Serial child molester James Hope received his third consecutive life sentence on Monday, which despite sounding impressive, means he could be out of prison by the time he is 67 years old.
Because in Nevada, life with the possibility of parole, could translate into a 10-year sentence. Hope, 43, told District Judge Michael Gibbons on Monday that he was changing his plea to guilty so he would be eligible for certification as a low-risk offender in Washington.
Hope faces another 68 months there before he must come to Nevada to serve his consecutive terms as a result of his actions in Carson City and Douglas County.
We agree with Judge Michael Gibbons that the priority for Hope's future is to keep him away from potential victims.
That he is eligible for parole in 24 years, doesn't do much to assuage fears he will offend again. His claim that he has been rehabilitated doesn't help much, either.
It will be up to future parole boards to look at the record and balance that against Hope's claims that he's changed.
Then they should remember to weigh the pain Hope caused his victims and vote to keep him in prison and keep children safe for as long as humanly possible.
