Readers question judge's decision /UPDATEDReaders question judge's decision in regards to convicted sex offender.
Thursday, February 23, 2006 8:48 AM MST
Letters to the Editor
Reader questions judge's decision to set convicted sex offender free.
To the Editor:
I was present in Judge Buyske's packed courtroom during the sexual assault sentencing hearing for Larry Bomar on Feb. 15, in Cut Bank. After listening to the testimony of the witnesses for both the prosecution and the defense, I was left sickened by the accounts of previous victims and then I was shocked by the willingness of Judge Buyske to release Bomar back into the Cut Bank community while awaiting appeal.
A jury has convicted Bomar of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl. A licensed clinical psychologist testified, in her professional opinion, Bomar should be classified as a Level 3 sex offender. That designation, by definition, means he is at high risk to repeat the offense and is a threat to public safety. The expert testified there may be as many as 12 victims over the last 50 years. I felt the prosecution's witnesses were credible. We heard that Bomar has been sexually assaulting young girls since he was 12 years old, using threats of hurting or killing loved ones to keep his young victims quiet.
Judge Buyske stated in court he thinks the public has a right to feel secure and sentenced Bomar to 27 years in prison, with 12 years suspended, and ordered Bomar to complete Phase I, II and III of the sexual offender's treatment program while in prison. Then, unbelievably, Judge Buyske granted the defense's request that Bomar remain free on a $20,000 surety bond while awaiting appeal. That could take a year or more! Other dangerous criminals are sent to jail while awaiting appeal. Why is Bomar still free?
Responsible citizens need to do some investigating and decide if this is an isolated incident of poor judgment or a pattern of dangerous offenders being released back into our communities. Take the time to ask your local law enforcement officers and probation and parole officers what they think of Judge Buyske's rulings over his last 12 years on the bench. Ask the officers about the sentences given out to convicted sex offenders, violent offenders and drug dealers. Ask what percentage of these dangerous felons are going to prison and what percentage are receiving suspended sentences and going straight back into our communities.
Judge Buyske makes $94,093 a year and has now filed for his third six-year term as the Ninth Judicial District Judge. Voters need to decide if they think his past job performance is worth that kind of money. Voters also need to decide if they are willing to take the risk for another six years that dangerous felons may be released back into their communities. It remains to be seen if a qualified candidate will run against Judge Buyske.
I think I can safely predict who Cut Bank residents will not be voting for this election year. Whatever trust we did have is gone now.
Jo Ann Murphy, Cut Bank, MT 59427
If victim was judge's daughter, would sex offender still be free?
To the Editor:
I want to thank the law enforcement personnel who worked on the State vs. Larry Bomar case. I especially want to thank Officer Jeff Kraft. All the time and energy you put into the case really made a difference. I cannot tell you how it made my heart ache for all of you when Mr. Bomar was released on bond. Personally, I don't know how you keep going to work every day. To have it seem like your hours of work do not matter.
To Thane and Carolyn, thank you both so much for making this case a priority and not giving up. Your care and compassion through it all definitely helped me.
To the people of this community, thank you for your hugs, phone calls, letters and words of encouragement after Mr. Bomar's sentencing. Words cannot express how you have touched my heart.
To Judge Buyske, I would like to let you know that I do believe in innocent until proven guilty. But Mr. Bomar was proven guilty. After you heard the testimony given, I cannot believe you turned Mr. Bomar loose into the community. Perhaps Mr. Bomar should live next door to you.
I have just one question for you Judge Buyske; if that was your daughter on the witness stand giving her testimony, would you have felt differently about letting Mr. Bomar walk out of the courtroom?
Nicole Manley, Cut Bank, MT 59427
Jessica's Law would take sexual predators off Montana's streets
To the Editor:
Larry Bomar is a convicted Sexual Predator!
Why is he allowed to be on the streets, Judge Buyske?
His place of business is right next door to a Youth Group! We have to get Jessica's Law passed in Montana, then these sexual predators will be taken off the streets for 25 years to life.
Everyone is encouraged to write or call your representatives and get this law passed in Montana immediately!
Arley and Geraldine Jolliffe, P.O. Box 111, Cut Bank, MT 59427
‘Justice was not in attendance' at sex offender's hearing.
