When a 40-year-old man stood in front of a Montana judge on Oct. 4, having admitted to raping his 12-year-old daughter, it was with the knowledge that he would likely spend the next 25 years in jail. Instead, Judge John C. McKeon ignored a plea deal in which the Glasgow resident had agreed to spend 25 years behind bars and sentenced him to 60 days for felony incest, with credit for 17 days already served, reports People. The man admitted to raping his daughter once—two other rape charges were thrown out—in exchange for a 30-year suspended sentence and 30 years of probation, reports the Glasgow Courier. He'll also have to register as a sex offender and attend community-based sex-offender treatment, per the AP.
Valley County Deputy Attorney Dylan Jensen says he was "shocked and disappointed" by the sentence but would "respect" it. Some 14,000 people who've signed a petition calling for McKeon's impeachment are less resigned. McKeon—who is due to retire in November, per KRTV—"does not deserve to collect retirement from the people of Montana," the petition reads. "It is time to start punishing the judges who let these monsters walk our streets." In response, McKeon says a social worker determined the man was unlikely to reoffend. In court, McKeon also cited letters from friends and family in support of community-based treatment. They described the man as a "good father for 12 years" and his crime a "mistake," per the Inquistr.
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Valley County Deputy Attorney Dylan Jensen says he was "shocked and disappointed" by the sentence but would "respect" it. Some 14,000 people who've signed a petition calling for McKeon's impeachment are less resigned. McKeon—who is due to retire in November, per KRTV—"does not deserve to collect retirement from the people of Montana," the petition reads. "It is time to start punishing the judges who let these monsters walk our streets." In response, McKeon says a social worker determined the man was unlikely to reoffend. In court, McKeon also cited letters from friends and family in support of community-based treatment. They described the man as a "good father for 12 years" and his crime a "mistake," per the Inquistr.
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