The family of the young girl sexually abused by Lloyd Gerald Pond worried the justice system wouldn't live up to its name on Monday.

To their shock, it did, they said.Third District Judge Robert K. Hilder ordered the former host of an LDS Church radio program to prison for his crimes against the 14-year-old girl.

"Until five minutes ago, we've been disillusioned with every aspect of this case," said David Isom, an attorney who represents the family. "(The victim) strongly wanted prison, and I know she has to feel better now."

Pond, 51, pleaded guilty in November to one count of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony. State sentencing guidelines suggest he could spend between 18 and 36 months or more behind bars.

"I know what damage I have done to this victim, and I am deeply, deeply sorry," Pond said before he was led away in handcuffs.

He was originally charged with two counts of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony, but reached a plea bargain with Salt Lake Deputy District Attorney James Cope.

Cope said in November he would not oppose probation and suggested Pond was going through a "midlife crisis" when he abused the girl.

But Hilder said he didn't see how mere probation or even a jail sentence with outpatient treatment would serve society's interest.

"This is not a crime of opportunity," the judge said, noting Pond "groomed" the girl toward fulfilling his sexual desires for years. "I don't believe that only one incident would have happened if Mr. Pond had the opportunity."

The girl's mother told Hilder at Pond's sentencing that her daughter has suffered depression and had to enroll in a private school since she was victimized by Pond. She also has threatened to run away if Pond returns to her neighborhood, she said.

The woman asked for restitution to cover therapy costs and the additional expenses of private schooling. Hilder set a review date in 90 days.

The judge also said he would recommend to the Board of Pardons that Pond be paroled to the Northern Utah Correctional Facility. The Ogden halfway-house has a yearlong intensive sexual offender program. New parolees spend at least the first 30 days under lockdown.

Pond was host and executive producer of "Times and Seasons," a public affairs program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was broadcast throughout the country and overseas.

The program focused on moral and social issues. In the series, Pond addressed topics such as "child abuse and its devastating impact on our society" and "the impact pornography can have on families and communities." He lost his job in November.

The girl told police that Pond, who lives about one mile from her home and is a member of her LDS ward, befriended her a few years ago and offered to help with a modeling and acting career.

Every Wednesday from the time she was 11-years-old, the teen went to photo sessions with Pond, according to court records. During the sessions, Pond snapped 20 to 30 frames of the girl wearing school clothes, swimwear, lingerie and underwear, the records state.

He also asked the teenager to make several sexually explicit recordings beginning in February 1993, which he said he would be selling out of state or using for a phone-sex line, the records state.

The activity apparently culminated on Nov. 6 when Pond tricked her into performing a sex act. The girl's mother said Pond selected her child "not only because she was young, female and blonde, but also because she comes from a home without a father."

The woman also accused Pond of "grooming" her younger daughter, 11, during some photo sessions separate from those with the 14-year-old. "He had told (the 11-year-old) that her big sister was getting too old," the mother said.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Family files a civil suit against abuser

The family of the 14-year-old girl sexually abused by Lloyd Gerald Pond filed a civil lawsuit Monday against the former LDS Church spokesman.

Filed under the name "Jane Doe," the lawsuit asks for a jury trial against Pond, who pleaded guilty in November to one count of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.

The lawsuit states Pond knew or should have known that his sexual molestation of the teenager would cause her extreme emotional and mental distress. It seeks an unspecified amount of damages for her distress and costs related to her medical and psychological treatment.

No hearing date has been scheduled. The case was assigned to 3rd District Judge William B. Bohling.