Hollister - A judge sentenced a convicted child molester to 25 years to life in prison Thursday, however the man continues to proclaim his innocence and has already filed an appeal, according to his attorney.
Corbett Le Grand, 24, whom a jury convicted in July of felony child molestation and lewd acts with a minor for assaulting a teenage girl at Bolado Park two years ago, sat expressionless next to his attorney while a judge handed down the hefty sentence Thursday afternoon. His family, who occupied one side of the court room while the victim's family sat on the other, also showed little emotion during the course of the hearing.
His lawyer, Greg La Forge, said he was appalled at the ruling that will require his client to serve 85 percent of the sentence - more than 21 years - before being eligible for parole.
However, the District Attorney was asking for double that amount of prison time based on the fact that Le Grand is a twice-convicted sex offender. Le Grand was convicted of child molestation in Santa Cruz County several years ago.
Judge Alan Hedegard said in court if he had his way he would have sentenced Le Grand to a lesser term, however California law did not give him that option. Based on the statute, he was required to impose the 25-to-life sentence, he said.
"The punishment does not fit the crime. Murderers get the same," La Forge said. "He knew what his fate was going to be, but even after being sentenced he told me he wouldn't admit to something he didn't do."
Before handing down the sentence, Hedegard denied La Forge's motion to dismiss the prior conviction, which would have taken life in prison off the table. La Forge also argued - to no avail - that the sentencing was cruel and unusual punishment.
Deputy District Attorney Denny Wei, who secured the guilty conviction but barely said a word during sentencing, also declined to comment on the sentence after the hearing. Le Grand's family and the victim's family members also declined to comment. District Attorney John Sarsfield did not return phone calls Thursday, although he said previously that he believes Le Grand is a threat to the public.
Le Grand was scheduled to be sentenced two months ago, however La Forge postponed the hearing by attempting to get a judge to grant his client a new trial.
Although La Forge said he had new evidence that wasn't presented at trial proving Le Grand wasn't even in San Benito County when the assault occurred, a judge did not believe there were sufficient grounds and denied his request last month.
A jury convicted Le Grand of molesting a then-13-year-old girl in the back of a Suburban while her stepfather slept beside them as they waited to sign up for Pop Warner Football two years ago, La Forge said.
Before jurors returned a verdict, the District Attorney's office offered Le Grand a plea bargain that would have withdrawn the prior conviction from being a factor in the case, and taken the possibility of life in prison off the table. Le Grand refused, based on his claim of innocence, but that also upped the ante for prison time because the prosecution was able to call a host of witnesses who testified about details of the previous molestation, La Forge said.
Although jurors quickly returned a guilty verdict, one of the jurors, Kayla Ballard, had said she did not believe the man deserved a life sentence - although she did believe the evidence presented showed he committed the crime.
La Forge wasn't able to say whether he thought an appeal would be granted, however he does believe a full appellate review is warranted in this case.
"There are a lot of grounds out there," he said. "Look at the violent crimes committed in this community over the past three or four years. Nobody's gotten close to the sentence that was imposed today."
Le Grand remains incarcerated at the San Benito County Jail. La Forge did not know when he will be transported or to which state prison.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or emusgrave@freelancenews.com
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