TULSA, Okla. — A jury found Shawn Canay guilty of sexually abusing two children.

When it came to sentencing, the jury recommended 40 years in prison, but the judge sentenced him to 40 years of probation instead.

The prosecution shared victim impact statements read at the sentencing with 2 News, which revealed more details about the abuse.

Canady abused the victims when they were 12 and 14 years old. Both detailed the abuse and the impact of the abuse on their lives now, years after the incidents.

One victim wrote: “I have to live with the memories of what he did to me that night for the rest of my life. Moving on is easier said than done when so much has been lost through the actions of one person.”

The other victim described self-harm as a way of coping with the abuse: “Because of the way he made me feel about myself, I started to self-harm…just to feel something other than the crippling weight of my experience with Shawn . .”

The difference between the recommended sentence and the sentence handed down has many people wondering what led to this, so 2 News’ Stef Manchen began reaching out to those involved and community leaders.

Danielle Tudor is a rape survivor who is now advocating for legal change to support survivors. She called the sentence in the case “disgusting.”

“We have a prosecutor who did his job, a jury who did his job, but we have a judge who failed miserably on behalf of everyone and we failed to protect the most vulnerable in our society, which are children. I treasured a man and his crimes against these kids who actually reported it and will live with it for the rest of their lives.”

Tudor is a member of the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Board, which was newly formed under Attorney General Getner Drummond.

Allowing this criminal to essentially walk free, she said, sends the wrong message.

“I don’t think justice was done in this case, even though we gave him probation, that’s not justice in this case,” Tudor said. “So many survivors don’t come forward and report for just that. reason, because I don’t think they have a chance at justice.”

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