Reno: No Evidence of Criminal Wrongdoing in Sex Ring Investigation
WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- The Justice Department said Friday it found
insufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing by police or prosecutors
in the investigation of two alleged sex rings in the Wenatchee area.
Authorities have charged that dozens of children were raped or
molested in this community of 35,000. But critics of the investigation
claimed that prosecutors, social workers and police talked children
into making the accusations and bullied adults into confessing.
"Our evaluation of the materials submitted leads us to conclude that
we cannot establish beyond a reasonable doubt that public officials
acted willfully, as we must in a criminal prosecution," Attorney
General Janet Reno wrote Gov. Mike Lowry, who requested the
investigation.
Prosecutors have accused 28 adults of participating in sex rings since
1988 in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. Authorities said up to 50
children were forced to have sex with each other and in groups with
family members and other adults.
Three people have been acquitted, including Pastor Robert Roberson and
his wife, Connie, who were accused of having orgies at their church.
Five were convicted, and 14 pleaded guilty to sexually abusing
children. Five cases were either dropped or reduced to misdemeanors,
and one is still pending.
Chelan County Prosecutor Gary Riesen said he felt vindicated by Reno's
decision.
"I'd say I have felt all along our office had followed the proper
procedures and used the state court in the proper way. The fact that
they declined to investigate confirms that," he said.
AP-WS-02-02-96 1718EST
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