Don’t judge Haidl family without living in their shoes

In response to Paul James Baldwin’s letter to the editor of July 25

(“Lessons in responsibility need to start at home”), I would first

remind him that Greg Haidl was not the only defendant on trial and

accused of raping Jane Doe. Kyle Nachreiner and Keith Spann were also

among the accused.

It would seem to me that Baldwin has a bias toward Greg’s father,

Don Haidl, because he was an assistant sheriff with money. What about

the other two defendants and their parents’ ability to pay for their

defense?

I have been actively involved with the Corona del Mar High School

PTA board for the past six years. My husband is a former prosecutor

from Los Angeles and Orange County. He’s now a defense attorney here

in Newport Beach, specializing in young adults’ problems.

We have encountered kids from all walks of life who, for some

reason or another, have broken the law. Many of these kids were from

solid, upstanding families with the financial means to give them

everything, yet they still broke the law. How do you account for

that? Should they all be labeled as families without values and

morals? Why single out Haidl? Were you there in his home to witness

his parenting? Also, if you haven’t walked in one of these parents’

shoes, who are you to question their right to support their son,

regardless of whether he is guilty or not guilty? They are still his

parents, and they love him.

And just because they have money to hire the best attorney doesn’t

mean they condone their son’s actions. What would Baldwin have them

do? Refuse to pay for their defense and have the state pay for a

public defender? Whatever happened to “innocent until proven guilty

by a jury of our peers?” Were you there during the whole trial to

hear both sides of the evidence? Since when does a hung jury mean

guilty?

What it tells me was that there was not enough evidence to sway a

jury to ruin three young adults’ lives. This does not mean I condone

what these young men did. I just believe in the judicial system of

our country regardless of whether I agree with the outcome. I also

know I would never presume anything without having been in that trial

to hear both sides. My last and final comment to you would be this:

Obviously, your parents raised you to judge people by their looks. I

have many wonderful friends -- some who are doctors, clergymen and

teachers -- with tattoos and body piercing. They’re from all walks of

life. I’m so glad my parents taught me never to judge a book by its

cover.

CATHY KROOPF

Corona del Mar