Back in the day, child molesters, were dealt with on a “personal” basis - no need to get authorities involved - usually like castration with a shotgun, or allowing them to swim to freedom (wile carrying chains) or get a better view of the countryside while swinging from the nearest tree.
I’ve talked to a guy who said that was the way things worked in his town way back when. If an some idiot came across from the other side of the tracks and caused trouble, several decent men would take care of the problem to the point of the idiot either being in the hospital for a long time or not breathing any further.
The police didn’t follow up as to why he was in that condition because they knew his reputation and what he had done to earn himself that kind of attention. And the community went back to being peaceful once again.