Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney
August 11, 1995

Mr. Karl Ohler
625 Gormley
E. Wenatchee, Washington 98801

Dear Mr. Ohler:

I have read your Guest Commentary published recently in the Wenatchee World. I wish to make a clear apology for any possible implications by, or inferences from, my statement regarding the Simpson trial which was previously reported. I did make that statement to the reporter and it was quoted accurately. However, the quote was not reported in it context.

My statement was made in response to a telephone call from the reporter made to my home on a Sunday evening. In that interview I also stated that I respected the verdict of the Sims case jury, but was disappointed. I stated that the defense attorney presented an excellent case. I further explained that the Sims verdict was proof that our criminal justice is effective. The quoted statement regarding the Simpson case was in response to questioning from the reporter regarding the concepts of "guilt", "not guilty" and "innocent." The reporter did not understand why the Sims verdict was not a basis for dismissal of all other child sexual abuse cases, even though no one disputes that the children had been sexually abused.

Although I understand the basis for your well written comments in your Guest Commentary, I wish to assure you that I have the utmost respect for the jury system and, particularly, you and your fellow jurors who served on the Sims jury. If at any time you would like to discuss the Sims trial or any other case handled by my office, then I encourage you to call me.

Sincerely,

Steven M. Clem
Presecuting Attorney

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