Too Short For Long Sentence

MAY 25--The pervert pictured in the below mug shot is named Richard Thompson. He's a 50-year-old Nebraska man who was convicted of sexually assaulting a child, but is avoiding jail time because a judge thinks he's too short to survive in prison. Instead, the 5'1' Thompson will serve a 10-year probationary term, thanks to the sentence meted out Tuesday by Cheyenne County District Judge Kristine Cecava. While acknowledging that the sex crime was 'absolutely inexcusable' and that Thompson deserved a long prison stretch, Cecava explained that the child abuser likely could not survive incarceration. As part of her lenient sentence, Cecava, pictured at right, ordered Thompson to never be alone with anyone younger than 18 and directed him to throw out his porn collection. (1 page)