To the Item Editor:
I was appalled to read the outrageous and irresponsible article regarding my client, Cheryl Amirault LeFave.
Cheryl, together with her late mother, Violet, and brother, Gerald, was victimized by well-meaning incompetent investigators who implanted suggestions of sexual abuse in the minds of young children attending the Fells Acres Day School in Malden during the early 1980s.
She was unjustly convicted and served eight years in prison for crimes she did not commit. Two experienced superior court judges have found that she did not receive a fair trial and that the evidence used to convict her was completely unreliable.
Cheryl was released from prison in 1995. For the past six years, she has tried to restore her shattered life and live as normally as possible.
She has complied fully with all conditions imposed upon her by the court. She has worked hard, holding down two jobs at the same time to save money so she could buy a home.
Until now, she had some semblance of privacy as well.
Unfortunately, in a misguided effort to foment controversy and create some sort of hysteria, The Item has seen fit, it its "wisdom," to publish Cheryl's home address in the newspaper, causing her to fear for her safety and well-being from those ho might decide to persecute her further.
Incredibly, this article actually suggests that children and their parents have something to fear from Cheryl LeFave. Nothing could be further from the truth. The damage wrought by this irresponsible story is incalculable. This abuse of power exemplifies why so many Americans have lost trust and respect for the media in recent years.
I hope that most of your readers will recognize the story for what it is and support Cheryl's efforts to live a quiet, private life in the community.
The item owes her an apology, and it owes its readers more responsible journalism.
James L. Sultan
Attorney for Cheryl Amirault LeFave
Boston