Family upset that a child molester is getting out early

Thursday, June 19th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A Glenpool family is angry that a child molester is getting out of prison after serving only half of his sentence. New on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says when a little girl was molested by her uncle, it devastated the entire family and continues to, years later.

The least they wanted was for him to be locked away for several years, but, they've now learned, sentences aren't always what they seem in Oklahoma.

Jon says he agreed to let prosecutors cut a plea bargain with his daughter's molester, Jerry Brown, on one condition. "I didn't want to put my daughter through court. She didn't even want to see him for obvious reasons. I told the DA's in Okmulgee and Tulsa Counties, if he stays in prison for five years, I'll accept that, not a problem." Brown got six years in Tulsa and two five year terms in Okmulgee, all to run at once.

Within a year, Jon was notified Brown was up for parole. A letter-writing campaign from the family put an end to that. But now, it's been three years and Jon was just informed Brown is getting out and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. "I felt like it was a slap in the face, I was let down, lied to by the system. I felt cheated. That's why I called you. I can't keep him incarcerated, so, what do I do to tell the public?"

Jon says he doesn't think most people realize how quickly prisoners earn credits to shorten their sentences. He says by warning others, maybe the laws could be changed to truly protect the victims, rather than cater to the criminals. "This man did something to my child. I don't want him to do it to your child or anyone's child. And the professionals I talk to, say he will, they believe this man has done it to others.â€

When Brown gets out, if he stays in Oklahoma, he will have to register as a sex offender and will have to meet with a probation officer. Right now, Brown is slated to get out in September, but it will likely be sooner because he gets 44 days taken off his sentence for every 30 days he serves for good behavior and he also got 90 days off his sentence for getting his GED in prison.

Even though child molestation is now a crime that requires prisoners to serve 85% of their sentence, Brown pleaded to a lesser charge that doesn't require that, something the victim's family wasn't aware of at the time.