Recently, two articles appeared on the Sun Journal’s front page: one describing a woman who stole money from a major corporation, the other about a man who sexually assaulted a young girl.

What shocked me was the disparity in their sentences. The woman received eight years in prison. The man will serve less than one year.

I am outraged.

If this were an isolated incident, I would not have written this letter, but everyone knows it is not. In fact, it happens all too often.

Elected leaders and the judicial system are failing the public. I am not condoning what the woman did; however, concerning the victims of those two crimes, who will suffer emotional distress for the rest of their lives? The corporate leaders or the young girl?

Through its own actions, it seems the judicial system feels that the sexual assault of a minor is not serious. However, if someone steals money from a large corporation and gets caught, he or she will be doing serious time.

People are getting sick and tired of seeing most pedophiles and child abusers continue to get slaps on the wrists and given multiple second-chances.

This nation does a poor job of protecting its most vulnerable citizens. Change is needed. Elected officials need to treat this issue with much more attention than it has received.

The children deserve better.

Steve Hart, Auburn