our analyst says the punishment in this case is >> reporter: boulder judge is patrick intourld now part of an online petition. >> reporter: a jury found 22-year-old austin wilkerson guilty in the 2014 rape of a family student. >> judges give a lot of judgment. >> reporter: a legal analyst says if the judge had sente been able to decide when if ever wilkerson would get out. >> under colorado law, if somebody is convicted of a class 3 felony, sex offense like this, and the judge is would sentence him to prison, the judge is doesn't have any control over how long that sentence could be >> reporter: in determining sentencing, adopted -- indeterminant sentencing, adopted in 1998, leaves that >> it really does create some issues >> reporter: on probation, wilkerson will spend the next 20 years registered as a sex offender, limited in where he can live, work, and be around. >> i can tell you that i've had clients who have said to me i would rather sit in jail than be on this type of sex offense probation. so i don't believe this is a lenient sentence. i don't believe it's a slap on the wrist.

our analyst says the punishment in this case is harsh >> reporter: boulder judge is patrick intourld now part of online petition. >> reporter: a jury found 22-year-old austin wilkerson guilty in the 2014 rape of a family student. >> judges give a lot of judgment. >> reporter: a legal analyst says if the judge had sentenced him to prison, he would not have been able to decide when if ever wilkerson would get out. >> under colorado law, if 3 felony, sex offense like this, and the judge is would sentence him to prison, the judge is doesn't have any control over how long that sentence could be >> reporter: in determining sentencing, adopted -- indeterminant sentencing, adopted in 1998, leaves that decision up to a parole board. >> it really does create some issues >> reporter: on probation, wilkerson will spend the next 20 years registered as a offender, limited in where he can live, work, and be around. >> i can tell you that i've had clients who have said to me i would rather sit in jail than be on this type of sex offense probation. so i don't believe this is a lenient sentence. i don