Sidney, Neb. – A petition drive is calling for the resignation of the judge who sentenced a sex offender to probation instead of prison in part because of his short stature.
The campaign is aimed at Cheyenne County District Judge Kristine Cecava, who last week sentenced Richard Thompson to 10 years’ intensive probation instead of prison on two felony child sexual-assault charges. Cecava said at the sentencing hearing that she did not believe the 5-foot, 1-inch Thompson could survive in prison.
Thompson, 50, could have faced 10 years behind bars. He was accused of having sexual contact last summer with a girl who is now 14.
The petition drive is being conducted by resident Tiffany Jones, who said she had about 700 signatures.
The judge did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday.
Attorney General Jon Bruning and Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub appealed the sentence Wednesday, arguing that it was too lenient.
According to a transcript of the hearing, Cecava said: “So I’m sitting here thinking this guy has earned his way to prison but then I look at you and I look at your physical size. I look at your basic ability to cope with people and, quite frankly, I shake to think what might happen to you in prison because I don’t think you’ll do well in prison.”
A friend and colleague of the judge, Bernie Glaser of Lincoln, said Cecava’s ruling has been misunderstood. He said the prosecutor didn’t ask for prison time, and that the judge took other factors into account when deciding prison wasn’t right for Thompson, including his mental capabilities and information in a pre-sentence report that is not public.
“We need more judges like her,” Glaser said. “I think they should be proud they have a judge like her.”
As part of his probation, Thomp son will be electronically monitored for the first four months and was told never to be alone with anyone younger than 18 or date or live with a woman whose children are younger than 18.
“I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society isn’t misplaced,” Cecava said at the hearing. “It’s very hard to keep you in society when I know the risk is another child getting hurt.”
