This story reminded me of the reason why I refuse at Christmas (or any other time) to donate one thin dime to the Salvation Army. In involves a case I came in contact with when I began my county career over 28 years ago.

I cannot give many details of this case because as far as I know the perpetrator still lives here in the Victor Valley. I will simply say it is the worse child molest case (short of murdering the child) I have ever heard of. When it was time for the defendant’s probation sentencing interview, his pastor, a lieutenant with the Salvation Army, accompanied him to the interview and pleaded for mercy as this “gentleman” had become a Christian. The acts that were performed on this child and the acts that she performed on herself after years of abuse which resulted in the abuse being discovered are unimagineable. The perpetrator deserved worse than any of us could come up with. Any normal person would think so. However, this “well-meaning” pastor felt that forgiveness was more in order and argued that this “gentleman” might be attacked if sentenced to jail. We can only hope that happened.

To make a long story short, the judge, a bleeding-heart liberal, gave the perpetrator weekends. That came in very handy as it was Christmastime. So, when the perpetrator was not in jail, he was dressed as santa ringing a bell and collecting money for the Salvation Army. The first time I saw it, I thought I’d puke and immediately let his probation officer know. I believe he was violated. However, the lieutenant belonged in jail right beside him. I agree with the concepts of grace and forgiveness. But there are instances where paying for ones crime is as important and where trust simply is not deserved no matter how many times Christ may forgive. It’s been decades, but I’ve never forgotten it and I will never donate to the Salvation Army.