Ode to Ed omitted troubling portion of his mixed legacy
I was enraged after reading Micheal Bradbury's ode to retiring DA Ed Jagels ("Californians are safer thanks to efforts of Kern's long-serving district attorney"). I wish Jagels had to face consequences for some of his actions -- in particular, the mishandling of one 1980s molestation case.
I was one of the children forced to testify against John Stoll, whose horrendous situation was highlighted in the 2009 documentary "Witch Hunt." More importantly, I was coerced into testifying against my own mother, who spent almost 10 years in prison due in part to my coerced testimony.
What Jagels did not witness was the aftermath of his actions. All the children who testified against Stoll and my mother have had to deal with years of life-altering guilt. I was forced to believe that I was molested by my mother, taken from my home and placed into mandatory therapy, where I spent years in counseling trying to recover "blocked" memories.
Now, suddenly, there is an explanation why I cannot remember specific instances of abuse: It never happened! I now face the awful reality that I helped send my mother to prison. She was released after 9 years on a technicality.
It wasn't until 20 years later, during Stoll's appeal, that I even considered my mother's innocence. Now I am consumed with a new guilt and anger.
I do not expect Jagels to take responsibility for his actions, but I wanted him to realize his careless actions have altered many lives.
ALLEN GRAFTON
Lewiston, Idaho
