ELYRIA, Ohio -- A judge ruled Wednesday that a convicted child molester can be released from prison after serving only half of his three-year sentence.

NewsChannel5 has now learned more about the case of James Whitman, and spoke the the judge about his controversial ruling.

Lorain County Judge Kosma Glavas explained his decision by saying it will actually keep the convicted child molester on a short leash, but for the victim and her mother, it’s a tough ruling to live with.

Whitman apologized in court for sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl on three different occasions. Whitman was asking for early release from prison, serving 15 months of his sentence.

Whitman insisted that he was a changed man who was undergoing successful counseling.

But the victim, now 12, and her mother are stunned that a child molester would be set free.

"Just anger. I couldn't sleep last night, I don't understand his reasoning," said the victim's mother.

The victim says the decision sends the wrong message to abuse victims.

"It doesn't do any good to put them away. It doesn't do any good to tell. They just get out after a year and three months," she said.

The judge ordered Whitman to have no contact with the victim or her family, and must take part in a mandatory sex offender program and abide by a strict curfew.

He was also given 100 hours of community service, drug testing and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

By granting what's called judicial release, Glavas said he could put tight controls on Whitman that would not be in place after serving a full sentence.

"If you want to rehabilitate an individual, prison is not the place to rehabilitate. When you want to rehabilitate someone and make them a good member of society, you have to do it in society," said Glavas.

Whitman is now scheduled to be released on May 1. Along with the other conditions, he is also prohibited from being in the presence of any minor without an adult, and will be registered as a sexually oriented offender for 10 years.

If he breaks any of the conditions, Glavas said Whitman will be sent back to prison.