Today the Moscow-Pullman Daily News republished a 10-year-old editorial, which they wrote when serial pedophile Steven Sitler walked after serving only 20 months of a life term. Thus the line:

“Recently, a man convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor child under the age of 16 was released on parole after serving 20 months of a life sentence. He is a first-time offender.”

Steven Sitler raped countless children — from newborns to eleven-year olds — over his six-to-eight-year spree. Now he has a son whom he seeks 24-hour access to, with his pastor’s blessing. His pastor’s name is Douglas Wilson of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho.

This editorial and its republication document in real time Douglas Wilson’s influence on culture in his community. He wants people to believe he has a positive impact, as he writes such nonsense as this:

“And what you are most likely to hear coming out of the old C.J.’s is hundreds of young people learning to sing Bach cantatas.”

But this sugarcoat covers the babies who cry each night as no one protects them from their pastor or his followers. In the last decade, Mr. Wilson has unleashed two violent sexual predators against the Palouse, a fact he failed to note in his recent op-ed. Neither man conducted himself according to their pastor’s written standard for criminals. Yet Douglas Wilson eats, wipes his mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong” (Prov. 30:20). All the cantatas in the world will not undo what Doug Wilson wrought.

Here’s the original editorial from a decade ago; and here’s today’s reprint:

*   *   *

OUR VIEW — REDO

Time to revisit sex offender sentencing

Editor’s note: In this May 16, 2007, editorial, we opined that Idaho was too easy on those who sexually abuse children. Ten years later we still see too many cases involving either child molestation or rape, or perverts viewing and sharing child pornography end with the perpetrators getting off with a light sentence or no punishment at all. Unfortunately, the victims don’t get off so light, and it is a safe bet their attackers will eventually target another helpless victim.

Victims of crime expect and deserve justice.

Victims often suffer the tragic consequences of a crime long after the trial and incarceration of the guilty.

Sentencing is predicated on many factors, including the type of crime and an offender’s record. The worse the crime, the longer the time.

That’s not quite how it works in Idaho, and that must change.

It is expected that murderers will spend longer in jail than someone who steals a loaf of bread.

Likewise, you would expect a sex offender to spend more time locked up than a person convicted of a drunken brawl. In Idaho, though, that sex offender could be back on the street in fewer than two years.

Recently, a man convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor child under the age of 16 was released on parole after serving 20 months of a life sentence. He is a first-time offender.

The average time in an Idaho prison for any sex offender is about 42 months.

We believe the system is broken if it allows such short sentences.

Child molestation is a heinous crime. The victim usually knows the perpetrator and is trusting of that person.

The molester violates that trust and robs the child of so much more that we hold important.

Prison is the preferred form of vengeance in our society. Prison also is supposed to “rehabilitate” the offender.

Serving 20 months hardly will achieve either result.

The victim and victim’s family must be able to feel secure in their lives as they adjust to post-crime life. Often it takes years of therapy. Knowing the person who assaulted you is back on the streets is of little comfort.

We don’t advocate locking every sex offender away for life without parole.

If, however, the legal system continues to utilize prison as its main source of deterrent and retribution then use it like you mean it.

The number of sex-abuse cases involving children are increasing. Something must be done to bring down that number. The problem will not go away if the offenders are walking the streets with monitors on their ankles.

—Murf Raquet, for the editorial board

*   *   *