Molest a girl from ages 5-7? That's 60 days in jail.

[The Straight Story]

BANGOR, Maine — A Levant man was sentenced Wednesday at the Penobscot Judicial Center to three years in prison with all but 60 days suspended for sexually molesting a female relative between 2003 and 2005 when she was between 5 and 7 years old.

John Costain, 46, pleaded guilty in January to five counts of unlawful sexual contact with a child under the age of 12, a Class B crime. Five other counts were dismissed.

In addition to jail time, Superior Court Justice William Anderson sentenced Costain to four years of supervised release. The judge ordered that Costain begin serving his sentence immediately.

Costain will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Anderson said.

The defendant sobbed as he read a statement in court. He apologized to the victim and his family and asked for mercy.

“I want to be with my family again,” he said.

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/14/news/bangor/levant-man-to-serve-60-days-for-unlawful-sexual-contact-with-girl/

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. seems like a light sentence

[seabeyond]

2. did she sob while he molested her? after? does she get to plead for him to NOT be a part

of the family.

[Brickbat]

3. "I want to be with my family again" is kind of a gross thing to say when the person you molested is

in your family.

What made the case unusual, the judge said, was the fact that once the girl’s mother and other family members learned of the abuse, it stopped.

“It didn’t stop because either the police or [the Department of Health and Human Services] was knocking on the door,” Anderson said. “It appears that he prevented himself from doing this.”

The victim did not appear at Wednesday’s sentencing. The judge, however, referred to a letter from the victim that had been given to him.

“She does not want anything bad to happen to the defendant,” he said. “She says she’s not suffering. She says she’s recovered.”

Interesting. I don't agree with it, but interesting.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. I agree ...

my first thought was: So if I steal from my employer over a period of years; but stop, because my employer finds out, but before L/E is involved, and my employer doesn't want anything bad to happen to me, does that mean my situation is "unique" and I avoid, some measure of the punishment?

You can pretty much bet, he stopped, not because he suddenly saw the error of his way; but rather, because his family had a serious "conversation" with him. Otherwise, that girl would still be being victimized.

[Blue_Tires]

9. Believe it or not I've seen that happen once

Long story short: In the 90s, Mother and daughter both working at a Wal-Mart, taking about $50,000 of merchandise (mostly electronics) over a couple of years, arrested, get probation for returning the bulk of the goods...

[appleannie1]

5. Bet some family member threatened to neuter him if he ever touched her again. And that is the

real reason he stopped. Which also makes me wonder who his next victim is.

[Cleita]

6. That sucks.

Child molesters of pre-pubescent children should be removed from society permanently. I don't necessarily mean prison but an environment like a mental hospital that they can't leave.

[mzteris]

7. 60 days in jail?

If it were my kid, then he'd have about six months in the hospital - maybe more. And then, just when he thinks he's getting his life back together, the rest of his life spent screaming and then being buried for the rest of his life.

no, I'm not a sick person. I was a victim and no child should ever ever ever ever have to go through this. He did it once. He WILL do it again.

[Sheldon Cooper]

8. What the actual f*ck???

60 days is all this scum got? Incredible.