A judge in Washington State on Monday sentenced a former firefighter caught in an undercover child sex sting operation in 2016 to spend up to the rest of his life behind bars for attempted child rape and attempted child molestation.
Kevin Dale Best, 48, is a former Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue firefighter. He reportedly wept and pleaded with Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Langbehn as she handed down an indeterminate sentence ranging from a minimum of six years and four months in prison to a maximum of life, according to The Everett Herald. If released, Langbehn ordered Best to be on probation for the remainder of his life.
Child molesters have one of, if not the highest, rate of recidivism of any crime. After jail time, probation should last forever. Sadly, too often, due to overcrowding in prisons, child molesters are given early release because they are often listed as non violent offenders. At least in this case, there is a minimum sentence and a lifetime probation. Progress is slowly occurring.