Appealing to the public

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Eric Bechler’s family is not giving up.

They are not only taking their appeal to his murder conviction to the

courts, but to the public as well.

Bechler’s mother, Linda, distributed little, pink fliers and buttons

near Newport Pier days before the sentencing proclaiming her son’s

innocence and calling for support from the community.

The family has also started an Internet site, o7

https://www.freebechler.comf7 , that solicits money contributions to pay

for Bechler’s appeal process.

Uncle Jim Bechler said the site is not just to further Eric’s cause.

“Twenty percent of people in jail today are innocent,” he said.

“That’s a lot of people. It happens all the time. We’ll be happy if we

can do something for Eric and others who can’t afford to pay $200,000 for

their defense.”

Linda Bechler said the site is getting “good response.”

“We’ll update it from time to time, and we’ll answer all e-mails,” she

said.

The site, still under construction, will also include trial

transcripts, she added.

“All we’re trying to do is present the facts as they are,” she said.

The site and fliers are not meeting with universally warm responses,

especially from the family of Pegye Bechler, Eric’s Bechler’s wife, whom

he is convicted of murdering.

Pegye Bechler’s mother, June Marshall, said she is concerned by the

Bechlers’ persistence.

“It just goes to show it’s not the end for us,” she said. “It’s all an

ugly mess now, and it’s a shame.”