Wealthy Child Molester Gets Probation, Wouldn't Fare Well In Prison

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

I believe I heard that the Defendant in this case has another child, male, that has also alleged sexual abuse at the hands of the father. I think it was a half sibling to the victim in this case.

In thinking whether this guy actually did it or not, I'm not sure I find this all that important. Looking at it from the side of the accused, this would only make it more likely that a vindictive ex might coach a child to falsely accuse the father in search of money.

[AGDee]

When the original incident and arrest happened, the child was around 4. The Free Press article said she told her grandmother about it in October, 2007. She is 11 now and that was 6-7 years ago. This new civil suit is more recent, but the original occurrence (and plea bargain) were when the children were young enough to remember those recent events.

Memory before the age of 5 is very sketchy. I had memories of going to feed the neighbor's lion in his cage when I was around 3. I asked my mom about it when I was grown and she informed me they had a collie who had a kennel behind their garage. Much less exciting, clearly!

I have very vague memories of being in a cabin and my dad trying to kill bats. That really happened, when I was about 2 1/2. The same vacation, some geese attacked me and I have a vague recollection of that. Both events would have felt pretty scary to me and I believe that's why I remember them.

[AGDee]

None of that is relevant in this case because the man confessed to molesting both children years ago, when he first took the plea bargain. Wouldn't that be admissable evidence in the civil case?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by AGDee

None of that is relevant in this case because the man confessed to molesting both children years ago, when he first took the plea bargain. Wouldn't that be admissable evidence in the civil case?

I think there were two pleas.

But yes. It's just going to be a question of damages at this point in the civil case. Where I think it may be squishy (and it may not be, YMMV from state to state) is whether the father will be allowed to testify that he only plead guilty because he got no time and was already a registered sex-offender, which beat a chance, however small of going to prison.

I'm sure his more than capable law firm has that angle figured out.