McMartin Case: ‘Begging for Answers’

While I share the frustration expressed in your editorial (Jan. 24), “Begging for Answers,” on the latest developments on the McMartin case, I believe that any examination of what happened should begin with the premise that there are inherent problems and pitfalls that investigators must face when probing such large-scale allegations of child molestation conspiracy.

For example, there are many parallels between the McMartin case and a case in Scott County, Minnesota, in which 21 people who had been charged with child sexual abuse subsequently had charges against them dropped. In both cases, many informed observers state that charges were filed before thorough investigations were completed, that there was a lack of physical evidence to corroborate children’s claims, and that interviews of children were mishandled.

The result, according to a report by Minnesota Atty. Gen. Hubert Humphrey III, was a double tragedy: Innocent persons’ lives were ruined, while others who probably did molest children were never prosecuted.

I have a motion pending before the Board of Supervisors (due to be considered on Monday) that would request the leaders of local law enforcement and child protection agencies to develop standard procedures that would be followed in future cases.

It is inevitable that individuals who study the facts of the McMartin case will be tempted to assign blame. But I hope that we can go beyond a search for scapegoats toward a better understanding of how to prosecute successfully those guilty of sexual molestation of children.

EDMUND D. EDELMAN

Supervisor

Third District

Los Angeles