Religious Conversion of Child Abusers

• A Louisiana appeals court refused to suspend a child abuser's 12-year prison sentence on the basis of his religious conversion. A 38-year-old male (who was married and the father of 5 children) was convicted of sexually abusing one of his minor daughters. He was sentenced to serve 12 years at hard labor. The jury based this sentence on the serious nature of the offense, and the likelihood that the father would commit a similar crime if placed on probation. The father appealed his sentence, arguing that the court failed to adequately consider his religious conversion. Specifically, he maintained that he had "completely rehabilitated" himself as a result of his religious conversion, and that no further rehabilitation was necessary. He asked the appeals court to throw out his prison sentence, and place him on probation. The appeals court rejected this request. It observed: "The defendant ...