Reno Clears Prosecutors In Wenatchee Feds Find No Violations Of Civil Rights In Sex Case

Wenatchee sex ring prosecutors and police did not violate the civil rights of the accused, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said Friday in a letter to Gov. Mike Lowry.

Reno’s letter appears to end any federal involvement in the country’s largest case of alleged organized sex between adults and children.

Lowry and Washington House Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-Wenatchee, wrote Reno on Oct. 3 to request a thorough review of the cases amid a public outcry of a possible witch hunt.

Critics say false confessions were coerced from poor, uneducated and sometimes retarded adults.

But Reno said federal civil rights statutes most often deal with “unconstitutional use of violence,” not “psychological coercion.”

“Based on a thorough review of the available materials, both the Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorney have concluded that these complaints do not present evidence of prosecutable violations of federal civil rights law,” Reno wrote.

Chelan County Prosecutor Gary Riesen said his office was vindicated by Reno’s findings.

“I’d say I have felt all along our office had followed the proper procedures and used the state court in the proper way,” Riesen said.

Efforts to reach Wenatchee Police Chief Ken Badgley were unsuccessful.

It is not known what materials Justice Department investigators reviewed in reaching their conclusion.

A dozen investigation critics and exonerated defendants said Friday they were never contacted and didn’t know anybody else who was.

“It’s an injustice to this community,” said Pastor Roby Roberson of the East Wenatchee Pentecostal Church of God House of Prayer.

Roberson and his wife, Connie, were acquitted in December of charges they molested their own daughter and hosted church orgies. A Sunday school teacher at the church also was acquitted.

In all, of the 45 men and women charged in the past two years, 28 were convicted or pleaded guilty. Charges against 13 other defendants were dismissed. One case is pending.

Spokane attorney Bill Parker, who successfully defended Connie Roberson, said Reno’s findings came as no surprise.

“Look at what Janet Reno did at Ruby Ridge, look at what she did at Waco,” he said. “This is what happens when justice resides in the shadow of politics.”

In Washington, D.C., a Justice Department source who requested anonymity said the case was not politically appealing, especially in an election year.

“These victims were not blacks or gays,” the source said. “These are not people this administration is particularly sensitive to.”

Lowry and Ballard were not available for comment.

Martin Munguia, Lowry’s deputy press secretary, said the governor had been “optimistic” Reno would take a more thorough review.

“This was the best avenue to offer a good impartial review of the situation,” Munguia said. “If there’s a perception that the community is still divided, perhaps this is not over.”

The only other options are a state grand jury or the Washington State Patrol, officials said.

The state attorney general’s office would have a conflict of interest because it represents the child social workers who helped bring the abuse charges.

Roby Roberson said he will begin a petition drive Monday aimed at collecting 10,000 signatures from residents of the Wenatchee Valley. He hopes the petition leads to a grand jury.

In addition, civil lawsuits are being filed by defendants cleared of any wrongdoing.

“I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it,” Bob Devereaux said of Reno’s findings.

Devereaux, once regarded by state officials as a model foster parent, faced eight life sentences plus 40 years until sex abuse charges were dropped against him in September.

“What happens to the public in a little town where there’s injustice? I’ve lost so much faith in the system,” he said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = J. Todd Foster Staff writer The Associated Press contributed to this report.