Butler County Judge William Shaffer correctly called it one of the most heinous crimes he’s presided over in 14 years as a judge.

Edward Myers pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony aggravated assault. A 7-year-old boy left in Myers care was shot with airgun pellets, doused with nail polish remover and set on fire, leaving the child with deep physical and emotional scars, probably for the rest of his life.

It’s unclear whether the fire was ignited by Myers, 37, of Saxonburg, or one of his two sons, now ages 12 and 16. But as Myers admitted in court Tuesday, “I was the responsible adult in the house that day.”

The criminal courtroom is a place where facts should trump emotion. Guilt, innocence and justice should be sorted out according to the evidence and testimony.

That’s nearly impossible in this case, however. The crime to which Myers pleaded no-contest is completely without sense or provocation. The child victim, a son of Myers’ then girlfriend, desired only “to be accepted and loved by this man and his two sons,” his mother told the judge. “Instead he was beaten, shot and set on fire.”

There’s more than one victim. Both parents of the child must live with the excruciating fact of their son’s facial disfigurement and the lingering doubt that comes from the inevitable necessity every parent faces when leaving a child in the custodial care of someone else — no matter how trustworthy or mature that individual seems, it’s always a risk.

Myers’ two sons also are victims in their own right: Outrageous behavior by a parent or guardian leaves a lasting impression on young people.

For that matter, all of us should be offended and outraged by this vicious, senseless act on a defenseless child. The phrase “debt to society” never rang more true than in a case like this.

And that raises the question of Myers’ debt to society. His negotiated plea deal calls for four to 12 years in prison, three years’ probation and a $5,000 fine. But it’s not enough for him merely to “do his time” in prison and expect society to forgive his offense.

Myers — and his sons — should be expected to live the rest of their lives in exemplary fashion. They need to demonstrate not only remorse, but a true desire to amass a track record of rehabilitation — an unending trail of exemplary behavior that begins right now.

Let them prove their remorse.

The courts dole out justice and punishment precisely because of the promise that convicted criminals can be rehabilitated and redeem themselves.

Let’s hope that’s what happens, and that a shred of something good can come out of this most horrific case.