A B.C. Supreme Court Justice's decision to sentence a man found guilty of molesting a four-year-old girl to 14 months in jail was the subject of a day-long protest at the Prince George courthouse on Friday.
Flanked by four placard-bearing supporters, organizer Bob Hamblin said the length of the sentence was not enough.
"It sparked a little bit of an outrage with me," he said. "I'm a survivor myself and someone needs to have a voice."
The term, which also includes three years probation, was issued to Michael Scott Horswill, 47, earlier this month by Justice James Williams.
Crown had been seeking 18 months to two years less a day in jail .
Over the longer term, Hamblin plans to take his concern to Ottawa in the name of boosting the minimum sentence for the offence of sexually interfering with a minor. It currently stands at one year.
"I think they just need a little push and whatever I can do to get her going, I'm there," Hamblin said.
Prior to sentencing, Horswill's lawyer unsuccessfully challenged the mandatory minimum. Williams disagreed with the contention that one year in jail is "grossly disproportionate" to Horswill's particular situation.
Had defence counsel been successful, Williams would have been asked to sentence Horswill to six months house arrest.
Hamblin said he has it on good authority that Horswill is out of custody while the sentence is being appealed.
