Police: Man charged for [child] sex assault from 1987 (Seeking input-please)

Okay, before I post the story/info I want to start off saying that Child molestors and the alike absolutely the scum of the earth. We, as a society, have to pursue the offenders and help the victims when they are learned of.

But, is there a line out there, somewhere, that we-as a society-have to stop and use common sense? Not the Witch Hunt manner that I think it has become. I say this coming from a Law Enforcement background. Matter of fact, I am not even sure how this story made me think the way I am and making want to toss it up for your folks input.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I have seen or dealt with far more worse cases that I have become somewhat desensitized to the point that I think we, as a society, IN THIS CASE have crossed the line and infringed on the alleged persons rights too far/much-beause of one persons supressed memory- 23 years later!!!

Please read the whole linked new story.

MODS: I put this here as the story is new and the topic at hand is current. Please feel free to move if it should be somewhere else. And, put my comments at the beginning in hopes of holding off any misconseptions of the content (as not of offend anyone as this is a touchy subject-IMO).

Police: Man charged for sex assault from 1987

Kerstetter, 74, allegedly had inappropriate contact with then-15-year-old boy
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/acea09bdbb54.jpg[/atsimg]

MILROY - Forrest R. "Sonny" Kerstetter Jr., 74, of Milroy, faces charges of indecent assault and unconscious indecent assault of a 15-year-old boy that are alleged to have occurred in 1987, Mifflin County Regional Police reported.

The reported victim came forward on the afternoon of Sept. 9, making an official statement to Sgt. Rupert of the Mifflin County Regional Police Department. According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, the victim finally spoke up because of the recent articles in The Sentinel covering sexual assault incidents originating many years ago. The victim was concerned that given the opportunity, Kerstetter would assault other young boys, the document stated.

READ STORY FOR ALL DETAILS. THIS IS JUST THE TEASER

The alleged victim told police that he is forever haunted by this incident. He relives the incident every time he sees Kerstetter driving through Mifflin County in that same red and white Monte Carlo. Police stated that the victim hopes for closure.

The accused faces charges of indecent assault and unconscious indecent assault. On Oct. 8, Forrest R. Kerstetter was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Tammy Hunter's office. He is jailed on a $50,000 straight bond.

Source: www.lewistownsentinel.com...

Okay, you read the story-as reported. Did they (Law Enforcement & Society) go to far or too soon? Another angle I am not seeing, perhaps? Better to aire on the side of caution? Thanks for your thoughts and input.

reply to post by anon72

Did they (Law Enforcement & Society) go to far or too soon?

According to this, it's 11 years too late to proceed with prosecution:

"(B.1) MAJOR SEXUAL OFFENSES.-- A prosecution for any of the following offenses under Title 18 must be commenced within 12 years after it is committed:

Section 3126 (relating to indecent assault)."

Another angle I am not seeing, perhaps?

Difficult to know what the article is failing to mention, but the whole thing looks a bit odd to me. I'm not sure how to reconcile the victim's claim to be concerned that "Kerstetter would assault other young boys" with the fact that he waited 23 years to report it. It also seems odd that the article makes a point of stating the victim's sister was present for the first incident, but "didn't see anything." And apparently was left with the accussed after the victim ran off. I mean...if I was concerned about a child molestor, I don't think abandoning my sister with him would be the first thing I'd do. And yet, there's no indication that she had any problem, and apparently the incident wasn't important enough for him to bother telling anyone about it. As for the final incident, I'm having a difficult time imaginging the sequence: father is away, the boy wakes up to a 51 year old man (at the time) groping him, he screams, man runs off...and apparently is able to leave the premises without the boy noticing in the time it takes him to "collect his wits" and then go looking for him? The whole scenario seems odd to me.

But again, who knows what we don't know? Kerstetter may have a previous history. Or, maybe the officer who took the complaint simply passed it on and the court had nothing better to do that day. Hard to say.

But personally, based solely on what the article says I might have told the guy "Sorry. You should have said something twenty years ago."

