In agreement with David Hopkins, the murder of Kelly Pease should have never happened. The judge who released Denson on $2,500 should be released of his/her duties. That $2,500 is what the court decided Kelly Pease’s life was worth. Kelly Pease’s five children and many more people are all victims of this court’s decision.

It’s disgraceful to hear that Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh “WISHES” there was a better way to protect victims of domestic violence. A man in his position should not be making wishes. He should be taking ACTION to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Mr. McHugh states “But it’s a complicated problem. There are occasions when the victims want to reconcile…” This is not a complicated problem. If a victim wants to reconcile and communicate with the abuser so be it. However, when a victim has a no contact order and the perpetrator violates that order, there should be no bond. Denson clearly made a statement when he violated that order. The statement made was he had no intentions of obeying it and shows criminal intent, a dangerous offender.

Mr. McHugh also states, “If we feel someone should be held, we drive up the bail.” I ask Mr. McHugh was Kelly Pease’s life worth $2,500? Why wasn’t Denson held when charged with felony strangulation?

Katie Coker, director of Safe Passage, hit the nail on the head. “There can be a large degree of disparity between different judges and how high bail is set” and “They (judges) don’t always have all the relevant information and ultimately have to make tough decisions in the moment.” If judges don’t have the relevant information at the time of the hearing, just how is that judge supposed to make any decision at all? This is an internal failure of the criminal justice system.

David Hopkins, you can sign me up with any petition to Idaho lawmakers to put more stringent penalties on those accused of domestic abuse. I’m sure you will receive a multitude of people to agree with you.

JOANN LOKKEN

Coeur d’Alene