Letter: Light sentence in child molestation case wrong

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

Click here to read more Letters to the Editor.