Our readers might remember the case of Earl Coleman, the convicted child rapist in Baton Rouge whom Judge Trudy White released on bail pending his sentencing so he could “take care of his ailing mother.”

Well, there’s a new development in the Coleman case. Or perhaps more accurately, there’s the refusal of a new development. From WAFB-TV…

A man convicted of raping a child, but has been allowed to be free until sentencing, will have more time out of jail before learning his ultimate fate.

Earl Coleman, 49, was convicted in April of raping an 8-year-old girl.

The sentencing hearing was scheduled for Thursday, but Judge Trudy White granted a defense motion for a sentence delay. She then set a new sentencing date for August 9.

The victim and her mother were in court for the sentencing hearing.

After his conviction, Coleman requested to be released on bond until sentencing. Prosecutors asked White to set the bond at $500,000, but she set it at $10,000 instead.

Coleman posted bond and has been living down the street from where his victim lives while free.

We’ve said that White’s flagrant misuse of her position in order to coddle criminals presents a significant danger to the safety of the Baton Rouge community, and we stand by that statement. It isn’t acceptable that a convicted child rapist be free to live just down the street from his defenseless victim. There is no longer the presumption of Coleman’s innocence. He’s been convicted. And not only did White spring him, now she’s taking her time on sentencing him – when every day he’s free he presents not only a present threat to neighbors he’s already victimized but an outrage to a community which could act against him.

If someone decides to blow Coleman’s head off because they’re not very pleased that he raped an 8-year old, Trudy White will be responsible. And the more criminals she lets out of jail, the more likely it is that something like that will happen.