August 4, 2005

Street Talk by Carol Rosen

According to prosecutors, Earl Roske, Leland High School’s former chemistry teacher, entered a guilty plea on Aug. 1 for having sexual relationships with at least two of his former students. He will receive a two-year, eight-month prison term and will be on parole for three years. What do you think of the sentence?
(Asked at Via Valiente Plaza)

“It’s not enough. It doesn’t make sense. What will deter him in the future? There’s no mention of rehabilitation or counseling. The next thing you know, he’ll be out of prison and his name will be listed on the Web site for sexual offenders and he’ll be living five blocks from the school. I’d like to see more stringent laws for these types of law breakers.”

Pam Malynn, 36
Almaden
Part-time ultrasound technician


“That sentence is not enough for a sex offender, not in any neighborhood anywhere. My husband and I have 16 grandchildren between us and 10 of them are granddaughters. That he will be out so soon is not a good thing.”

Alice L. Hunt, 59-plus
Almaden
Real estate broker with
Ventura-Barnett Properties


“Two years and eight months, that’s a little bit shy for that kind of crime; about seven years shy of what his sentence should be. The man betrayed the trust of the juveniles in his care. He also betrayed the trust of the parents who put their children in his care. This is typical of the type of shenanigans that go on at Leland. It makes me wonder what the superintendent of schools is doing.”

Jim Brady, 65
Almaden
Retired


“It’s not a long enough sentence. He should have been given a very long sentence with no parole because I think when sex offenders get out, they commit the crime again. He, and others like him, should be banished from society or at least put somewhere where they can never commit a sexual offense again.”

Eric Brazelton, 55
Santa Clara
Salesman


“That’s all they gave him? That’s horrible. It’s horrible what he did to those children and two years is not nearly enough. I don’t think it’s a good thing. And, what will they do when he gets out, will they allow him to live somewhere close to us? I didn’t hear anything about education or treatment. That’s also not a good thing.”

Farah Banitaba, 40
Almaden
Realtor for Castleview Realty


“I think that it’s terrible to give him such an extra light sentence. It’s not nearly long enough. Child molesters should be punished to the full extent of the law, this sentence is nowhere near long enough for what he did. ”

Lee Ellis, 60
Almaden
Project manager


“I don’t think it’s a long enough sentence for such a horrible crime. I’m the mother of three daughters. I think they should have given him at least 10 years. A year from now, my oldest daughter will be a student at Leland.”

Lori Madsen, 41
Almaden
Owner of UnWined


“This sentence is far too lenient. He’s ruined the lives of young innocent girls. He needs serious counseling, and those girls will also need serious counseling.”

Linda Newell, 53
Almaden
Homemaker and volunteer