Judge questions Arizona law in sentencing child molester

A Kingman, Arizona, judge questioned the logic of Arizona sentencing mandates Wednesday when he imposed two life prison terms plus 25 years more for a California man convicted of sex offenses involving his granddaughter.

Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steve Conn told Lawrence Boucher, 61, he would receive less prison time had he fatally shot someone in the head.

Boucher was convicted at trial of 10 felony offenses for August 2013 conduct with his 11-year-old granddaughter in Lake Havasu City. While some of the convictions were for child molestation and sexual abuse of a minor, it was two sexual conduct with a minor (under the age of 12) convictions that resulted in the consecutive life sentences.

Conn called it an "Alice in Wonderland" experience as he stacked additional prison time on top of the life sentences and articulated post prison supervised probation options, explaining he had no choice under harsh Arizona sentencing mandates for child sex crimes.

"Sir, I'll be dead by then," Boucher chimed in.

Boucher also apologized for his crimes.