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Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois
62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com
COURAGEOUS VICTIMS MADE REDPATH PAY
Michael Redpath’s behavior is neither
unusual nor rare [Bruce Rushton, “Predator,” Dec. 8]. The fact that law enforcement, prosecutors
and judges failed on numerous occasions to hold him accountable for
his crimes is also distressingly common. And it is not unusual that a repeat sex
offender and batterer is part of a respected, community-minded
family. What is rare is that Connie Steinhoff, Barbara
Black, “Yvonne” and her mother, Rita, and
“Crystal” and her mother, “Doreen,” refused
to be intimidated by this predator and called his behavior for what
it was: rape. Fear of how the criminal justice system will respond
understandably keeps most victims from ever reporting rape.
Sgt. Tim Young and assistant State’s
Attorney Sheryl Essenburg proved to be the exceptions in
Redpath’s cases. They believed the victims and sought
justice. Even their efforts landed short of the sentences Michael
Redpath deserves for his heinous, serial, sex-offending behavior. When the criminal justice system does not
hold rapists accountable, today’s victims live in fear and
tomorrow’s victims learn not to trust the system. Distinguishing itself from other local media, Illinois Times took an
important and bold step in providing such extensive, investigative
coverage of this case, particularly of the experience of the
victims involved.
Public disclosure and discussion of rape and
battery give hope to rape victims who must be believed by their
families, their communities and the criminal justice
system. Polly Poskin Executive Director Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault Springfield THANKS FOR REDPATH STORY
I read your story about Michael Redpath, and
I commend you for getting the truth out. Others and I feel more
should have been done. We all think that the state’s
attorney’s offices should be held accountable as well. And
all involved allowing him to get break after break should lose
their jobs immediately. Thanks again, and keep up the great work. Joe Feagans Springfield THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
Your article concerning Michael Redpath is
indeed a horror story of justice delayed with the consequence of
denying justice and leaving at large a social menace. It
is
hard to believe that family influence has not played a part, even
if it is only indirectly. However, there is a flip side to this story
that needs to be considered. There are those who have been
wrongfully accused. They do not always have a way of exonerating
themselves and now must live in the pillory that Megan’s Law
has created.
Because the legal system, in response to
public concerns, is quick to react to accusations of child sexual
abuse, it is relatively easy to frame a man especially. This is not
widespread, but it is a means some women have used in unfriendly
divorce cases. It is hard for a man to prove his innocence if his
wife claims that he has abused his young children. Very young children can be questioned in such
a way that they will agree to most anything. Ideas can be planted,
especially by a parent who seems to be important to the
child’s well-being or who is the most rewarding. In one case I know of, the children
were pressured until they cried. Their crying was interpreted not as
reaction to the interview itself but to the recollection of traumatic
experiences. All cases where young children are
interviewed should be videotaped. If this is impossible, a verbatim
record should be kept so that a later evaluation of the questions
and answers can be made. A recollected report by emotionally
involved questioners is a danger to justice. Child sexual abuse is a terrible thing.
Perpetrators should be rendered harmless in some way, but vigilante
attacks and opportunistic accusations are terrible in their own
way. They can be cruelly destructive not only to the person
wrongfully accused but also to the children whose emotions are
invalidated. Sally Robinson Springfield AAUW SAYS THANKS FOR SUPPORT
This month the American Association of
University Women turned a page in its nearly 100-year history in
Springfield. Instead of the traditional holiday house tour, AAUW
members honored our commitment to raising funds for scholarships
for women by hosting dinners in their homes, followed by an elegant
champagne dessert reception at the Pasfield House. The AAUW Educational Foundation provides
fellowships and grants totaling $3.5 million dollars annually to
women who are pursuing advanced degrees. Ten women in Illinois are
among those so honored this year. The AAUW’s Springfield Branch supports
four scholarships for women at the University of Illinois at
Springfield and one at St. John’s College. These scholarships
are specifically designated for women who are returning to school. I’d like to thank Tony Leone,
proprietor of the Pasfield House, for his hospitality and support.
Thanks to those in the community who have faithfully supported the
holiday house tour through the years and to AAUW members and
friends who wholeheartedly embraced this new venture in support of
education and equity for women and girls. Kathy Klemens President American Association of University Women Springfield Branch THE GOVERNOR WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS
In January 2005, the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources laid off 84 employees due to a lack of funds. Two
of the employees, Olga Aranzubia of Herrin and I, were employed by
DNR’s Abandoned Land Mine Reclamation Division. This division
is 100 percent funded by a federal grant and had no reduction in
funding by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of
Surface Mining. At the time of the layoff, Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered that the two employees be
hired back — a paraplegic man who had to give up his
state-purchased wheelchair when he lost his job and a second employee
who is blind. The two disabled employees were paid by the state’s
general-revenue fund. Days after that announcement, Blagojevich,
speaking in Edwardsville, said he had just learned about my case. I
have cerebral palsy and use a walker. On Feb. 16, the day the governor gave his
state budget address, I met with him one on one on the third floor
of the Capitol. After [I left] a detailed packet of information in
his office, he walked up to me, and we shook hands. I handed him a
packet of material titled “Governor Blagojevich, my family
and I need your help at the Department of Natural Resources.”
As I handed him the packet, the governor looked at the cover page
and asked, “What do you want? Do you want a job?” I
told the governor, “I have a job, and I just want my job
back.”
The governor told me that he was going to
attempt to get more funding for DNR. I said, “With all due
respect, governor, my position is 100 percent federally funded
— it does not involve the state general fund.” The
governor then asked if my telephone number was included in the
material. I told him yes. As of today, he has yet to call. At the time
of the layoff, when the governor reinstated two other disabled
employees, he was quoted saying, “Yes, these are tough times
and we have to make tough decisions, but that has to be balanced
with compassion and common sense.” The governor added,
“You can’t look at everything in terms of dollars and
cents.”
My case is before the Illinois Civil Service
Commission. I am representing myself. The cost of representing
myself is not cheap — issuing subpoenas for witnesses and
records and paying for round-trip mileage for each witness and
copies of documents for the hearing has now added up to several
hundred dollars. Just days before Christmas, our family has
now experienced our own “lack of funds.”
Thanks, Governor. Doug Schnell Taylorville MAYBE THEY NEED GAS MASKS
How can the anti-smoking group proposing the
ban force whomever enforces the ban to endure evil tobacco smoke?
After all, isn’t that the reason — health issues
— they’re supporting a ban? How can a group demanding
this ban be so health-conscious but so callous about the enforcers?
Obviously when a violator is spotted, the enforcer will be forced
to put his or her life on the line to issue a ticket. The violator
will have to be smoking at the time to incur a violation. Jeff Davis Dawson
This article appears in Dec 15-21, 2005.
