One of the defendants in the so-called Wenatchee child sex ring case has been found guilty of eight counts of child molestation.
Linda Miller was accused of molesting her own two daughters, A.M. and C.M., as well as the two foster children on detective Bob Perez, D.E. and M.E. Perez is the primary investigator of the case.
Miller was arrested in March and confessed to a multitude of crimes. Her confession was given after she had been without sleep for two days. She was questioned for about six hours by Detective Perez, beginning at midnight. She names people in her confession that she didn't even know and she recanted almost immediately. However, her confession has been the root of numerous other arrests, including that of Pastor Roby Roberson and his wife Connie.
Five children testified against her at trial. C.M. said her mother never abused her. But Linda Miller was convicted of two counts of molesting C.M.
A.M. testified that her mother had abused her. Of course, when A.M was questioned in 1993, during an investigation of her allegations of abuse against Alan Hughes, she made no mention of any abuse by her mother or anybody else. Of course, when A.M. was questioned in 1994 during an investigation of her allegations of abuse against Larry Steinborn (Miller's ex-husband), A.M. made no mention of abuse by her mother or by anybody else. Of course, when A.M. was interviewed on video tape early in 1995, and was asked about abuse, she made no mention of her mother abusing her. None of that information was presented to the jury. The jury convicted Linda Miller of two counts of molesting A.M.
D.E. testified that Miller had abused her. Of course, when D.E. was questioned in 1992 about allegations of being abused by Able Lopez, she said nothing about Miller abusing her. Of course, when D.E. was questioned in 1994 about allegations of being abused by her parents, she never mentioned Miller or anyone else. Her allegations against Miller did not arise until early in 1995, in the wake of threats by Perez to have her removed from his home because she was misbehaving. However, the jury was not presented that information. The jury convicted Linda Miller of two counts of molesting D.E.
M.E. testified that Miller had abused her. Of course, M.E. said nothing about Miller abusing her in 1994, where she was questioned about the allegations of sexual abuse against her parents. And early in 1994, her counselor said M.E. was still suffering from "volitional suppression" of her memories of any abuse. The counselor vowed to help her overcome that "suppression stance", and apparently it worked. The jury was not presented with this information. The jury convicted Linda Miller of two counts of molesting M.E.
P.H. testified that she had seen Linda Miller molesting C.M. and A.M. Of course, the prosecutor had informed the defense attorney that P.H. would not be testifying. Then the prosecutor brought P.H. as a surprise rebuttal witness. Of course, P.H. had said nothing about Miller being involved in any molestation when she was questioned in 1993 about allegations of sexual abuse by her father. Of course, P.H. had said nothing about Miller during the extensive investigations in 1994 relating to allegations of sexual abuse by her mother and by several acquaintences of her parents. Of course, P.H. had given a statement in July that was a direct contradiction to her testimony at trial. In the earlier statement, she said she knew Miller but had never been to Miller's house. P.H. said she did not know Linda Miller's children. Of course, the investigator who did that interview with P.H. was not allowed to give testimony about P.H.'s prior inconsistent statement. The jury convicted Linda Miller, and courtroom observers think it was due to P.H.'s testimony, testimony that was highlighted by a long crying jag during cross examination, a crying spell that observers believe turned the jury against Miller and her attorney.
Of course, the outcome of the trial apparently met her attorney's expectations. He was quoted in a Seattle paper just two days before the trial. He said that he expected Linda Miller would be convicted because she had given a confession.
Miller now faces 12 to 16 years in prison.
Tom Grant tgrant@comtch.iea.com
Reporter, KREM-TV, PO Box 8037, Spokane, WA 99202
Phone: 509-838-7373
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