[Ed.: Sportin’ Life is right. This is simply child rape.]

OK. How in heaven’s name is this justice for the children? From Huntsville, Alabama, a case that boggles the mind.

An unordained preacher who pleaded guilty today to three felony charges of first-degree sodomy in the repeated sexual abuse of three of his adopted children will not serve any time in prison.

Circuit Judge Karen Hall sentenced Jerry Wayne Love to 15 years on each charge to be served one after the other. But she accepted prosecutors’ recommendation and ordered Love to spend five years on probation and undergo treatment in a sex offender program.

Love, 51, of 3202 Overhill St., pleaded guilty to charges of sodomizing three young boys he and his wife adopted. In exchange, the prosecution dropped 10 counts of sodomy and three counts of sexual abuse against Love.

He had abused the boys multiple times over several years, so it’s clear these children are scarred for life, but a whirl through a sex offender program (and registration as a sex offender) is a slap on the wrist.

The only motivation in favor of any plea agreement is that it relieves the boys, now 13, 14 and 16, of having to testify against Love in court. Considering the recidivism rate of child molesters,  the “punishment” Love received is appalling.

Hat tip, Rog.