S.C. Rep. Thad Viers' detractors will be disappointed that a Richland County judge this week diverted him into an anger-management program for threatening his ex-wife's former boyfriend in a series of phone calls. The move spares Viers, 28, a three-term Myrtle Beach legislator, the indignity of a criminal trial and possible jail time.

It also spares interested parties the indignity of listening to the reportedly hateful calls, recorded on the boyfriend's answering machine in September. The judge ordered them sealed at least until Viers' yearlong court supervision is completed. The boyfriend testified this week that Viers, in one call, threatened to sodomize his mother - sufficient detail to satisfy the curiosity of all but the most jaded observers.

We have no problem with the break that the judge has accorded Viers - if he uses his year of court-supervised anger management training and community service to transform himself into a fully realized adult. Showing sufficient contrition to get the law off his back is not good enough. The gentleman should reinvent himself as a person who handles life's setbacks with grace.

If Viers can accomplish that, he may be able to salvage his political career - though that decision belongs to his Socastee-area constituents. Far more important, he will be a more mature person - a better person.

No one is beyond redemption. For that reason especially, we wish Viers well as he begins his formal rehabilitation.