Disgraceful: Teachers rally to support admitted child molester

How can this be?  Simple.  The molester was a fellow teacher.

Convicted child molester Neal Erickson gets teacher support, while the victim doesn’t even get acknowledged. As the story tells it:

“I am asking that Neal be given the absolute minimum sentence, considering all the circumstances surrounding this case,” wrote Amy Huber Eagan, a teacher and wife of board member Mike Eagan. “I am also hoping that he can stay remanded to the custody of the Ogemaw County Jail and not be sent to a prison facility.”

Neal Erickson abused this boy for three years, documented and publicized his abuse, and tore a family apart, as the article notes.  The only reason he was caught was apparently because the abuser posted pictures of the abuse on the Internet, and an anonymous person sent them to the School Board.  This man is a vile predator, not some “confused” sad-sack.

Speaking of vile, this from the molester’s wife:

While I acknowledge that Neal’s conduct with [the victim] was wrong, I do not believe he was damaged by Neal’s actions and I base my opinion on my personal interaction with [the victim], both before and after Neal’s actions. However [my daughter] very likely could be. Please don’t punish her by his absence in her life.

Unbelievable.  Have they really no shame at all?

Thankfully, The district’s parents understand just what is at stake here:

[H]undreds of parents who are rallying behind the Janczewskis are threatening to pull their children from the district if the school board doesn’t act, a serious concern because of the potential loss of per-pupil state funding.

But what do the parents receive from the school’s teachers?  A “stick in the eye”:

10 people, including seven WB-RC teachers, submitted letters of support for Erickson, most pleading for a reduced sentence. They included Campbell, Amy Eagan, Coe, Toni Erickson, Carol Rau, Marilyn Glover, Sandi Lee, Kathryn Weber, Kathleen Sheel and Kathleen Palmer, the Herald reports.

The “thin chalk line” of teachers covering up for teachers.  It never ends.  The judge gets it, though:

Judge Michael Bumgartner told Erickson he was “appalled and ashamed that the community could rally around, in this case, you,” according to the Herald.

In fact, Neal Erickson got some of what he deserved: Neal Erickson was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct after he admitted to engaging in sex acts with a former student.  At Jackson State Penitentiary in general population, hopefully.

The family also wanted “the seven teachers who publicly supported Erickson terminated immediately, Eagan to step down or be recalled from office, and action by the school district to help prevent other students from suffering abuse.”  Anyone with the slightest amount of common sense would call for these same actions.

Not surprisingly, the School Board does not have the slightest amount of common sense.

Even worse, the local government establishment seems hell-bent on protecting Mike Eagan, the Board member who publicly sat in support of the child molester at the trial.

These child-molester apologists appear to go so far as to burn down the garage of the victim’s family.

Infuriating.  This entire nest of vipers needs to be cleared out.

Support the Janczewski family.

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Protecting Our Seniors: Never Give Your Credit Card to Anyone Who Calls YOU

The idea that the police will call you and demand a fine to cover missing jury duty might sound like an obvious scam to some folks, but to a lot of people, especially our elderly folks, this kind of call can be all too convincing.  Good job to Wini Olsen for seeing through this bully’s bluster.  Yelling at old people over the phone and demanding money?  Somebody needs a swift kick.

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Friday Photo

Friday Photo

Tide pools on the Oregon coast, 2008

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Eagle Scout Molests Younger Scouts, Pleads Guilty

Well, at least he had the sense to plead guilty (or maybe just the fear of a much harsher sentence).  The Scouts are still lax when it comes to protecting Scouts from each other.  Let’s hope this is a wake-up for local Troops and Sponsors.

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Hawaii’s Compassionate Child Abuse Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is a law that gives a person a set time period to file a lawsuit.  Once the statute of limitations expires, you are prevented from continuing with the lawsuit if a defendant objects to the late filing (and they all do).

In Hawaii, the Legislature looked at the impacts of sexual abuse on a child—including the inability of kids to disclose their abuse even if they don’t forget about it—and extended their statute of limitations to age 26, or within 3 years of discovering a causal connection between child abuse and a later resulting injury.

More importantly, Hawaii’s Legislature created a “window” of two years during which time anyone could bring a lawsuit against an abuser or an institution that sheltered them, no matter when they discovered their injury, and no matter if their prior claims had expired.

For a period of two years after [April 24, 2012], a victim of child sexual abuse that occurred in this State who had been barred from filing a claim against the victim’s abuser due to the expiration of the applicable civil statute of limitations that was in effect prior to [April 24, 2012], may file a claim in a circuit court of this State against the person who committed the act of sexual abuse.

Although institutional claims requires a higher standard to qualify under the statute, this represents a tremendous opportunity for child sexual abuse victims in Hawaii to seek justice and healing.  The “window” closes in mid- April of 2014, so those who suffered child abuse in Hawaii are encouraged to contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

I’m fortunate to be working on a case now in Hawaii with some great child abuse lawyers.  The statute is impressive in its scope, and appears to be a very big step toward helping Hawaiian child abuse victims.  Hawaiians should be proud of their Legislature for creating such an understanding and compassionate law.

If you have any questions about the Hawaii child abuse statute of limitations, please contact Kristian Roggendorf at Roggendorf Law using the form below.  

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DISCLAIMER: THE USE OF THIS FORM DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.  Do NOT submit confidential or sensitive information in this form.  For direct inquiries about representation, please contact Kristian Roggendorf by providing your contact information above, or by using the Oregon State Bar Membership Directory.  Thank you.

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Smith Rock, Oregon

Monkeyface and Smith Rock

View of Monkeyface from the top of Central Oregon

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