So, let's get this right...

Someone molested someone else's child, which greatly distressed the child. The child then complained to the father, who beat merry hell out of the molester.

Hmmm...

I know that what I have to say might not be popular, but...

If I were the judge, faced with something like this, the way I'd look at it would be:

To the molester - What you did was totally and terribly wrong. However, you have had the crap beaten out of you, and have suffered from that, from the sounds of it for the rest of your life.

Whilst what you did was wrong, I think you've paid the price for it, so charges dropped, and I won't send you to jail.

To the father - What you did was wrong, too. Taking the law into your own hands is not the right thing to do. However, you were understandably very angry. Added to this is the fact that your actions were not premeditated, and done very much in the heat of the moment. Because of the situation you found yourself in, I can entirely understand your motives, and, to a limited point, your actions.

You obviously love your son very much indeed, and I could not in good conscience punish you for showing that love, even if your actions were not perhaps wise. Also, I could not punish your son, in making him see you go to jail simply because you wished to protect him.

So, charges dropped against you, & you also won't be going to jail.

To the child: Now, you are the one that in all this, I feel most sorry for. You were, in a way, made a victim twice from this whole affair. Not only were you the victim of unwanted sexual attention, you were also dragged into being, in some ways, a part of a vicious beating. You probably also had to endure the worry of what might happen to your father, as a result of his actions.

Out of everyone, you are the only true victim in all of this, and I truly feel for you so much indeed.

I feel that this would be the only way of dealing with it that is fair to all parties involved.

The prosecutor would, naturally, feel differently about it. But then again, given the vindictive nature of most prosecutors, that does not surprise me.

Oh well. That's my 5 cent's worth!

Thanks for the post & story, Phantom. A very good discussion subject, imo.

T.