Judicial system should keep molesters off the street

Kudos to West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

I read Jamie Larson’s letter regarding charged and alleged sex offenders being let go without monitors (if necessary, was Ann Datta’s Prosecuting Attorney in Kona’s request to the judge), and it was really appalling.

The bail is so minimal for these molesters, that they are now out, and how are we to protect our children? I read in today’s paper on Jan. 21 another molester, Ethan Ferguson, who was also charged with five counts of sexual assault for allegedly molesting a minor on Jan. 1 at Keaukaha Beach Park, was released on $13,000 bail pending a scheduled appearance of Feb. 2.

Why again would the prosecuting attorney Mitch Roth, and public defenders Ann Datta, and Dale Ross, protect these child molesters? Are they not “public defenders?” Don’t they have children of their own? Way to go West Hawaii Today and the Tribune Herald for seeking to overturn the judge’s decision, and not just printing the news, but fight for what is wrong with our system, and/or issues on the Big Island. We want to protect the identity of the victim, of course, but at the expense of getting these molesters to win their cases and walk free, or maybe a few years behind bars, only to be put on the streets to molest again?

I am sure somehow that the name of the victim can be kept private/anonymous, until the trial, and not made public knowledge. I am sure the family of this poor girl would want these molesters off the street, so they would not have to read about another family and their child being molested.

I’m sure you would agree. Offenders of lesser crimes in Hawaii have higher bail than that of a child molester like Fergusen for $13,000. It’s a shame this seems to be the norm now with our Big Island judicial system, and we need to have tougher laws period. If we can’t change the law, at the least put these molesters in a facility, and wait out their trials. If they are released, a mandatory monitor should be placed, a public website should be posted in the paper, so we know where they are for the children’s safety.

So unseal the documents, so the details can come out, and stop protecting these molesters. I am sending these articles to the Honolulu Supreme court, with all the information, so they are aware of what is happening here on our island.

Shame on the prosecutor, public defenders, and judges, that make the decisions in these cases. I wonder if this happened to their children, how they would feel, and how they sleep at night when they let them off on bail until their trials come up.

Jeannie Thomas is a resident of Kailua-Kona

My Turn opinions are those of the writer and not West Hawaii Today