Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Charles Childress - Repeat Sex Offender - Gets Only 12 Years

A man who was on probation for a sex crime when he molested another child has been sentenced to 12 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

On Jan. 7, Charles Childress was charged with molestation of a child under 12 and dangerous crime against children charges. At the time Childress was on probation for a 2005 conviction for sexual abuse, court officials said.

Victims of both crimes were in the courtroom on June 17 and gave testimony to Navajo County Judge Thomas Wing. The latest victim’s mother had to have her statement read by another person because she was too emotional to read it herself, officials said.

Wing said Childress’ sentence was due in part to his prior felonies and sex offenses.

After his 12-year term, Childress will remain on intensive probation for a lifetime term and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Wing said.

“Out of all the cases we prosecute, prosecution of homicides and crimes against children are our No. 1 priority,” Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting said in a news release. “I am happy with the sentence of 12 years, but wish it was 13. If we could have asked for more prison time we would have, but the law does not allow it.”

The victims declined to comment on the case.

Childress had waived his preliminary trial and accepted a plea. Apache County Attorneys Office Chief Deputy Martin Brannan said under state law Childress had been facing between a minimum of 7.5 and a maximum of 13 years in prison.

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

"On average most sex offenders are never caught again for a new sex offense, after five years, between 10 and 15 percent of sex offenders are detected, often convicted, of committing a new sex offense. If you follow them for ten years the rates go up somewhat, if you follow them as long as we’ve been able to follow them, which is about 20 years, the rates go up to somewhere between 30 to 40 percent of the total sample will eventually be caught for a new sex offense."
Dr. R. Karl Hansen

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