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False Sexual Abuse Allegations Letter from Carol Hopkins to The Honorable Don Rogers
NOVEMBER 4 IS THE DATE FOR THE SACRAMENTO DIALOGUE ON IMPROVING THE CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA. IT IS SPONSORED BY DAVID KNOWLES AND WILL BE HELD IN THE CAPITOL. I HAVE ATTACHED A LETTER I AM SENDING OUT TO ALL LEGISLATIVE OFFICIALS REGARDING THE BAKERSFIELD SEX RING CONVICTIONS 13 YEARS AGO. IT IS MY HOPE TO ALSO MAKE THAT DATE A STATEWIDE VIGIL FOR THE FALSELY ACCUSED AND CONVICTED. I NEED ALL OF THE FATHERS AND PARENTS GROUPS TO ORGANIZE THIS. WILL YOU HELP? August 16, 1995 The Honorable Don Rogers Capitol Building #5052 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Rogers: I am asking your assistance on behalf of a number of your constituents who were falsely convicted and imprisoned in l984. I assume you have some knowledge about the l984 Bakersfield sex-ring cases -- the precursor trials to McMartin and other ritual abuse cases which swept the nation in the 1980's and early 90's. These cases were part of a national hysteria which resulted in hundreds of false convictions for events which never happened. Across the country we are seeing, one by one, the reversal of these cases (Kelly Michaels, NJ, Bob Kelly, Dawn Wilson, NC, Felix & Ontiveros, NV,etc.). As background to my expertise on this issue, I served as Deputy Foreman of the San Diego County Grand Jury which investigated problems in the area of child abuse allegations. Since 1992, I have testified frequently before the California State Legislature. I have appended testimony I gave before the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Senate this year. In particular, I ask that you note the last section of the Senate testimony which deals with Redress, and the appendix, Child Sexual Abuse Cases with Compelling Evidence of False Charges and Convictions 1983-1995. Relevant to the Bakersfield cases: in 1989 The Supreme Court of California overturned the convictions of several defendants in People v. Stoll, (49 Cal.3d 1136; 265 Cal.Rptr. 111); in 1990 the convictions of Ricky Lyn Pitts et al were overturned (223 Cal. App.3d 606; 273 Cal.Rptr. 757). Last week the 100 year sentence of Donna Sue Hubbard was overturned by the 5th District Court of Appeals. I have included newspaper coverage of this. Donna Sue has not been released on bail despite having already served 13 years and a scathing decision from the Justices of the 5th District. Furthermore, there are still seven other imprisoned persons involved in these cases. Some are awaiting the results of their appeals; others have exhausted their financial resources to appeal. Scott and Brenda Kniffen were sentenced to 240 years apiece after their own children were badgered and frightened into testifying against them in a case that makes the Spanish Inquisition look honorable. Their sons Brandon and Brian have recently recanted their accusations of sexual molestation against their parents,telling how the social workers, police, and prosecutors programmed their testimony, promising them that they could go home with their parents if they repeated the prosecutor's lies. I have included a short summary of their particular case. All of these convictions ultimately will be overturned because of the current state of knowledge about how these cases occurred and the recantations by adult children desperate to release the adults they falsely convicted. Nonetheless, it took ten years of tireless effort by an appellate attorney and countless years of pro-bono work by others to achieve these results. As the public learns more by media exposure to the witchhunt mentality which led to these cases, there is an increasing public outcry. Already we can see the effects in public unwillingness to believe even some well-founded allegations of molest. The Republicans, both in California and at the national level, have been in the forefront putting safeguards into the system to asssure that cases like this could never again occur. That is good. It is not enough. As the State Senator from the district which falsely convicted these individuals, I am asking that you help lead a concerted effort to expedite their release. I have provided copious documents for you to read. It would be easy to just say, "let the courts do it". Meanwhile, these people are dying in prison, their children have grown up without parents, their parents have died unable to see their children free. It is a monumental tragedy which our children and grandchildren will one day study in the history books as we studied the Salem Witch Trials. Now is still the time for heroes to come forth. Soon there will only be time to climb aboard the bandwagon decrying the tragedy. Sincerely, Carol L. Hopkins
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Modified Wednesday, December 03, 2008 Copyright @ 2007 by Fathers' Manifesto & Christian Party |
