February 23rd, 2009

I’ve spent the better part of the day working on the promotions for the release of Thunder Over the Prairie. More press packets have to go out, interviews have to be scheduled, and advertising has to be booked. I’m excited about the launch of the material and want to do everything I can to make the book a success. It’s a gloomy, rainy day though. I feel old and unappealing. Word has gotten back to me that my life might be in danger because I’ve been speaking out for my brother, but I’m not persuaded to stop. Guilt is powerful and my brother’s suffering goes on and on. I won’t quit even if it costs me my life. I remember how it began?he cried. His sobs were deep and labored. My brother’s despondent sobbing was infectious. I cried with him. He tried to speak, but all I could make out that he was saying was “please help me.” His step-daughter had accused him of molesting her. It was a despicable, life-altering claim she swore only happened whenever their were people around. Rick swore it never happened and the lie detector test bore that out. “I don’t belong here,” he wept. He was terrified and in shock. My brother was a police officer and worked on a special task force for the county Prosecuting Attorney’s office helping to track down child pornography users. The Prosecuting Attorney confirmed Rick’s position with the task force. Some of the images found on the work computer and family’s home computer were “indicative of child pornography.” Special investigators hired to review the material showed that the bulk of the images found were from a site called pedoland.com. Pedoland is a game site for children. Children take care of a computer pet. They feed and play with the puppy, kitten, or whatever baby animal they choose. My nieces used my brother’s computer often to play with their computer pets. The attorney I hired to represent Rick told me if the case went to trial that the jury would be shown a series of pornographic images and that the attorney representing Rick’s step-daughter would point to my brother and say he viewed these images and that he molested his step-child. I was told that was all that needed to be done to assure a conviction. No testimony. No opportunity for my brother to tell his side. I was told that a jury would convict based solely on those two things. The conviction rate was 97% no matter what Rick said in his defense. I was told the government wanted to make an example of Rick and give him life in prison. I was told to take a deal for 20 years. My brother was too distraught to make any decision. He could barely speak. I told him what he should do. I denied him his chance to tell his side of the story. I hope to rectify what I’ve done in the book The Deadliest Lie. I hope to give him a voice. While he could still speak clearly and write, this is in part, what he stated. “First of all I have never touched any of my children in a sexual manner. I have as a parent changed diapers, taken care of diaper rashes and such, just as any parent would. Sometime in 1994, when my step-daughter made her first accusation, we were living in a 2 ½ bedroom home. The girls shared the big room and my son was in a closet, converted to a room for him. My brother was living with us for awhile and we had his two daughters with us. Five girls slept on a set of bunk beds with two girls on top and three on the bottom. When my step-daughter made the accusation, not only did my wife and I discuss the matter, but we determined after talking that my step-daughter was really mad at her mother for working in the evenings. We also had taken my step-daughter to Children’s Mercy Hospital for a SAFE Exam. They told us she showed no signs of sexual assault.” I will continue with Rick’s statement over the next few weeks. I’ll die before I’m quiet about this injustice.