# Child molesting priest goes to jail. For only 30 days! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 29, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562 "2002-11-29T23:10:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/1 "2002-11-29T23:10:04Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/29/church.abuse.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/29/church.abuse.ap/index.html) > [@](#): > > A retired 83-year-old Roman Catholic priest who admitted to molesting at least a dozen boys going as far back as the 1940s has completed a 30-day jail sentence and was scheduled for release. WTF? 30 days? That’s only about two days per kid. Wow, that’ll be a huge deterrent… Even if you only count the one he was convicted of, 30 days is still an abomination. > [@](#): > > “It was an extraordinarily light sentence,” said David Clohessy, a co-founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests Yeah, no shit. ---
**Author:** ![Pythagras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@Pythagras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythagras)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/2 "2002-11-29T23:51:48Z")
He’s butt old. Maybe prison wouldnt have done crap( he’d probably spend all the time in the hospital) Instead, when he’s dead, I think his entire estate should go to the victims. Sounds like he got nothing though, that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/3 "2002-11-30T00:51:17Z")
His butt old ass should have died in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/4 "2002-11-30T01:41:17Z")
(But, to keep with all things Biblical, I am sure it was 30 nights too.) : D&R : ---
**Author:** ![Coin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Coin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/5 "2002-11-30T23:14:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pythagras \* > \*\*He’s butt old. Maybe prison wouldnt have done crap( he’d probably spend all the time in the hospital) Instead, when he’s dead, I think his entire estate should go to the victims. Sounds like he got nothing though, that sucks. \*\* If making him spend his last days in a prison hospital is the best we can do, we should do it. Beats having him walk around polluting the same air non-molesters have to breathe. As far as his estate…fine the hell out of him now. Let him try and get a real job with the molestation conviction on his permanent record. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/6 "2002-12-01T00:59:29Z")
Interested readers might wish to check [this](http://www.freep.com/news/locway/priest2_20021102.htm) story out. It covers the intial plea agreement… > [@](#): > > Wayne County Prosecutor Michael Duggan said that in the plea agreement, no charge was reduced. Duggan also said that, under such a charge, Burkholder might have received only a sentence of probation if the case had gone to trial. The prosecutor said he regards 30 days in jail for an 86-year-old man as tantamount to three years in jail for a younger man. Duggan said the victim in the case was pleased with the result. > > Burkholder also will be placed on five years’ probation and must register as a sex offender. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/7 "2002-12-01T01:28:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Robert Burkholder, a resident of Leeward Oahu, Hawaii… > [@](#): > > He will be on probation for five years and would have to register as a sex offender in Michigan if he remains in the state. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/8 "2002-12-01T02:30:41Z")
Just curious, how does one register as a sex offender? Is there a special line at the DMV or something? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/9 "2002-12-01T05:41:33Z")
Actually, one moseys on down to the local PD and signs up. Then, they put 'em in a database that anyone in the are can come in and access, for free. It will give you the address of said offender as ZIP+4, I believe. That’s how we found out there was one living down our hill, in extremely close proximity to two day care centers and a grammar school. Nice work, fellas. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-molesting-priest-goes-to-jail-for-only-30-days/139562/10 "2002-12-01T23:33:37Z")
Did it say what sex crime these fellows were convicted of? IIRC, in some places, indecent exposure (mooning, or being caught doing it in a car) can get you on those lists.