SNAP SEEKS CASE PROBE FOCUS PUT ON JUDGE'S OBJECTIVITY.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - A national support group of sex abuse victims is questioning the decisions made by a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Superior Court judge, in light of his suicide in Newhall and allegations he was under investigation for child molestation Child molestation is a crime involving a range of indecent or sexual activities between an adult and a child, usually under the age of 14. In psychiatric terms, these acts are sometimes known as pedophilia. . The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, is the oldest and most active support group for women and men abused by religious authority figures in the US. It is an independent, non-profit organization with no connections with any churches. , also known as SNAP, filed a letter Tuesday with presiding Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Laughlin, asking him to review the cases decided on by Judge Lloyd Jeffrey Wiatt, a Valencia resident. The letter asks MacLaughlin to specifically review sex abuse cases handled by Wiatt, who members of SNAP say may have been lenient on such hearings. ``If Wiatt was a molester 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. himself, how could he possibly treat molestation molestation n. the crime of sexual acts with children up to the age of 18, including touching of private parts, exposure of genitalia, taking of pornographic pictures, rape, inducement of sexual acts with the molester or with other children, and variations of these victims with fairness?`` said Mary Grant, Western Regional Director for SNAP. ``Citizens and taxpayers need to know whether the victims of sex crimes were treated impartially by Wiatt or not.'' No charges were filed against Wiatt, who drove to Towsley Canyon Park Feb. 10 and shot himself to death after sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic violence call at his home. Sheriff's deputies said at the time Wiatt was despondent de·spon·dent adj. Feeling or expressing despondency; dejected. de·spon  dent·ly adv. over family problems and an allegation of child molestation against him. Detectives from the sheriff's family crimes bureau, which investigates such crimes, were talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to"lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to the judge on the phone as he sat in his car in the park. Members of SNAP, a 6,000-strong national group that formed as a result of misconduct by Catholic priests This is an annotated list of men primarily known for their work as Catholic priests. Catholic priests who are mostly known for their non-priestly work should be placed on other lists. , said they are basing their allegations that Wiatt may have rendered a biased decision after he dismissed a former nun's sexual abuse lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles because there wasn't enough evidence to prove the church conspired to cover up an alleged rape by a Roman Catholic priest. Wiatt also was the Superior Court judge who delivered a death sentence to a woman who killed her four daughters four years ago in a fire she set in their Seco Canyon home. In addition, members of SNAP also are asking that MacLaughlin ``send a mailing to all attorneys and persons who had sex abuse cases and juvenile cases where Wiatt was president and ask if they or their witnesses were hurt in any way by Wiatt.'' ``As you should know, victims of sexual abuse often suffer for years in secrecy, with overwhelming feelings of guilt, blame and shame,'' according to SNAP letter. ``When the abuser is a trusted authority figure in the community, it is all the more difficult for victims to report the crimes to police.'' Wiatt worked at the Chatsworth courthouse for the past three years, overseeing civil cases. Previously, he presided over criminal trials at the San Fernando courthouse. A spokeswoman with the Los Angeles Superior Court said there has been no response by MacLaughlin. City News Service contributed to this report. Susan Abram, (661) 257-5255 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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