The sentencing of ex-police officer Teddy Van Lerberghe to probation is an abomination to our system of justice (“Former Honolulu police officer gets probation in sex assault of 5-year-old girl,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 27).

A man who repeatedly sexually assaults a 5-year-old is not someone who should be in our community. His punishment is that he can never be a police officer again? That’s laughable.

Our system is based on the punishment fitting the crime. That child will never be the same; the damage is long-lasting. Were they afraid of his treatment in prison by other prisoners? Maybe then he’d experience what his victim experienced: helplessness, assault and humiliation by people more powerful than him.

Our court system let that child down as well as our entire community.

Tina Shaffer

Kailua

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