“Make no mistake — it is terrible when a child has to live within range of a sexual predator.” Douglas Wilson
We have uploaded the audio for yesterday’s court hearing in the matter of serial pedophile Steven Sitler. It is 1-hour 15-minutes long and worth hearing. Team Sitler believes that the Idaho Department of Correction has not treated their client fairly. They failed to note how their client treated his victims.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson made several compelling arguments (i.e., “We are creating a situation for another victim” @48:02); he sketched an unflattering picture of Sitler who appears very much like his pastor — spoiled, defiant, and above the law; and at one point he gasped in frustration:
“We would hope that Mr. Sitler can appreciate the fact that he’s on probation for the rest of his life; that he needs to submit to supervision; he needs to stop fighting the supervision and try to work with his probation officers. We can’t forget what the history is here — we have a diagnosed pedophile; multiple victims; probation for life; and he now has a child, who is defenseless.” (@51:47)
The words “who is defenseless” fell on deaf ears.
The Honorable Judge John Stegner made two points very clear:
- The Sitler family would be reunited at some point in time, meaning Steven Sitler would be able to move back into the home, unless
- The State presented expert testimony to contradict Team Sitler’s hired guns.
And at 1:02:05 Judge Stegner stated this: “I can’t guarantee Steven’s son’s safety; I’m not sure anyone can guarantee Steven’s son’s safety.” He said this in the context of family reunification. But Judge Stegner is wrong. He could guarantee the child’s safety if he denied reinstating Katie Sitler as a chaperone and if he banned the father from the property as he originally said he would do in 2011. Unfortunately for that helpless child, Judge Stegner moved the goalposts.
Last, the money quote on this recording takes place at 1:13:55. If you listen closely, you can hear Steven Sitler’s attorney Dean Wullenwaber whisper in his client’s ear, “You won!”
I am sure he’s proud of his accomplishment. I am not sure why. And I note that Dean Wullenwaber, like his client, is a member in good standing at Christ Church, Moscow (at least he was when Sitler retained him).
The recording is here.
“I can’t guarantee Steven’s son’s safety; I’m not sure anyone can guarantee Steven’s son’s safety.” Yes, the judge who spoke those words was speaking in the context of family reunification. But in literal terms, of course no one’s safety can be guaranteed. No one of any age is immune to illness or accidents, so no one’s safety can ever be guaranteed. But appropriate steps to ensure that one particular potential threat to this innocent child can be, if not eliminated, greatly diminished. And those steps will apparently not be taken. To Mr. Sitler’s attorney, the fixated serial pedophile who is your client “won”, as you apparently whispered to him. While a helpless infant now has a daunting chance of losing. How proud you must be.