By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 13:21:57 EDT
NORFOLK, Va. — A chief submariner who was convicted of “indecent acts with a child” four years ago, busted down to seaman recruit and given a three-year prison sentence was acquitted on appeal Sept. 10. And now he’s eligible for $160,000 in back pay and reinstatement as an active E-7, according to a Navy spokeswoman.
Chief Electronics Technician (SS) Steven Jason McGinnis was found guilty in 2004 after a general court-martial by jury in Norfolk. But an appellate review by the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals has found that improper testimony was allowed at the court-martial. The appeals court agreed with a complaint that McGinnis’ due process rights were violated because the government lawyer — repeating expert witness testimony — “improperly and incorrectly [used] statistical evidence in his closing argument to conclude that false accusations are minimal.”
Sounds like he was railroaded: The charge stemmed from allegations by the alleged victim’s mother. Between her, an overzealous prosecutor, and child abuse "experts" who know all the tricks to steer a child to tell them what they want to hear and not necessarily what happened, he got screwed. At least he'll get his rank and pay back, but there's no way he'll ever get his reputation back.
There are too many cases like this and allegations used against dads during divorce proceedings to make me wonder each time I read or hear about "improper touching" or "sexual abuse" to automatically accept as true what I read in the news.
And it makes me wonder just how many innocent people are behind bars 'cause they made a deal with the prosecutors instead of fighting it all the way.
POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON
A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.
I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
At least he'll get his rank and pay back, but there's no way he'll ever get his reputation back.
More importantly Mike, this guy will never be able to get the TIME back. He lost 4 years of his life in a place that nobody would ever want to be placed...as a child molester. Let that sink in for a moment...4 years in prison as a child molester! Back pay and rank is a fuckin' joke! This guy's life has been ruined and he gets back pay and his former rank is restored...which is useless because he will never wear the uniform again. What else...an apoogy perhaps? Nah...the folks who put him there still believe that he is getting off on some kind of technicality...an apology is out of the question. And so what...what kind of apology can you give to a man that had 4 years of his life stolen from him?
I hate child molesters as much or more than the next guy, but I really think the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Where the mere accusation of abuse is enough to ruin a mans life. Once the finger of accusation has been leveled at someone they are instantly presumed GUILTY by the cops, the courts, the media, and everyone around them. Even if the charges are proven false they still carry the stain on their reputation...there will always be folks who think they beat the rap. It's gotten so bad that there are a lot of guys who won't have anything to do with kids anymore for the simple fact that it just isn't worth it...the risk is too great. All these stories of kids who need adult guidance and counseling and coaching and mentoring...positive male role models in their lives...these fall on deaf ears because the simple fact is that just being accused of some kind of improper touching and your life is over. An awful lot of men just flat out won't put themselves in a position that they can ever be accused. And remember, parents know how the whole accusation thing works...and so do the kids.
bitch about it is, i dont see anything that says that the guy didnt do it... the way the story reads, a child molester got off on a technicality.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
Although it doesn't give much information, such as what he was accused as "improper touching" the judge had allowed improper testimony at the trial. Without all the details, it's hard to say what really happened, but I know there are people who use these accusations like weapons and prosecutors who use them for promotion at the expense of honesty and doing the right thing.
If there weren't so many instances of overzealousness, I might feel differently, but these people who have been shafted are being shafted for LIFE. It would help if they gave the age of the 'victim' and what he was accused of doing. For all we know, the 'improper touching' could be him helping put a safety pin in her clothes, or something much more serious - but we don't know.
POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON
A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.
I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
Any chance of a civil suit? At least he could then retire from the navy, take his millions, and with a hale and hearty "fuck you" live in some fancy resort for the rest of his life.
There must be an end to this intimidation by those who come to this great country, but reject its culture.
Doubtful, but since he's been in the Navy since 1990, he'll be able to retire in a couple of years and start another career while drawing his Navy retirement.
POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON
A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.
I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
308Mike wrote:Although it doesn't give much information, such as what he was accused as "improper touching" the judge had allowed improper testimony at the trial. Without all the details, it's hard to say what really happened, but I know there are people who use these accusations like weapons and prosecutors who use them for promotion at the expense of honesty and doing the right thing.
If there weren't so many instances of overzealousness, I might feel differently, but these people who have been shafted are being shafted for LIFE. It would help if they gave the age of the 'victim' and what he was accused of doing. For all we know, the 'improper touching' could be him helping put a safety pin in her clothes, or something much more serious - but we don't know.
i absolutely agree... my father is a public school teacher... he has to go through extraordinary lengths to make sure that nothing could ever be said about him... as soon as class is over, he walks to his classroom door, holds it open from the outside while standing in the hallway and lets all the students out... then he goes in a locks the door till it is time for the next class...
one accusation would ruin his career... even if it was 100% false.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
