CONVICTED MOLESTER RELEASED FROM PRISON.

Byline: - Grace Lee

VENTURA - A former Ventura County school board member, convicted last July of molesting young family members decades ago, was released from prison Thursday under a Supreme Court ruling striking down the state's attempt to extend the statute of limitations in such cases.

Albert Rosen, 76, formerly of Simi Valley, had been serving a term of three years to life in prison on nine counts of child molestation stemming from sex acts with young male and female relatives from 1966 to 1971.

``Those memories will be with me forever,'' said his son, Ron Rosen, who came forward as an adult to accuse his father.

He also criticized last week's high court ruling against the 1994 California law that retroactively revoked the statute of limitations on certain sex crimes against children.

Even with the release, he continued, his father would face difficulties.

``He can't come back to society, especially Simi Valley, the safest city in America,'' he said.

Ventura County prosecutor Lisa Lyytikainen said district attorneys did not oppose the release.

``It's unfortunate for the victims who were out there and that they had to survive the trial, but we have to abide by the Supreme Court ruling,'' she said.

The Supreme Court decision is expected to affect hundreds of child molestation cases, with prosecutors, public defenders and private attorneys sifting through a decade's worth of convictions.