Welch said the plea deal guaranteed a conviction and still carried a maximum 10-year sentence.
Selva had been charged with 20 counts of rape but prosecutors made mistakes in listing the boys' names on the indictment and tried unsuccessfully to change the errors.
After former Judge Deborah O'Neill refused their request, prosecutors dismissed the charges and agreed to the plea bargain after discussions with Selva's attorney and the victims' families.
Connor, the new judge on the case, approved the deal and sentenced Selva in December to five years of probation for two counts of sexual battery involving the boys, ages 5 and 12.
So in Ohio it's ok to be a child molester.
Form the governor
COLUMBUS (March 15, 2006) - Governor Bob Taft today issued the following statement regarding Judge Connor's sentence in the Selva child rape case:
"This is a serious and disturbing crime, and Judge Connor's sentence is flat-out wrong.
"Protecting our children must be our highest priority. Judge Connor's decision is unfair to victims and sends the wrong message to would-be criminals.
"The state legislature has the authority to remove sitting judges. The sentence is an obvious miscarriage of justice, and the legislature should act immediately."
I hope they get rid of this judge