To the Editor:
Today, Feb. 15, 2006, in Cut Bank, Montana, USA, a convicted pedophile can walk the streets just as free as you or me. This man was convicted by a jury of his peers in December 2005. This man was free until today, and now, at his sentencing, where we all thought that the law would place him in jail for a minimum of two years to life, it seems that the law isn't what it seems.
The law isn't the jury, or the lawyers, or the court-appointed professionals who work so hard to gather the facts and statements from victims. No, ladies and gentlemen, the law comes down to a judge! One man who decided today after listening to five women victims give testimony of the things done to them as children by Larry Bomar. These things that were described brought grown men and women to tears in a courtroom where justice was not in attendance.
Judge Buyske gave a ruling of 27 years in prison, with 12 years suspended. Wow, sounds good! Then Mr. Judge Buyske decided that he wouldn't make Mr. Bomar go to prison right away. No, Mr. Bomar might appeal his conviction someday, so Judge Buyske told him to go home, go back to work and be as he was.
Mr. Judge Buyske needs to watch some news or maybe pick up a law book to see how things work after someone is actually convicted. It doesn't mean that that person needs to be given another chance or given time to get things in order. Every day people are convicted of sex crimes, murder, drugs, etc. After a conviction, a judge then sentences the person to pay a fine, serve jail time, community service and/or treatment. These things are all set in law by the State of Montana. Convicted felons should not get to walk around town free until they decide to appeal their conviction. They should go to jail because they have been found guilty and the judge has sentenced them to jail.
Mr. Larry Bomar was convicted. He was to be sentenced today. Today was not a sentencing, it was a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. No supervision was laid out. Bomar was not told to check in with the court system and no one from the court system was told to supervise him. No one is watching to see that he isn't hanging out watching our children. I wonder if he has registered yet as a convicted sex offender as required by state law? Probably not!
What if Mr. Bomar's appeal takes six months, two years, etc.? What if he never files an appeal? Must our friendly little town just sit back and watch him go to work while our children walk daily past his barber shop to get to the Boys and Girls Club right next door?
Sincerely, Loraine J. Hensley, Cut Bank, MT 59427
Reader tells judge: Make our community safe.
To the Editor:
We wonder what is wrong with our laws! It isn't the laws that are wrong, but there certainly is with the one that could enforce them.
Take this child molester off the streets so that his daughters, sisters and other children can feel safe again. They aren't the criminals-they are the victims.
I was at the trial and sentencing of Larry Bomar and was completely appalled on hearing the sentencing. I can't understand why a convicted sex offender should be roaming the streets at free will.
He was convicted by a jury and still allowed to continue business next door to the boys and girls club. How anyone could allow him to cut their hair is sickening.
Now this pedophile is turned loose again to prey on our children.
Do we have to go back to the vigilante days to get justice? I hope not. All we want and are asking for is that kids, ranging from two years of age to whatever age, can feel safe.
I would like to ask Judge Buyske if he would like this convicted child molester living in his community preying on his children and grandchildren? How he can think himself reliable of being a judge, after making these kinds of decisions, is beyond me.
Use your judgeship and make our town and community safe.
Sincerely, Jennie L. Maston, Cut Bank, MT 59427
Reader commends victims for their courage, believes Lady Justice took the day off at sentencing hearing.
To the Editor:
On Feb. 15, 2006, in the Ninth Judicial District Courtroom in Cut Bank, former neighborhood girls, stepdaughters and biological daughter poured out their hearts, telling of sexual acts forced on them by a sexual predator/molester. It took great courage to come forward to tell of the shame and embarrassment they suffered all these years. For this, I commend them.
In steps, Lady Justice lifts her blindfold, winks at the defense and takes the rest of the day off.
The predator, prior to the hearing, did not comply with a portion of a court order, was picked up by law enforcement and served a summons. A defense attorney admitted to the court he advised his client not to comply and accepted responsibility. In the real world, this is called contempt of court. Nothing was done.
The biggest slap in the face, to we as parents and grandparents, is having his bond continued, pending appeal. He is also allowed to work five days a week next door to the Foothills Boys and Girls Club, where he has been seen gawking in the window.
This seems like an awful dumb move in an election year...or any time for that matter.
Sincerely, Don Topp, Cut Bank, MT 59427
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