MO - Six Mohler family members for child sex crimes, Bates City 2009 #4

[Missizzy]

Not exactly sure why the judge saw fit to suddenly swing that door open. My suspicion is that the clock is ticking on the "timely trial" issue. I've profiled a couple of other cases where the perp has been held longer than this but I think it's quite rare. I do find it very odd that Mohler's family was never able to swing the bail. I assume that Burrell Jr. is still cooling his jets.

 

[mysteriew]

Not exactly sure why the judge saw fit to suddenly swing that door open. My suspicion is that the clock is ticking on the "timely trial" issue. I've profiled a couple of other cases where the perp has been held longer than this but I think it's quite rare. I do find it very odd that Mohler's family was never able to swing the bail. I assume that Burrell Jr. is still cooling his jets.

I've wondered about that too. But in this type of case considering that it all concerns families and the mixed emotions and loyalties that that usually involves, I am wondering if perhaps the family might not be as supportive of him as the public discussions might indicate. Like they aren't willing to put their money where their mouth is.

 

[Wintergreen]

I am not sure that they should go to trial. I don't find "repressed" memories to be all that credible.

If you will follow this link you will see that the grandfather's defense attorney acknowledged only three of the six accusers have said they blocked memories:

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/s...orneys-costs-mistrust-delaying-mohler-trials/

"In a motion filed this summer, Benjamin wrote that the state has resisted calling the case one of "repressed memories," yet three of the witnesses said in depositions that memories claimed in the indictment were not remembered until 2008. Campbell countered that some of the alleged victims did block or repress many of those memories until 2008, and declined to concede it was a repressed memory case."

 

[Wintergreen]

I'm ready to listen.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/17/3435554/senior-mohler-defendant-released.html#storylink=cpy

"...Earlier this week, the alleged six victims said they are eager to tell their stories in court...." More at link

Much thanks for locating this, Missizzy! I just found the full statement at this link:

http://www.examiner.net/news/x176834...eady-for-court

Six siblings who authorities say were subjected to sadistic sexual abuse by older relatives on a farm near Bates City more than 25 years ago issued their first public statement Wednesday in an effort to counter defense arguments that the victims have been reluctant to take the case to trial. In a statement read to The Associated Press by one of the women after it was approved by her four sisters and one brother, the siblings said they are ready to tell their stories in court.

“After years of silence, we chose to face the abuse of our childhood in order to protect other children in harm’s way,” the statement read. “We are thankful to the media for respecting our privacy throughout this investigation as we have sought to protect our own families. We are also grateful to the multiple law enforcement agencies who have given so much of their time and effort to this case. After four years of cooperating with the prosecution, we believe that a just and speedy trial can be reached without further compromising our privacy and safety. Even now, it is our hope that this case will bring attention to crimes against children and will give other victims the courage they need to come forward.”

 

[Missizzy]

Wintergreen--Thanks so much for sharing that link. I am literally brought to me knees by the bravery of these survivors. By speaking out, they are no longer victims in my book. They have survived!! They are ensuring that no other child shall suffer at the hands of these men.

 

[Missizzy]

For some reason, the link above didn't work for me but the one below does:

http://www.examiner.net/news/x1768343828/Alleged-Mohler-victims-ready-for-court

This is a 2 page article and wow, I had never seen this confirmed before:

"....Police said when they arrested Mohler Sr. at his Independence home, they found depicting incest. He had lived there for about 15 years with his wife and a woman who was given a separate room. According to his wife, Mohler moved to the basement after she found his sexually explicit magazines and videos. Also included were numerous sex toys and videos showing girls under age 17. Investigators also have indicated that some of the assaults were used for . Police have recovered 65 videotapes from Jared Mohler’s home in Columbia, Mo. According to police, cameras and computers were taken from his Columbia home...."

More at link

 

[Missizzy]

I guess there will be a trial. Must be some convincing evidence:

http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/local_news/judge-refuses-to-drop-charges-in-mohler-case

Judge refuses to drop charges in Mohler case
February 23, 2012


"A Clay County judge has refused to dismiss rape charges against one of five men accused of molesting young relatives three decades ago at a farm. Clay County Circuit Judge Larry Harman on Wednesday denied several defense motions to dismiss charges against 54-year-old David Mohler over delays in getting medical and mental health records from the accusers...."

and

"...The father, Burrell Mohler Sr., was freed on bail Friday. David, Jared and Roland Mohler also have bonded out, while Burrell Mohler Jr. remains in jail."

