Startling Win for Victims in High Profile Fl Child Sex Case

SNAP
June 3, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/fl_startling_win_for_victims_in_high_profile_fl_child_sex_case

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com)

In an unusual ruling, a judge is letting alleged child sex abuse victims see secret government records about a disturbing plea deal between prosecutors and a prominent Florida millionaire, Jeffrey Epstein.

We applaud the brave and determined women who have won this unprecedented legal victory.

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All too often, powerful predators exploit their influence and win special treatment and consideration from governmental officials. Such favoritism endangers kids. It also makes adults cynical about the justice system and deters them from reporting known and suspected child sex crimes in the future.

We hope these women will be able to persuade a judge to make these secret records public and let more charges be filed against Epstein. Secrecy is a child predator's best weapon.

And we hope that this startling victory will prod other victims and their legal advocates to keep pushing for more openness and transparency from the justice system. Ever so slowly, in child sex cases, the tide is turning away from the guilty adults and toward the innocent kids and wounded victims. So those who were sexually assaulted in childhood must be persistent and creative in our efforts for justice, prevention and healing.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 18,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy 314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com

Barbara Dorris 314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com