BEDFORD, Pa. -- Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins said he is furious because Judge Daniel Howsare would not sentence a man already convicted of 390 counts of sexually assaulting a young girl.

Richard Crawford molested his ex-girlfriend's daughter for five years, from the time she was 7-years-old until she was 12. Despite his conviction last December, the victim still does not have justice.

Higgins said he blames the judge.

"Here's an opportunity to take a violent sex offender off the street and the judge doesn't take the opportunity to do that and lets him walk out of the courtroom," said Higgins.

Howsare refused to comment about his decision, but Higgins said it's because Howsare isn't sure if Crawford is really a sexually violent predator. For the state, there's no question.

"The state offender association board has determined he is a sexually violent predator," said Higgins. "We just need the court to go along with that."

Higgins asked the judge to at least put Crawford in jail until the sentencing, but the judge denied the request. He also wouldn't reschedule a new sentencing date until after he reviews the Megan's Law qualifications.

"I expressed my opinion in court," Higgins said. "I told him I was strongly objecting to the man walking out of the courtroom at liberty. It's very upsetting. Not only for me as a prosecutor, but for the victim. To look the victim in the eye and say we haven't been able to give justice for you yet."

Higgins said he is very worried Crawford could run. There was a similar situation in 2001 where convicted sexual offender, David Chalfante, fled before his sentencing.

There is a mandatory sentence of five years for each of the sexual abuse counts and with 390 of them, Higgins said Crawford will likely spend the rest of his life in jail.