Comments on: Walnut Hill Man Charged With Sexual Battery Of Young Girl

By: (ex-officer) BILL

(ex-officer) BILL — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 23:04:22 +0000

Its awful. I was wrongly accused myself and it was scary for a time. The jury deliberated about two hours before realizing that it was utterly and completely false. I was a correctional officer. What about the ECSO deputy recently exonerated. The FDLE professional. I was lucky—I HAD good people that stuck with me and realized the lies…i have a good church family supporting me. Its SCARY just to be in public. I believe what is written on here…THIS IS THE ONLY charge in AMERICA where corroboration and REQUIREMENT OF EVIDENCE just fly out the window.–as does common sense.

I have it on court record my accuser just kept blowing up the story…and the prosecutor just kept going with it…rather that realizing a lie in your face…first it ONLY happened here… now its here and there…now its going back years…bigger and bigger and bigger, and bigger…

#CHANGE IS NEEDED….and equal protection under the law–those lying about abuse should be charged with perjury and false report. My life was ruined. I was a correctional officer…i can no longer get a job within my chosen profession and the Department of Corrections where i worked–sustained a investigation with no evidence…defamed my character…

By: Angie St. Petersburg Florida

Angie St. Petersburg Florida — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 01:05:47 +0000

I have know Paul all my life. He DID NOT DO THIS. He has been around my daughter and he has also helped raise many kids within his own family as well as helped others out who were not even family. He is a loving and caring person. If this is what you get for helping someone out then everyone should just keep to themselves. Paul is the kind of person who has never harmed anyone. Only helped people. Being accused of this is a terrible injustice. Paul we are all praying for you. The truth will come out and you will be set free. I have a 24 year old daughter and she can’t remember crap from when she was five years old. My question is who is filling her head with remember when…….

By: Parent For Protecting Children

Parent For Protecting Children — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:30:35 +0000

I know this child very well and she has had to keep this secret within herself until she was ready to deal with it and yes it did take this long until she was ready to tell all of what happened to her! Instead of condemning her, she should be praised for being strong, ready to look this person in the face and tell all the many strangers she is fixing to meet of what was done to her and this has weighed very heavy on her for many years and something she will have to deal with for the rest of her life.

She also wants to make sure this does not happen to any other child, she was only in kindergarten when this allegation began; however, due to domestic violence within the home, she was too scared to say anything and this person was still in her life until 2011. All the people condemning her should go to the Escambia Clerk of Courts and read the “Court Records”, a lot of domestic violence and we ask why it took so long for her to speak up against this person!

She lived a hard life and saw things that no child should ever of had to deal with, was finally removed from the parental home and now lives in a safe, stable, supportive and loving home. There is no vindictive woman doing this and her caregivers don’t even know what was done to her. She is going to have a hard road ahead of her in the next year or so, but she is strong and ready to stand up for herself finally!

I hope no one ever has to deal with this because the toll it has taken on this child is just beyond comprehension and when a child comes to you and states that someone has messed with them, I don’t care how great that abuser is, you have to listen to that child, support them and help them get the help they need in order for them to move on and become a productive adult in society!

By: Byrneville mom

Byrneville mom — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:16:00 +0000

It’s sad to say but stuff like this goes on all the time but nothing is said because the child is too scared to come forward because they think no one will believe them or at that age don’t even know that it’s wrong some children will even be hard on themselves thinking that they’ve caused them to act like that. we as parents need to talk to our children and give the comfort enough that they can tell us when something like this is happening. Instead of condemning this pour child you should be applauding her for speaking up. If you turn a deaf hear on a 5 year old then you are just as at fault. Its sick and sad. It terrifies me having little girls. A lot of women have had this happen and hasn’t spoken about it because of they think no one will believe them. This man sounds like a sicko in my eyes and needs to be put away. He’s lucky he didn’t have a harsher parent to beat the stuffing out of him. And believe it or not it’s usually the ones you wouldn’t think because who wants to think someone you care about can be a monster like that to a child. Lock him up!!!!

