BishopAccountability.org
	Suicide at Issue in Abuse Lawsuits By Cynthia McCormick Cape Cod Times April 14, 2011 http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110414/NEWS/104140320 When Camp Good News employee Charles R. "Chuck" Devita, 43, killed himself last week after being accused of child molestation, some people interpreted it as an admission of guilt. "Suicide is the ultimate running away from the scene of a crime," said Boston attorney Carmen Durso. But others, including a prominent criminal defense attorney, said the horror of the allegations can push the accused over the edge, especially if they already are psychologically fragile. "It's not uncommon for (people) who have been accused of sexual assault to suffer intense depression," said William Korman of Boston. "An individual's emotions can certainly get the best of them." Devita's death mirrored that of other accused child abusers. One month ago, a 74-year-old former sheriff's captain in Utah shot himself to death after being charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. In February, a 36-year-old Indiana man used a gun to kill himself — and his girlfriend — after he was accused of raping a girl under the age of 14. That same month, a renowned pediatrician, Dr. Melvin Levine, ended his life with a shotgun in the North Carolina woods the same day that Durso announced a class-action lawsuit against him. At the time of the press conference, Durso represented 40 alleged victims. Levine, formerly of Children's Hospital in Boston, was accused of doing inappropriate and unnecessary genital exams on possibly thousands of male pediatric patients, Durso said. At least one of Levine's accusers lives on the Cape, the attorney said. "It's clear some people commit (suicide) because they don't want to face the punishment," Durso said. "They don't want to face the public shame." Plaintiffs' attorneys should try to have the act and any suicide note admitted as evidence in a civil trial, he said. Then it's up to the jury to determine how much weight to give the suicide, said Durso, who is suing Levine's estate on behalf of his clients, who now number 60. It's premature to discuss whether Devita's death constitutes evidence of guilt, especially since a civil suit has not been filed yet, said Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston attorney who is representing people who said they were abused at Camp Good News. So far, 13 individuals have contacted his office with complaints against the Christian summer camp on the shores of Snake Pond, and at least three of them have claimed Devita was their abuser. At stake is not only the reputation of the camp officials but also the fate of the 214-acre camp itself, whose property is valued at more than $9 million. In cases where financial reparations are possible, child abuse allegations lend themselves to civil as well as criminal cases. But some people just aren't up for the rigors of numerous and lengthy legal proceedings, Korman said. "The mere accusation of sexual assault against children can ruin a person's life," he said. Innocent individuals feel despair "because no one will listen to them," Korman said. He said the prospect of incarceration terrifies the guilty as well as innocent. His current clients include a 79-year convicted pedophile from Sandwich who is fighting indefinite civil commitment to the Massachusetts Treatment Center. Right up until the allegations against Devita surfaced early last week, the Camp Good News grounds director was described as cheerful and resourceful. Robert Condon, pastor at Gateway Christian Ministries in Mashpee, said Devita was "very upbeat" the last time they spoke, on April 3, three days before he was found shot to death. They spoke about adding chairs to the sanctuary, Condon said. "There wasn't a hint of a problem at that time," he said. Devita left a suicide note saying he was "tired of being accused" of molestation, according to law enforcement officials. Levine also maintained his innocence in a suicide note, Durso said. He said his clients hoped that Levine would apologize, but there was "none of that at all." Many child abusers are narcissistic individuals, Durso said. "They only see how it has affected their life," he said.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.