There should be no statute of limitations on sexual abuse crimes. It goes on to destroy lives well beyond the "original" victim. The perps know that it's a disgrace or they wouldn't have hidden it in the first place. Exposure & prosecution will never "bring back" or compensate the victim(s)- nothing will do that, but it appears to assist recovery in some way. As they say- mileage may vary.
Break. The. Silence.

reply to post by DogsDogsDogs


Well, maybe so but I think the evidence needs to be more than one persons-sketchy memory before an arrest is made.

I have to say that Innocent until proven guilty is in jepordy.

I've got a problem with "victims" suddenly having a revelation to report a crime 20 years after the fact.

No DNA evidence, no collaborating witnesses, no other victims.

This guy would have been in his early 50's when he allegedly abused this child. No reports or accusation of abuse about this guy before or since. I don't think so. This will be the only child molester that has no repeat offenses. Remember, child molesters can and are held in jail after their sentence is over due to the courts considering them a danger to society. The prevalent view is they can't be "healed" to "normal" standards.

This is blackmail or some other nefarious scheme from the accuser.

reply to post by hinky


Thanks. I hadn't thought of that angle. Knowing area-I have to say you maybe most on it with you theory.

I also thought about the old man/ the accused. He will have a hard time trying to come up with an aliby-from such a long time ago. Heck, any of us would.

Take care.

I don't think that anyone guilty of child abuse should ever be forgiven.

Because that person has wrecked that child's life.

That person has murdered innocence, which all children should have, and we don't have that for long.

Sure punish the guilty,
but what went wrong with the fells acre daycare case. Suggestive questioning and prizes for telling stories of abuse. That’s a telling saga.

Better to go vigilante and just shoot them...

simple...why bother going through a grueling gut wrenching court case? Quicker, easier and cheaper to sort it yourself.



and regardless of the *&^%$# years that may have passed since the offense, get the scum off the street!
Because scum like that don't stop what they do, they get worse.

reply to post by catwhoknows


thats right catwhoknows!

and just because one victim steps forward and prosecutes, there are many more who remain silent.

reply to post by Thurisaz


Thanks Thur!

This makes a nice change from being attacked.

Click here for more information.

Originally posted by Thurisaz
Better to go vigilante and just shoot them...

simple...why bother going through a grueling gut wrenching court case? Quicker, easier and cheaper to sort it yourself.

and regardless of the *&^%$# years that may have passed since the offense, get the scum off the street!
Because scum like that don't stop what they do, they get worse.

why bother finding out if their guilty.
burn the witch
we will start with you.

reply to post by Plasma applicator

GO FOR IT.

why the hell a person would put themselves through the entire legal process?

(THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW) and I can sure as hell tell you, it is hard and then to sit opposite a serial pedo who LAUGHS at you...

reply to post by Plasma applicator


simple, if a person has wronged you... you don't need a jury to decide if he is guilty or not.

Deal with it yourself.

The statute of limitations for victims under the age of 14 (or is it 15?) is 15 years. 1987 is 23 years ago, so shouldn't he then be "Scott free" as they say?

Not that I'm defending the bastard for what he did, but we don't want to set a precedence here. However, I would agree that rape (of any form towards anyone in any age) shouldn't have a statute of limitations. Like murder.

So either:

A.) Let him go
or
B.) Change the law.

I vote for B, let him spend the rest of his miserable life behind bars. Goodness only knows if he's harmed more children.

reply to post by anon72


And a late reply to you, anon,

Child molesters are indeed the scum of the earth.

Originally posted by Thurisaz
reply to post by Plasma applicator

 

simple, if a person has wronged you... you don't need a jury to decide if he is guilty or not.

Deal with it yourself.

i can understand that
problem is people not involved making judgments of guilt

Click here for more information.

Oh and while I am still responding to this thread it is important to note:

A 90 yr old man was charged just recently with kiddie porn...making movies

they don't get better, they get worse and if they can't access kids, they will find other ways to do it...

to keep on destroying kids lives.

People were like wow... 'he is 90 years old! Is it possible?.. yes it is!

Get them off the street! Report them no matter when it happened because if it happened in 1980 or whenever, they will still be doing it to other children.