"Justice for all" my ass!
Kids recant abuse claims after dad jailed 20 years
The Associated Press
Saturday, July 11, 2009 4:51 p.m.
Former Vancouver, Wash., police officer Clyde Ray Spencer spent nearly 20 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually molesting his son and daughter. Now, the children say it never happened.
Matthew Spencer and Kathryn Tetz took the stand Friday in Clark County Superior Court to clear their father's name. Matthew, now 33, was 9 years old at the time, and told a judge he only made the allegation after insistent questioning by a now-retired sheriff's detective.
Spencer's sentence was commuted by then-Gov. Gary Locke in 2004, after questions arose about the conviction. The Columbian newspaper reports that prosecutors had withheld medical exams that showed no evidence of abuse.
Although the sentence was commuted, the conviction remains on Spencer's record. He is seeking to have it overturned.
If it can happen to a cop, it can happen to anyone.
5 comments:
It is a scary world, we live in!
~AM
Sad but true!
Although the sentence was commuted, the conviction remains on Spencer's record.
Typically, getting one's record expunged costs big bucks. I hope that doesn't happen to this fellow.
These miscarriages of justice really anger me.
What's going to happen to Matthew Spencer, Kathryn Tetz, and the prosecutors? The prosecutors, in particular, should have to face the music -- big time.
AirmanMom, very scary.
Mike Golch, yeah life isn't some feelgood fairy tale.
Rev. Gregori, makes one appreciate the 2nd Amendment.
AOW, no idea what will happen to the kids who were coerced into false testimony. I'd pity them more than anything. Don't know about the prosecutors either, they may have had no inkling the (now retired) detective had strongarmed the kids. I'd say that detective should be brought up on charges. Chances are that a statute of limitations has been reached. At the very least, Spencer should get one whale of a monetary settlement from the state.
What the hell? Even twenty some odd years ago the kid had to be questioned in the presence of a legal guardian. Didn't anyone see the cop was leaning on the kid?
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