Post by WaTcHeR on Apr 12, 2006 9:27:13 GMT -5
04/12/2006 - Just Monday Samuel Spencer worked as a juvenile officer with the Montgomery Police Department. Now, he's a criminal suspect, accused of abusing two teenaged boys. Spencer posted a $30-thousand bail to get out of jail.
Police arrested Spencer Monday night and charged him with sexual abuse and sodomy.
"The initial report or allegation came a couple of weeks ago," said Jannah Bailey Executive Director of Child Protect.
Investigators filed the case after psychologists interviewed the two boys at Child Protect. Bailey can't provide many details but she says their words aren't the only evidence.
"Here are a lot of other people that they interview, that they talk to, maybe someone the offender works with," said Bailey.
One victim claims Spencer first abused him ten years ago, which introduces the possibility of something called 'Repressed Memory Syndrome,' in which victims flash back to an earlier episode.
"It's not unusual for something to have happened to a child, particularly under the age of six is when repression happens," said Bailey.
But now, repressed memories are under attack in clinical settings and in court. Many judges have ruled that claim inadmissible. Which is why the second charge - that spencer forced another boy to have sex last September at a local gym - may lend credence to the case.
"If you have several victims it certainly would make a case stronger," said Bailey.
But even then, many people will question why the boys didn't report the crimes when they happened. We wanted to contact Samuel Spencer to get his side of the story - but we were unable to find him after he made bail.
State records show he hasn't hired a lawyer yet. Montgomery police are not commenting on this case. The department spokesman said that was because they wanted to shield the victims. State prosecutors have also not scheduled a first hearing for Spencer yet. Investigators have 30 days to deliver a case to the District Attorney's office.
Police arrested Spencer Monday night and charged him with sexual abuse and sodomy.
"The initial report or allegation came a couple of weeks ago," said Jannah Bailey Executive Director of Child Protect.
Investigators filed the case after psychologists interviewed the two boys at Child Protect. Bailey can't provide many details but she says their words aren't the only evidence.
"Here are a lot of other people that they interview, that they talk to, maybe someone the offender works with," said Bailey.
One victim claims Spencer first abused him ten years ago, which introduces the possibility of something called 'Repressed Memory Syndrome,' in which victims flash back to an earlier episode.
"It's not unusual for something to have happened to a child, particularly under the age of six is when repression happens," said Bailey.
But now, repressed memories are under attack in clinical settings and in court. Many judges have ruled that claim inadmissible. Which is why the second charge - that spencer forced another boy to have sex last September at a local gym - may lend credence to the case.
"If you have several victims it certainly would make a case stronger," said Bailey.
But even then, many people will question why the boys didn't report the crimes when they happened. We wanted to contact Samuel Spencer to get his side of the story - but we were unable to find him after he made bail.
State records show he hasn't hired a lawyer yet. Montgomery police are not commenting on this case. The department spokesman said that was because they wanted to shield the victims. State prosecutors have also not scheduled a first hearing for Spencer yet. Investigators have 30 days to deliver a case to the District Attorney's office.