It's been five days since William Parsons was sentenced to three years behind bars for sexually abusing little girls at his late wife's DDO daycare.

And CJAD News has learned that the 72-year-old is now asking the Quebec Court of Appeal to be released while he appeals the verdict.

His lawyer argued this morning that detention is not necessary in this case and the public would not lose trust in the justice system because of the particular circumstances: Parsons is elderly and in poor health, which could be worsened by being imprisoned.

But the crown strongly disagreed.

"It would be against public interest and would shock social values," crown prosecutor Dennis Galiatsatos told CJAD News. He argued before the court that the public would lose confidence in the justice system should Parsons be released while his appeal is underway. Bail is normally considered for people who are presumed innnocent of a crime. Galiatsatos said Parsons was convicted of sexually molesting three girls aged three to five at the time over a period of eight to 15 months.

"This is a crime that is the most odious of the most disgusting crimes that exists in Canadian criminal law or in any other criminal law or justice system," Galiatsatos said.

The judge hands down his ruling in the next few days.

Photo: La Presse