County prosecutor defends record on sexual-abuse cases
By TRUDI GILFILLIAN
Staff Writer, 609-463-6716
Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE - Prosecutor Robert Taylor sat down with the members of the Cape May County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women on Tuesday night to discuss the group's concerns about how the county handles sexual-abuse cases.Taylor asked to speak to the group after it sent a letter to state Attorney General Anne Milgram asking her to investigate the Prosecutor's Office's handling of a North Wildwood sexual-assault case and a second case involving an illegal alien who pleaded guilty to criminal sexual contact with a little girl.Taylor told the women he didn't think it was fair the group contacted the state without coming to him first, but several group members said they made efforts to talk to Taylor and were told to speak to other members of his office.Taylor said he was also offended by comments made by commission member Helen McCaffrey in a Press of Atlantic City article, published July 30.In that story, McCaffrey told a reporter, "It seems to us giving these sentences makes it open season on little girls in Cape May County."
As a father and grandfather, Taylor said he works to prevent violence against women.He then focused on the two cases that drew the group's attention.The first is the case of two Wildwood Crest girls, ages 12 and 14, who were reportedly sexually assaulted by four young Philadelphia men in August 2006.The men were initially charged with sexual assault, but a faulty warrant led to a plea bargain in which the men pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in a non-sexual manner."There were mistakes in the case," Taylor said, adding, "The mistakes were made by people with a lot of experience."He said the detective, assistant prosecutor and judge involved in the warrant made an unfortunate mistake which led Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten to throw out a crucial piece of evidence - a videotape of the alleged assaults.Taylor said his office has since changed its procedures for reviewing warrants to prevent similar errors.He said he determined the plea was necessary so that the girls would not have to be subjected to a grueling cross-examination at trial."I was not going to revictimize these teenage girls," Taylor said.McCaffrey, citing her own legal career, questioned Taylor about evidence collected from a rape kit and why the case wasn't pursued as a case of statutory rape.Taylor would not comment on the existence of a rape kit in the case and said the loss of the videotape could not be overcome."I think we did the best we could," Taylor said.McCaffrey said the decision set a dangerous precedent for future cases. "What kind of example does this set?" she said.But Taylor said it would not affect other cases."We have vigorously prosecuted sexual assault (cases) in Cape May County," he said.Taylor also discussed the case of Fausto Ferrer, an illegal alien from Mexico charged with sexually assaulting a little girl in Cape May County. Ferrer pleaded guilty May 28 to criminal sexual contact, a fourth-degree crime. He was sentenced to time served, which amounted to 327 days in the county jail, and was allowed to return to the same apartment complex where the victim lived.He was later picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to await deportation.Taylor said his office acted appropriately with regard to the plea, noting Ferrer touched the victim over her clothing.Commission member Kathy Bresan said the event was traumatic for the girl regardless of how she was touched."I don't think you should downplay it," she said.Taylor said he wasn't downplaying the crime, only stating the facts. He told the commission to come to him in the future with their concerns."I'm readily available," he said.E-mail Trudi Gilfillian:TGilfillian@pressofac.com
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