Witness Recants Testimony Girl Says She Was Pressured To Lie About Child Sex Ring

A 13-year-old girl who testified at four trials that she had been sexually molested now says she lied about the alleged abuse, telling authorities what she thought they wanted to hear.

Officials could not immediately say how significant the girl’s change in story would be to the so-called Wenatchee sex-ring investigation.

The girl, identified in court documents as M.E., ran away from her foster home Sunday night, and then called pastor Robert “Roby” Roberson, one of the people she testified against.

A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy took her from her grandmother’s home Tuesday, while the girl was speaking on the telephone to an Associated Press reporter.

During the AP interview, the girl quickly said “No” in a strong voice when asked whether she had been molested by her parents or anyone else. But she spoke more haltingly when asked why she told authorities and testified in court that she had been sexually abused.

“I was, like, (long pause) I was pressured to,” she said. When asked by whom, she quickly named Wenatchee police Detective Bob Perez, the lead investigator in the cases and her foster father for about six months.

The pressure, she said, came long before she went to live in his house but continued during her time there. Her younger sister, who also testified in the sex-ring trials, also was a foster child in Perez’s home for about a year.

“When Bob first came to talk to me about my parents, I said it never happened. He said, ‘Melinda, I know you’re lying,”’ she said. “I don’t like being called a liar.”

So, she said, she told Perez and other authorities what they wanted to hear.

Twenty-eight people were charged with child rape and molestation in the sex-ring investigation. Fourteen pleaded guilty, and five were convicted by juries. Charges were dismissed or greatly reduced against five others. Three, including Roberson and his wife, Connie, were acquitted, and one case is pending.

The girl made allegations against several of the 28 who were charged, including the Robersons and three others convicted by juries: Linda Miller, Donna Hidalgo and her husband, Manuel Hidalgo Rodriguez.

Auburn attorney Robert Van Siclen, who represented the only three people acquitted, said he believed the girl’s reversal is evidence that could overturn some of the convictions and guilty pleas.

He said he expects her reversal to be questioned by prosecutors.

“The first thing that entered my mind is, ‘She’s never told the truth before, so how can we trust her now?”’ Van Siclen said. “I asked her that directly yesterday. She responded, ‘All I can say is I’m telling the truth now.’ And I believe her.”

Chelan County Deputy Prosecutor Doug Shae said he was aware of the development only because reporters had called seeking comment.

“If that’s true, they will give that to the defense attorneys, who I assume will bring it into court, and then we’ll sit down and decide what there is to the whole thing,” Shae said.

Perez’s attorney, Pat McMahon, was out of his office Tuesday afternoon, but he denied the girl’s claims to The Wenatchee World.

“None of it is true, but these allegations don’t surprise me,” McMahon said. “Look at it: We have a bunch of civil lawyers who played criminal defense attorneys, and they did it for a big payday, and we’ve had some successes against them and they’re going to have to respond. They got their butts kicked, and now they’re going for damage control.”

When the deputy arrived in the middle of the AP interview, a telephone left lying on a chair picked up the conversation.

“I want to stay with my grandma,” the girl said, sobbing.

Her grandmother, Ella Spoonemore of East Wenatchee, was overheard asking the deputy whether he had a warrant. The deputy replied, “I’m not here to take her away now. I just want to talk to her.”

Moments later, though, the deputy said he was taking the child to the offices of Child Protective Services.

Her grandmother was not allowed to accompany the girl.

The girl’s guardian, Neil Fuller, was in Douglas County Superior Court Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. He told The Wenatchee World that he warned her she was opening herself up to more scrutiny by changing her statements.

“I think this child is so confused about what the hell is going on in her life that she’s not sure about anything. She’s manipulating this system to the hilt,” Fuller told The Wenatchee World.

“When she’s on the stand testifying about abuse, the defense attorneys say she’s (lying), and when she turns around and says, ‘I lied and Perez hurt me,’ she’s the best thing since sliced bread. Think about what’s happened to this kid. She’s so ingrained in the system now, she’s learned how to manipulate.”