I really really feel for the girl child. As a victim of molestation myself (but not this severely, much more mildly) I can tell you it will screw you up for life.
I think that his family who is saying "give him leniency" is probably very liberal, as he most likely is.
I personally feel he should get the death penalty. I'm wondering how her father and mother feel, or if they were supportive of her. I'm sure she told her mother way before this.
Yeah, Ellen Degeneres was molested by her stepfather. She almost broke down on the Barbara Walters special last night. This is probably one of the hardest things to overcome, if one overcomes it at all.
Glad you are a survivor, honey. I wish we had more stringent laws myself.