14-Year-Old Jailed After Avoiding Trial Of Man Accused Of Molesting Her

[The Straight Story]

14-Year-Old Jailed After Avoiding Trial Of Man Accused Of Molesting Her

POSTED: 7:21 am EDT May 16, 2006

AKRON, Ohio -- A 14-year-old girl who ran away to avoid testifying against a man accused of molesting her has been jailed for a week and denied access to an attorney, officials and court records said.

The girl failed to show up May 8 at the trial of 20-year-old Galo Sanchez-Pesantes. She was taken into custody a day later when her mother found her and called police.

Prosecutors said the teen is a material witness. They wanted her girl jailed "so that she is not on the streets where we can't find her or she's doing things she shouldn't be doing," said Mary Ann Kovach, who heads the Summit County prosecutor's criminal division.

Common Pleas Judge James Murphy ordered the girl held indefinitely. The girl has requested a lawyer, according to court records. But jail officials said she isn't permitted contact with anyone unless county prosecutors approve.

http://www.local6.com/news/9222281/detail.html

[rodeodance]

1. This is not the America I know--or thought I knew. She is a kid!

[dogday]

2. WTF?

:wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf:

[FreakinDJ]

3. BIZZAR is all I can say

Like the Nazi's in those cheap B grade WWII flicks "We have ways of making you sign ze papers"

Defense attorneys said the girl denied having sex and would not write a statement for police. They have asked that his case be dismissed and say the state has "effectively kidnapped" the girl.

[jumpoffdaplanet]

4. I think Law&Order did this in an episode years ago

It sucks but it's technically legal

Boy, that's going to encourage victims to come forward. O yeah.

[Karmakaze]

5. Statutory Rape?

Thats what it sounds like to me - this 14yo girl had consensual sex with a 20yo man and is not cooperating with the prosecution. It sucks that she is being jailed, but what else can prosecutors do? Should the 20 year old be able to get away with statutory rape because the victim doesnt want to testify against him?

I dunno, it's a hard one.

[treestar]

8. IA, there is a line here where we have to just accept reality

It sucks when people keep claiming that having to testify is being "raped again by the system." Maybe we should quit claiming that it is so horrible just to have to testify, or find a way to make it seem less horrible. They've been saying that for thirty years, they probably have convinced a lot of victims not to bring charges.

Sure it can be stressful, but it is just plain necessary if we aren't going witch hunt. We have to learn to be stronger. I got really flamed on another board for saying this, but what do they want? The defendant in a criminal case should be able to confront the accuser, or people will be punished based on unreliable information.

[The Straight Story]

9. That does make some sense

And makes things even more complicated in some ways (ie, opens more cans of worms).

[johnnie]

6. Her mom found her and called police

I think her mother might have had some say so in them putting her in jail.

[porphyrian]

7. Quick! Let's decide who's guilty before the trial! - n/t