Albert Bath - Repeat Sex Offender - Gets a break with a 10 year sentence

Bath was convicted in 1989 for molesting two girls, ages 9 and 10, while he was baby-sitting them. He was sentenced to 30 months in jail and 15 years probation.

Bath was convicted in 1992 for having sexual contact with two 4-year-old girls. He was sentenced to 4½ years in prison.

Why was he only given 10 years?

A Grand Forks man already registered as a high-risk sex offender was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison on a charge of sexually assaulting a young girl.

Albert Bath, also known as Albert Fleur, had entered an Alford plea on the gross sexual imposition charge, a Class AA felony. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit to committing the charge but acknowledges that the prosecution could likely prove it.

Bath, 40, was accused of engaging in a sexual act with a girl who was 5 to 7 years old. The incident, reported to police in February 2008, occurred between December 2003 and March 2006 in Grand Forks, court records state.

According to North Dakota’s sex offender Web site, Bath was convicted in 1989 in Polk County (Minn.) District Court of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for molesting two girls, ages 9 and 10, while he was baby-sitting them. He was sentenced to 30 months in jail and 15 years probation.

The site also says Bath was convicted in 1992 in the same court on the same charge for having sexual contact with two 4-year-old girls. He was sentenced to 4½ years in prison.

When Bath was charged with GSI in Grand Forks County District Court last June, he was already serving a five-year term from another case.

On Wednesday, Bath was ordered to follow sex offender treatment guidelines while in prison. Upon his release, he must serve 10 years of supervised probation, register as an offender and have no contact with the victim or her family.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"

.........Sarah Tofte