By: molino jim

molino jim — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 22:30:54 +0000

I understand the child in this was very young— but to wait 4 years before any action. I also recall the music teacher at one of our local schools was accused by a student of touching and so on. After the teacher was arrested the girl admitted she made up the story so she could be transferred to another school where her friends were going to school. Coleman will live under this cloud for the rest of his life no matter what the end result is.

By: bwayne

bwayne — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 16:07:14 +0000

I don’t know this man……or child…..but I’ve seen so many of these accusations that I’m beginning to doubt the truth or lies……My advice to all men is to stay completely away from anyone else’s kids……

By: Walnut hill resident

Walnut hill resident — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 05:17:29 +0000

This is ridiculous! A child has been hurt and you all sit around and talk about how gentle this person is. Of course he is kind and gentle that’s how he was able to repeat his actions. She probably thought it was ok. Stop defending this monster. And let the court do it. Because if he is guilty, which he probably is. He will be place in the same situation his victims” yes victims because there is mostly more than one”.was put in . Znd that is helplessness. So hanging his praises cause he did you z favor or danced at your wedding is not helping the child. And God said do until the least of me you do until me.

By: k

Sat, 15 Oct 2016 04:18:52 +0000

@puddin…

This is the one accusation that for some reason, a man is not able to defend himself against. The system is completely corrupt in cases such as this.

The system in Florida is full of cases in which simple testimony of a remembered incident has convicted many, without chance of defense. So to say that “but most are guilty.” is not accurate at all.

I know a person who was removed from his children’s life just because the accusation was raised – there was never a trial. The ex simply told him that if he left without a fight, she’d leave him alone and withdraw the accusation.

In short, this accusation has more often become the means in which a spiteful woman will abuse the system in order to make sure the man is thrown completely out of the life of the child(ren) involved – without a chance of appeal, or reunion – even if the accusation is later revealed to be a lie.

To close: there will be no justice for either person in this case. Not Paul, because there is no evidence to convict OR exonerate. And no justice for the accuser, for the same reason. I did not use the word victim – because quite simply, we can never prove one way or the other that there actually is one.

That’s a hard thought to accept: that there is not proof of a victim, or of a liar.

But it is the only truth central to the issue. And it is that central truth, apparent to the person accused, who accepts a plea deal in most cases, resulting in the conviction rate being artificially high.

The number of these cases settled by plea deal is where the truth tells itself.
No proof, just an accuser, and no defense even allowed – the accused cannot cross examine the accuser/witness!

No reasonable person who wishes to recover any portion of his freedom would reject a plea deal!

So not even the number of guilty pleas can be used to support an argument either way – the system is titled in favor of getting a guilty verdict no matter what.

By: A Victim Too

A Victim Too — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 03:53:45 +0000

I have been a victim of sexual abuse. I was abused by a man on numerous occasions that started when I was around 12 years old. I didn’t tell my parents until I was a senior in high school. I tried, but I just couldn’t tell them before for fear of having to stay with him again. He was a distant family member who still walks the streets, who still is a successful business man in northern Escambia County, and who is known to be such a “great father”. My parents then took me to press charges but couldn’t force me since I was then 18. Who is to stay that now this victim isn’t 18 and can make the choice herself since she has the freedom to do so and not what her parents choose. I don’t know this man, but from experience don’t be quick to defend or offend….everyone “thought” they knew my abuser so well and since then THREE others came forward after they heard of mine.

By: Puddin

Puddin — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 01:26:43 +0000

Having read the top 8-10 comments I must admit I’m appauled at the outcry for this man. And the general bashing of the young victim. Most women I know were touched inappropriately at some point in their lives. Yes, one out of one thousand may be falsely accused. But most are guilty. Our courts cover it up, and give very minimal punishment if they are convicted. Instead of making it harder for young women (or boys) to come forward in fear of being ridiculed and belittled, lets all give them the benefit of the doubt.