Alleged Victims' Denial of Sexual Molestation

• Key point: The fact that a minor who accuses an adult of child abuse later retracts her story does not necessarily prove the accused's innocence.

• An Idaho appeals court upheld the criminal conviction of an adult for child molestation even though the alleged victim denied that the molestation ever occurred! A 13-year-old girl was visibly upset at school one day. Three classmates attempted to comfort her and asked her why she was crying. She eventually informed them that her mother's boss had molested her. A few days later, with the girl's permission, another classmate informed the school secretary that a "friend" had been sexually molested. The secretary persuaded her to reveal the victim's name. Later that day the secretary spoke with the victim in the presence of the classmate, and the victim told her that her mother's boss had molested her. School personnel later contacted ...