Dropped charges not enough to mend damaged reputation

Gregory Kane of the Baltimore Sun brings us another sad case of the Judicial system shooting first then asking questions later. No wonder good people do not go into politics, public service, or work with kids...More to follow//JW sends.

THE LAST teachable moment of 2004 came to us courtesy of the often-maligned Baltimore County state's attorney's office, which is being rightfully maligned in the matter of Kevin M. Lindsey.

I'll briefly refresh your memory before I continue with the teachable moment. Lindsey's the poor soul who was charged with sexually assaulting two girls - sisters - at Pine Grove Elementary School in Carney in the 1970s. Lindsey was a teacher then. When the charges were made in December, he was the principal at McCormick Elementary School in Baltimore County.

What was the basis for Lindsey being charged? The spontaneous "recovered memory" of the two victims, who suddenly - and at the same time - remembered Lindsey sexually assaulting them.

Last week, Baltimore County prosecutors dropped the charges against Lindsey. State's Attorney Sandra A. O'Connor was quoted in a news article saying that the county "couldn't sustain the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The experts were far apart on the accuracy and validity of recovered memories."