Richard Crawford spent five years molesting his girlfriends daughter, starting when she was just seven years old. In all, Crawford was convicted of 390 counts of sexual abuse in December of last year.
Today, Crawford is out on the streets, walking as freely as you and me.
In fairness to the judge in this case, Judge Daniel Howsare, Crawford isn't free due to a light sentence... because he hasn't actually been sentenced at all.
It seems that Judge Daniel Howsare can't decide if Crawford is a "violent sex offender", so he has been refusing to sentence him. Instead, against the advice and pleas from Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins the judge has allowed Crawford to wonder around, out on bond.
Each of the 390 counts comes complete with a mandatory sentence of five years each. That's over 1950 years.... if sentenced properly, this predator will never see the free side of the jail house bars- so why are we allowing him to roam free now? Is the judge in this case hoping to grant him once last chance to abuse another child? Or is the judge just holding out, waiting for Crawford to get tired of his future prospect of sitting in prison for the rest of his life, and just take off?
Today, Crawford is out on the streets, walking as freely as you and me.
In fairness to the judge in this case, Judge Daniel Howsare, Crawford isn't free due to a light sentence... because he hasn't actually been sentenced at all.
It seems that Judge Daniel Howsare can't decide if Crawford is a "violent sex offender", so he has been refusing to sentence him. Instead, against the advice and pleas from Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins the judge has allowed Crawford to wonder around, out on bond.
"The state offender association board has determined he is a sexually violent predator," said Higgins. "We just need the court to go along with that."
Higgins asked the judge to at least put Crawford in jail until the sentencing but the judge denied the request. He also wouldn't reschedule a new sentencing date until after he reviews the Megan's Law qualifications.
"I expressed my opinion in court," Higgins said. "I told him I was strongly objecting to the man walking out of the courtroom at liberty. It's very upsetting. Not only for me as a prosecutor, but for the victim. To look the victim in the eye and say we haven't been able to give justice for you yet."
Each of the 390 counts comes complete with a mandatory sentence of five years each. That's over 1950 years.... if sentenced properly, this predator will never see the free side of the jail house bars- so why are we allowing him to roam free now? Is the judge in this case hoping to grant him once last chance to abuse another child? Or is the judge just holding out, waiting for Crawford to get tired of his future prospect of sitting in prison for the rest of his life, and just take off?