(2 Counts) Felony Sexual Conduct with a Minor (DCAC) and Felony Child Molestation (DCAC) Dismissed – State v. Mr. H (DMC No. 14557) (Maricopa County Superior Court CR2016-153068): Mr. H was married to a woman who had a 14 year old daughter. He and the alleged victim had fallen asleep on a couch and when he woke up and found that she had her hand on his crotch. He immediately brought this to the mother’s attention and they became concerned that his step-daughter was overly sexualized. Later, they learned that she had been having sex with her boyfriend.
At the point they found out that the step-daughter was having sex, they transferred her to a different high school. She became very upset and got into a physical altercation with her mother. She then reported the incident on the couch to her school, but she had now claimed that it was her step-dad who was touching her. Mr. H was immediately arrested and put in jail. We became involved and had him released on a low bond. As we were investigating the case, we secured a private investigator to interview all parties involved. When the step-daughter had broken up with her boyfriend, information was received from him indicating that she had lied. Eventually, she admitted that she had lied and she had written a letter to both her mom and step-father admitting she had lied. This was provided to the Police and the Prosecutor, and all charges were dropped. If Mr. H would have been convicted on all 3 counts, he would have spent a minimum of 36 years in prison.