More at link (plus video, including footage of Mohler Sr's release)

 

[CHICANA]

I have a strong sense that there WAS indeed abuse here. If you study the court records, the state has spent an incredible amount of money and time on the investigation and depositions with this family. I firmly believe that if the evidence didn't uphold the fact that abuse occurred, this case would have fallen apart long ago. I can never forget how long the children's mother attempted to get help or the fact that the victims secretly disclosed to others along the way. I hold to the theory that the son wore a wire to ensnare his father--because the dad had a new family with children. IIRC, the son is a LEO. I just can't buy that these adults would do this for any other reason rather than closure and/or safety for other children.

I'm also not certain that this is a repressed memory case. I simply don't believe that these adult kids woke up suddenly and remembered these assaults. It always appeared that they'd been grappling with victimhood for years. Bottom line is that a case like this is brutal and I can't imagine folks carrying on for reprisal of some sort. JMO

I'm very very anxious to see this trial start.

Prior articles stated that the abuse was reported to the church years ago, so I don't think the case is based on repressed memories.

 

[Missizzy]

We shall see.....


http://www.newstribune.com/news/2012/feb/26/accusers-given-month-supply-records-sex-case/

Accusers given month to supply records in sex case
February 26, 2012

"Family members who accuse Burrell Mohler Sr. and four of his sons of molesting them more than 25 years ago have less than a month to turn over physical and mental health records if they want to have their stories heard in court...."

and

“This Court is advised that certain witnesses have either been reluctant, and in some cases have refused, to cooperate with the discovery requests and orders entered,” Harman wrote Wednesday in an order denying defense motions to dismiss the charges against one of the defendants. “...This court finds that the discovery delays have virtually all been caused by the reluctance, or refusal, of the endorsed state witnesses to comply with requests and orders....”

More at link

 

[Missizzy]

Good heavens!! I honestly do not know what to think:

http://www.kctv5.com/story/17102515/charges-dropped-in-mo-sex-crimes-case

Prosecutor dismisses all charges in Mohler sex crimes case
March 7, 2012

"A Missouri prosecutor is dismissing all charges against five men accused of molesting young relatives. The men had been accused of molesting children on a farm in Lafayette County. Investigators had dug for bones but never found any human remains. One alleged victim in a sex-crimes case against five older family members asked to be removed from the case, more than two years after charges were filed...."

and

"...Monday, a Pettis County judge lowered bond for [Burrell] Mohler Jr. to $5,000, freeing him from jail for the first time since November 2009. Last month his father, 79-year-old Burrell Mohler Sr., was freed on his own recognizance from jail in Clay County.

Also facing charges are 54-year-old David Mohler, 51-year-old Jared Mohler and 49-year-old Roland Mohler. The men are accused of repeatedly molesting young relatives on a Lafayette County farm more than 20 years ago. [Lafayette County Prosecutor Kellie Wingate] Campbell said the issue wasn't whether she believes the allegations, but whether she could prove them beyond a reasonable doubt at trial...."

More at link

 

[Missizzy]

To say that I am in shock about this development would be an understatement. I spent 100s of hours researching this case and truly believe that children were abused. I can't wrap my mind around false repressed memories....not until I have more convincing info.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...ons-in-trial/2012/03/07/gIQAZT4ZxR_story.html

Prosecutor to drop charges in Mo. sex abuse case, says unsure she could have convinced jury
March 7, 2012

"...Earlier Wednesday, one of the alleged victims told the AP that she was worried [prosecutor Kellie Wingate] Campbell didn’t want to take the case to court. The woman, who is not being identified, said she and other family members were eager to take the stand and tell what happened to them starting in the early 1980s...."

More at link

 

[CHICANA]

To say that I am in shock about this development would be an understatement. I spent 100s of hours researching this case and truly believe that children were abused. I can't wrap my mind around false repressed memories....not until I have more convincing info.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...ons-in-trial/2012/03/07/gIQAZT4ZxR_story.html

Prosecutor to drop charges in Mo. sex abuse case, says unsure she could have convinced jury
March 7, 2012

"...Earlier Wednesday, one of the alleged victims told the AP that she was worried [prosecutor Kellie Wingate] Campbell didn’t want to take the case to court. The woman, who is not being identified, said she and other family members were eager to take the stand and tell what happened to them starting in the early 1980s...."

More at link

What a shocker !! Why keep them in jail for so long then ?

 

[ohiogirl]

It sounds like everyone has pulled back from their original statements! Why!
What is going on here?

