Scumbag Judge John Torrence denies victim justice

This is one of the reasons mandatory sentencing is necessary

An Independence man who admitted molesting a young girl for eight years was given five years by a judge--not five years in prison, but five years of probation.

And the shockingly light sentence has victim's advocates groups outraged.

Jarred Elwood, 39, plead guilty to sexually abusing a young girl from the time she was six until she was 14.

According to the probable cause statement that led to his arrest, investigators said that Elwood performed oral sex on the victim, and forced her to perform oral sex on him. Elwood also said that on several occasions he and his victim would "rub genitals" as if they were actually having sex.

Elwood also admitted showing the victim pornographic videos, later asking the young girl if she would like to "do that," investigators said.

"I'm just appalled and shocked," said Cyrilla Benders of MOMS, or Mothers Outraged at Molesters. "I'm just appalled that this would even be happening because we've got a lot of good judges out there, we really do. But I don't know what the motive was with this judge to let this go loose."

Missouri Circuit Court Judge John Torrence, who receives excellent marks from the Missouri Bar Association, would not talk to FOX 4 on camera, but courthouse sources tell FOX 4 that he felt that if any sex offender deserved the intensive treatment that probation offers, it would be Elwood.

According to the terms of his probation, Elwood would face an automatic sentence of 10 years in prison if he violates his probation even once.

Prosecutors say Elwood was originally charged with 14 counts, but they agreed to let him plead guilty to just three, assuming that he would still get prison time.

"Ten years for what he did to that child for life, I mean 15 or 17 years still isn't enough for this," said Benders.