Joseph Presley admitted to molesting an eight-year-old boy twice. He was given a 30-day ‘shock’ sentence, and then he’ll be on probation for five years.
Greene County Judge Calvin Holden sentenced Presley last week, and now Presley is in the Greene County Jail. But he won't be there for long. He was given a 30-day 'shock' sentence, and then he'll be on probation for five years.
"That's is simply not enough, that doesn't deter people from doing this sort of crime against children," said Child Advocacy Center Executive Director Barbara Brown-Johnson.
She says the sentencing took her by surprise.
Children are taken to the Child Advocacy Center after they become victims of a sex crime, and they speak with investigators about what happened.
"I just can't help but think that the victim's needs were not met with this outcome," she said.
According to court documents, Presley molested the boy on two occasions while he was babysitting the child at his own house, once when the boy was 8 and again when he was 9. The boy told investigators that when he tried to call his mother on the home phone, Presley took the phone away and sent the child to bed.
Dee Wampler is Presley's defense attorney. He says the 23-year-old is a first-time offender who is active in his church. Wampler says in this case, prison was not the answer.
"I'm sure a lot of the public is going to say, 'Lock him up and throw away the key. And they're in favor of strong law enforcement, as long as the law applies to the other fella. And not to their child," said Wampler.
He says Presley will likely have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, which is a punishment in itself.
"Do we really want to take a boy that's not institutionalized, that has not been in prison before, and put him in prison with some real sex molesters, and some real rapists? So that he can really learn the trade? Is that what we want?" asks Wampler.
He says Presley is remorseful and is in need of counselling, especially because Presley was molested when he was a child.
"It's not to say it justifies it, but it's an explanation probably as to why it happened," Wampler said.
But Brown-Johnson says that's no reason to go easy on a sex offender.
"You have to deal with the child victim in from of you, and saying that a perpetrator should get a lesser sentence because of their perpetration, when they're an adult, that makes no sense whatsoever," she said.
Presley pleaded guilty to a class B felony, that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Judge Holden originally sentenced Presley to ten years in prison, but now he will not go to prison at all, unless he violates his probation.
Reader Comments
So called marijuana offenders have much severe sentences passed on them.
Now this predator is allowed to walk free to commit his crimes again, only this time he will be more cautious in the way he chooses his victim to ensure he stays free.
With the evidence coming to light these days, in particular the "Pizza gate affair" the judge's personal life must be put under the microscope. It would seem he has some personal feelings on this case and allowed them to override the just Law.
If it were me, I'd be seriously appealing against this sentence.
The idea that locking him up short term to allow him to be rehabilitated is a load of crock.
No way is this creep ever going to be rehabilitated, he's a pedophile for life, and should be treated accordingly.
Note the connection mentioned with his church, LOL, as if such a connection is supposed to excuse his behavior, when we all KNOW, many churches are the epic center of Child abuse in particular sexual abuse. There should be RED FLAGS waving in the air for everyone to see with this case. Yet, somehow it's been minimized. W.T.F. is going on here ? Is this another Pizza Gate scandal, where the whole community is involved ?