CONVICTED MOLESTER GOES HOME; KERN COUNTY MAN TO CONTINUE APPEALS AFTER GAINING FREEDOM.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Howard Weimer remembers 1984 as a bittersweet bittersweet, name for two unrelated plants, belonging to different families, both fall-fruiting woody vines sometimes cultivated for their decorative scarlet berries. year. After opening the doors of his home to foster children for 26 years, he and his wife were named Foster Parents of the Year. But it also was the year when a 27-year-old woman contacted a local newspaper charging he had molested mo·lest tr.v. mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests 1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy. 2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity. her while she lived at his home in the 1960s as a foster child. Investigations ensued as two other girls made similar allegations. Ultimately, Weimer was among 26 people in the 1980s found guilty of participating in several child-molestation rings in Kern County. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison by a federal judge. But since then, many witnesses have been discredited or have recanted their testimony, and the courts have overturned 14 convictions. Weimer, 74, was released Wednesday from Tehachapi State Prison as he continues to appeal his conviction. ``I was in prison, but my family served the time,'' Weimer said after walking out of a prison van and into the arms of his wife. Federal Magistrate Sandra Snyder in December recommended a federal judge overturn Weimer's conviction due to ineffective counsel. Snyder said Weimer's attorney failed to examine the investigative techniques of Kern County authorities; failed to investigate and impeach To accuse; to charge a liability upon; to sue. To dispute, disparage, deny, or contradict; as in to impeach a judgment or decree, or impeach a witness; or as used in the rule that a jury cannot impeach its verdict. the testimony of the victims; and never attacked the credibility of the 27-year-old woman who first accused Weimer. Her ``lack of credibility was not merely an alternative defense, but another straw (more like a bale bale 1. a package of wool in a wool pack weighing 150-250 lb depending largely on whether it is greasy or scoured. 2. a compressed bundle of hay, either about 100 lb tied with wire or twine, or large, round, untied bales, as big as a small hay stack and referred to as 'big bales'. of hay) on the proverbial camel's back,'' Snyder wrote in her ruling. In a publicized pub·li·cize tr.v. pub·li·cized, pub·li·ciz·ing, pub·li·ciz·es To give publicity to. Adj. 1. publicized - made known; especially made widely known publicised report, the Attorney General's Office also harshly criticized the interview techniques by sheriff's detectives and child protective service workers. ``Obviously, we think the court has erred in the other cases,'' Kern County District Attorney Ed Jagels said. But Jagels called Snyder's ruling ``ludicrous.'' Weimer will remain free during the appeal process, which includes a federal judge's examination of Snyder's recommendations. However, for now, Weimer said he wants to put the legal fray behind him and go home and enjoy a meal of fried chicken Fried chicken is chicken which is dipped in a breading mixture and then deep fried, pan fried or pressure fried. The breading seals in the juices but also absorbs the fat of the fryer, which is sometimes seen as unhealthy. and baked potatoes. |
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