 

[jjenny]

To say that I am in shock about this development would be an understatement. I spent 100s of hours researching this case and truly believe that children were abused. I can't wrap my mind around false repressed memories....not until I have more convincing info.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...ons-in-trial/2012/03/07/gIQAZT4ZxR_story.html

Prosecutor to drop charges in Mo. sex abuse case, says unsure she could have convinced jury
March 7, 2012

"...Earlier Wednesday, one of the alleged victims told the AP that she was worried [prosecutor Kellie Wingate] Campbell didn’t want to take the case to court. The woman, who is not being identified, said she and other family members were eager to take the stand and tell what happened to them starting in the early 1980s...."

More at link

Well I am not at shock at all. Repressed memories are unreliable, and I fail to see why prosecutors would believe that they could make a case out of it to begin with. It doesn't look like any physical evidence was found to support the claims. No bodies, no notes in jars.

 

[Missizzy]

I've never seen validation that this case was solely based on repressed memories. There have been numerous reports through the years about abuse. There have also been reports about another child reportedly abused by these family members--unrelated to the biological children.

A huge shock.

 

[mysteriew]

While I believe the children were abused, legally I can kind of understand dropping the case.

First there was a lot of talk about the jars and the buried items. And LE never found any jars or any evidence of buried items. That would be huge in the hands of the defense. If the kids claimed this, then that would be evidence the crime happened as the kids said. But if they don't have evidence, what does that mean?

And one kid is now backing out? I can understand it. It has already dragged on for years. They can't move forward or backwards in their lives with the upcoming trial hanging over their heads. And with the trial dragging and not moving, it would be easy to give up. Unfortunately that is less evidence for the prosecution.

Lastly the Mohler family seems to judged things quite well. Delay, delay and delay the trial. It wore them down.

 

[Missizzy]

If my calculations are correct, the alleged victims are now way past childhood. They are currently in their late 20s and early 30s, with children of their own.

I'm very afraid that you are right, Mysteriew...."it wore them down".

 

[jjenny]

I am sorry but why blame the accused for delays? I don't see any evidence that prosecutor was eager to take the case to trial while accused kept on delaying the trial. The case appears to be based on accusations regarding something happening years and years ago. Where is the physical evidence to support the allegations?

 

[IWannaKnow]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...ons-in-trial/2012/03/07/gIQAZT4ZxR_story.html

Prosecutor to drop charges in Mo. sex abuse case, says unsure she could have convinced jury

By Associated Press, Published: March 7
BBM

The attorneys contended that because of the alleged extreme abuse, there would be medical records documenting the injuries. Attorneys therefore requested all health-related records going back to when the accusers were small children.

The alleged victims didn’t want to relinquish the records because of fears the information would be made public. The appointment late last year of a special discovery judge to review the records before they were turned over to attorneys seemed to ease those concerns.

“One thing is coming after childhood medical records, mental health records,” one of the accusers told the AP on Wednesday, before Campbell’s decision to drop charges. “But they’re coming after adult stuff, too. Can we be any more cooperative with them? I can’t take any more of the defense saying we’re not being cooperative.”

Sounds to me as if the victims didn't feel like filleting themselves open for the court of public opinion and chose to back out rather than have their every medical/psychological detail paraded through the court house to convince a jury (and the general public) that what they said was true. I guess some people feel that is appropriate but considering how many things are not allowed to even be mentioned in court if it taints the opinion of the accused....well, I fail to see the parity in that. If the theory is that abuse that severe would cause physical damage visible to the naked eye (and therefore proof that something happened....even though they did not disclose any of this at that time...:waitasec then why would they need adult medical records? To allegedly prove they are still having problems???? Hello?!?!

My thoughts are with the Mohler children....if you read here....you did your best. You tried. Take solace in that. No one (who has been there/done that) will blame you for your decision. :hug: No one would expect you to sacrifice your entire life to this. Your childhoods were enough. Go in peace. Let God sort it out.

:twocents:

 

[Missizzy]

An excellent post, IWannaKnow. Your opinion mirrors mine to a "T". As most of you know, our family did endure a brutal sex abuse trial and every scrap of personal information concerning our family and our children, the victims, was aired in court. I can certainly understand the reluctance to go forward for any victim. Had I know then what I know now.....


Here's another article with a bit more detail:

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/07/3476345/all-charges-against-mohler-family.html

All charges against Mohler family are dropped
March 7, 2012

"In the end, maybe the story of the Mohler family was just too much. Too much to believe or too much to prove...."

More at link (and a growing number of comments)