Written by Kathryn Lyon. copyright 1995. Do not reproduce without permission.

On July 28, 1995 Hannah Sims, a sunday school teacher at the Pentacostal church, was acquited of all charges of child rape and child molestation. Jury members expressed outrage that the matter had even come to trial. Jury foreman Karl Ohler said that the trial had been a waste of the county's resources. He said he was concerned about the people previously convicted. (24)

On August 8, 1995, all counts were dismissed against Donna Rodriguez, an alleged ring participant. On September 8, 1995, all felony counts were dismissed against former foster parent Robert Devereaux, an alleged prominent "ring" head: five counts of child rape first degree, four counts of child molestation first degree, two counts of witness tampering. Mr. Devereaux pleaded to misdemeanor counts of assult fourth degree and rendering criminal assistance. He received no jail time. The Prosecutor's office defended its recommendation: adult and child recantations and other evidentiary problems had led them to uncertainty that they could prove their case.

Yet the prosecution of these cases is ongoing. On August 24 and on August 31, 1995, two new women were arrested and charged with having sex with children in group situations. One woman confessed but subsequently recanted to me when I interviewed her on September 5, 1995. (25) Linda Miller was convicted by jury of all eight counts of child molestion of September 14, 1995.

According to videotaped interviews, on August 22, 1995 Detective Perez and Detective Magnotti questioned two children at the family home while no adults were present. Detective Perez searched the house and then Detective Magnotti took the 11 year old boy outside. Detective Perez questioned the girl in the home alone. He told her that thirty people had seen her being sexually molested by certain named adults. When she repeatedly denied he told her, "You're lying to me. I don't believe you." He told her she was lying to him several times.(26) Detective Magnotti questioned her brother. Detective Magnotti said to him, "I'll make a deal. If you tell me something, if you tell what happened there, then you won't get in trouble."(27)

If the allegations of group sexual activies against children are true they are indeed terrible. On the other hand, if alleged practices of governmental overreaching are true a number of questions are raised. How could children and intellectually limited adults make up statements rich with detail? Why would people confess, or plead guilty, for that matter to untrue allegations? What could possibly motivate government agents who are sworn to protect our rights to instead callously disregard them? How could such conduct be tolerated by the interacting systems of the local governmental and judicial communties?

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