Shameful

Poster comments found at a news story someone sent us.

Children that age rarely lie about such things. On the other hand, I wouldn't want any of my children or grandchildren taught by a kindergarten teacher who seems to have such a poor understanding of child protection.

And,

Ignorant people like this is why sexual abuse of children is still a high crime in this country. It is true that these predators prey on ones that already have low self esteem and either no family or a problem family where reporting to anyone is difficult. How can this woman teach children and not feel that these stories even if she felt they were fantasies not be grossed out by them. She should be prosecuted for not speaking up about it.

And,

Wow, to think that a kindergarten teacher would dismiss a man's detailed encounters with children as a fantasy is just sick. This teacher should be fired from her job. Can you imagine if a young child made an out cry to this teacher? What would she do? Dismiss the child as a liar? To think that his wife sits there and listens to this testimony, makes me sick to my stomach.

They were responding to a kindergarten teacher who testified for the defense at the trial of a 65-year-old church deacon accused of molesting two girls, ages 6 and 7.

From the story:

[R], a church member, testified for the defense that one of the young girls was often dishonest and that she sat near Livingston at the movie that day and saw no inappropriate behavior.

Prosecutor Anna Jimenez then showed [R], a kindergarten teacher, some of the journals found on Livingston's computer that detailed encounters with the young girls, which [R] dismissed as fantasy.

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BACKGROUND
Livingston was arrested in June 2007 after a mother complained to police that he had molested her daughter. Police found several hundred child pornography images on his computer and, according to police, those pornographic photos were of local children - taken with Livingston's own camera.

"What he was doing, is he was taking pictures of children down their shirts, or up their shorts or skirts and he also had other images of pornography involving children between the ages of 4, 5 up to 12, some adults as well," Detective Eric Blanchard of the Sinton Police Department said.

The trial continues.
Jan 14 - Livingston testified that the journals were fiction and part of his research. Because he planned to minister to child molesters in prison.

He said he used PhotoShop to add in body parts of young girls on several images found in his computers because he was practicing using the software and didn’t think it was child pornography.

Prosecutor Anna Jimenez questioned why Livingston deleted the journals and pointed out details in the entries matched the accusations made by several young girls.

Jan 14 - KRIST tv has been following the trial. There was this bizarre dialogue on Monday between the prosecutor and Livingston.

Prosecutor Anna Jimenez: "Did you take this picture?"
Livingston: "Yeah, I think I did."
Jimenez: "Why did you take this picture of [child's name omitted] with her little tiny areola showing? Why did you do that?"
Livingston: "I don't know. It's not much of a trophy is it?"

Livingston admitted taking pictures of girls by peeping down their blouses, but he said he did not know why he did it.

Investigators were able to retrieve his journal and asked him to read entries.

He read a series of entries:
"Put my hands inside the legs and stroked the tops of insides of her thighs and groin."
"Moved inside the panty line and on top of the shorts."
"Came through the legs of the shorts and did the same thing."

He says he was preparing for a ministry. "I found those as disgusting as you did," he said.

The judge chastised the defense lawyer after the prosecution protested a defense witness who had been called to court by a subpoena issued and served by Livingston. By law, one must receive a subpoena from an officer of the law. The judge called the lawyer into his chambers.

GUILTY VERDICT Jan 16 - After two-and-a-half hours, the jury convicted Livingston one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child. Jurors began the sentencing phase of his trial. Livingston took the stand, saying he did not want to go to prison and believed he could be rehabilitated through counseling.

Houston Chronicle: Livingston has also been indicted on three counts of indecency with a child in San Patricio County.

SENTENCED Jan 17 - A jury sentenced Livingston to 37 years. They decided on 25 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for aggravated sexual assault of a child and 12 years in prison and another $10,000 fine for indecency with a child. The prison terms will be served consecutively. The judge ordered the sentence.

Livingston's wife said she would continue to support him.