The district attorney must be experienced enough to identify those youths who can be rehabilitated as opposed to those who must be punished. The present district attorney is under-utilizing Youth Services, which provides inexpensive and rehabilitative options and has reduced juvenile crime. Sexual assault is a personal violation and is likely the most difficult crime to take to trial. We consider the victim s concerns, strength of evidence, nature of offense, defendant s criminal history and likely sentence after trial. If he poses a significant risk to the community, up to life in prison.
Probation is inappropriate for predators who callously destroy lives.
Serial sexual molesters belong in prison, which is the reason for the sexual-predator law, which calls for severe sentences. The current district attorney s office failed to follow this law for almost two years. The decision to plea bargain is made when all the facts are known, and a victim s desire for justice must always be taken into account. Contents copyright 2000, the Durango Herald. All rights reserved.