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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Visionaries,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I have received many emails off line and
have read several rebukes of the Sheriff’s Office on line regarding the
Sitler case. Before explaining some of the facts of his case in general,
I will explain how we deal with reports of sex abuse insofar as our release to
the media and to the public is concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>When we receive a report about sex abuse
of a minor (most of the codes defined in Title 18 Section 15 of the Idaho
Criminal Code) it is placed on the call log under the appropriate heading, “Lewd
Conduct,” “Sex Abuse,” etc. The name(s) of the
reporting parties and the victims are blacked out on the press/public view log
(the printed copy that is faxed to news agencies, etc.). The investigator
(or deputy assigned to the case) also flags the case noting something along the
lines of “Do not release, under investigation.” There are a
number of reasons for this but primarily because we do not want to tip the
suspect off that we are on to him/her before we can assemble a strategic plan,
so to speak, about how we are going to best investigate the case. It
bears mentioning as well that we attempt to keep details about cases as close
to our chest as possible before a judgment is made in these cases to protect
victims from the press and from an aggressive public. The next day the
press reads the log and calls our office and asks what we can say about the Sex
Abuse case reported the previous day. We tell them (essentially): “Not
much. We received a report of sex abuse of a 6 year-old in Potlatch.
The case is under investigation but look to the court records to see when an
affidavit is filed.” Affidavits are court records and are open to
view. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Part of the reason we do this is because I
do not have the time or the resources to follow-up for the media about
stories. I also am not in the loop once a case has been handed over to
the PA for a charging decision (indeed, the investigator is often not in the
loop, either, unless follow-up investigation is needed or unless the case goes
to trial). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I was instated as the PIO at LCSO in
mid-January, 2005, shortly after Sheriff Rausch took office. Prior to my
taking the position, press releases about any subject or arrest were rarely
circulated out of the Sheriff’s Office. I published the first Hot
Sheet in February. Since I started doing the sheets, I have always only
published detailed items about the arrests our agency makes (as well as little
safety tips or items of interest). The press releases regarding crimes
have generally gone out after an arrest has been made or after a warrant has
been issued (i.e. Rossignol).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Speaking specifically of the Sitler case
let me offer this time-line based off the reports from the investigators:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>3/10/2005 The victim’s family
learned of the abuse and immediately confronted Sitler, their attorney, and
their pastor (the pastor is never mentioned by name in the report). The
attorney and the pastor both advise the family to report the crime to law
enforcement and offer to help the family make the report.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>3/11/2005 The victim’s father
along with his attorney come into the Sheriff’s Office to make the
report. The investigator is assured that the victims are no longer in
danger (suspect no longer has access to the children) and that they are being
adequately protected by their family, thus no exigency is assigned to the case
based on this and other facts, so an interview date is set for3/15/2005, when a
sex-abuse interviewer is available.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>3/15/2005 First set of victims are
interviewed by a forensic interviewer. Other alleged victims are identified and
calls are made to those family(ies).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>3/15/2005 LCSO is first aware that
Sitler has retained an attorney.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>3/16/2005 <st1:place w:st="on">Colville</st1:place>
authorities are notified about the case and are made aware of Sitler’s presence
in their community.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>3/15/2005 to 5/17/2005 Attempts to
interview additional victims go without fruition.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>5/18/2005 Case is reviewed and submitted
for prosecution on 18-1508 and 18-1506.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>6/28/2005 An affidavit is filed requesting
a warrant on one charge of 18-1508. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>No other case information exists in the LCSO
case file regarding any action in the case after 6/28/2005, except that he was brought
into our jail on 9/26/2005, meaning that by that point the case was under the
PA’s office’s prevue and that (as highlighted in red above) the
case was already being discussed at the attorney level as opposed to at the
investigatory level.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>No indication was made anywhere in the
case file that anyone did not report things in a timely manner in accordance
with law. There are also no indications of obstruction in the case file.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I will continue to issue the Hot Sheet
indicating arrests made by our deputies in our county. The press will
continue to be told to look for affidavits filed with the court. I will
continue to aid the investigators’ plight to adequately investigate cases
without interference that is prohibitive to them solving their cases. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>--Jennifer<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;color:black'>PIO Jennifer L. McFarland<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Latah</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Sheriff's Office<br>
Public Information Officer<br>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">PO Box</st1:Street> 8068</st1:address><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">83843</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><br>
(208) 882-2216<br>
Fax (208) 883-2281<br>
</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><a
href="http://www.latah.id.us/Dept/Sheriff_Main.htm"><font size=2 face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>http://www.latah.id.us/Dept/Sheriff_Main.htm</span></font></a><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Georgia;color:black'>Truth is the summit of being; justice
is the application of it to affairs.<br>
***Ralph Waldo Emerson<br>
<br>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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