Letter To The Editor

To The Editor

It doesn't take but one swift look around you and the world we live in to notice times are a'changing in many ways... Both, negative & positive. One way in particular that is very close to our heart (& on a positive note) is where it concerns child-victims of all kinds of crimes no longer "keeping silent " of the assaults against them - whether it be emotional, physical or both.

Once upon a time, it was quite taboo for a victim to speak of a crime committed against them such as "sexual assault." Statistics show countless children, male & female, who've been violated in this manner (by a family member, friend or stranger) and did not come forward for help. The reason? There are many... Exposure, humiliation, the chance of being mocked - especially by those who hold the viewpoint of the victim "asking for it," families wanting to sweep it all "under the rug" vs. facing the ordeal, those in positions of authority bowing out of their responsibility to "handle it" appropriately... You name it. The list of excuses is sad and only victimizes the innocent, again. Statistics also reveal the lingering effects of not only those victims who didn't feel they could come forward, but also those who did and nothing was done. The emotional baggage is scarring and hampers living a healthy future for many unless they somehow find it within themselves to seek intervention.

By God's grace, our family has victoriously overcome the greatest obstacle we've ever faced and that is having had one of our children sexually assaulted by someone we knew and was close to our family. We embraced the amazing outreach and support from our family/ friends in this community, but we also dealt with mockery from a handful of folks. Those few & small individuals proclaimed it to be "the victim's fault" and why? Again, lots of reasons - the victim's age, their own ignorance, protecting their criminal friend, etc...

Through this year-long process of court proceedings, an education was handed to my family on "law" and it was enlightening. I believe we'd all do well to study it and remind ourselves of what the law's definition is of a "child." For our child, 15 years of age was when the assault began. One must remember at 15, one cannot work full-time, drive with a valid license (unless a hardship), vote, buy alcohol, tobacco, etc... Our child had not experienced any of this, not even a "first date". Why? Because at the tender and innocent age of 15, you're still a kid and the law doesn't allow kids (& neither did our family) to do "adult things". Again, "why"? Because children aren't meant to & cannot handle the adult world when they're still in their youth. They are not mentally, emotionally or physically equipped, plain & simple.

Our family wish to thank the following for your support and vigorous dedication to our trial(s) and the justice that prevailed: our Lord Jesus Christ, our family, friends, Judge Cynthia Stevens Kent, Smith County DA's office, Matt Bingham, Richard Vance, Jason Parish, Greg Moreman, Jim Castle, JR Kesinger, Jodie Neely & staff, Det. Tony Dana w/Smith Co. Sheriff's Dept., Inv. Kevin Hanes w/Henderson Co. Sheriff's Dept., Sgt. Trace McDonald w/Texas Rangers, Dr. Gayle Burress, CAC & CPS. Last, but not least - the 24 jurors who were appointed to our trial(s) and nobly performed the task set before them of determining "guilt or innocence." Our heartfelt praises to you for allowing truth to march on.

Our family's hope in all of this is perhaps someone else out there who's been victimized and hasn't come forward will somehow find the strength to do so. It may not seem like much, but one person at a time brave enough to step up and proclaim "no more!" to these worldly assaults make ALL the difference in this ol' world. God bless you all.

The Gregg Magee Family

"One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying" - Joan of Arc.