Often the only evidence is the testimony of the child and the counselors who treat the child/adult, unless others come forward.

I absolutely agree, false accusations discredit true victims. Second only to the acts of a child molester, nothing angers me more than those that falsely accuse another person of sexual assault in any form.

I dont know if Richard did it or not. I haven’t heard of many truly innocent accused committing suicide because of the accusations. I have heard of many guilty men, realizing that they were about to spend significant time in jail, take their own lives. It’s the easy way out, especially in this day and age where they pay for the rest of their lives for their crimes. (The punishment is fitting, since the victims will pay the rest of their lives, but thats another topic.)

I would also like to say, that families of the accused, generally disbelieve what they are hearing about thier brother/father/uncle/mother/etc. They have known the accused their entire lives, and cant fathom this person that they know so much about doing what they are accused of. My own father was infamous for portraying the perfect man, the one everyone liked, the one nobody would ever think abused his own children. He still does it. He still gets away with it.

I just want you to know the other side. The possibility that this may have happened, and you would never have suspected it.

This being said, if his ex-wife did falsely accuse your brother, and it caused his death, I truly believe she should be brought to justice for your brother’s death. Without her or the child coming forward and denying the accusations, we may never know.

If the accusations are false, even if they are true, there is, I would guess, a lot of guilt being felt by the ex and the child.

I hope you are able to find the truth, and it allows you to heal your grief.

If you find any evidence that the ex wife fabricated these allegations, please let me know, and I will use all of my resources to help bring her to justice.

As long as there are people in this world who twist laws and use them in a way that was not intended usually do not have much of a conscience when it comes to feeling guilty for their actions much like a child molester, they feel entitled to perpetrate.

This case reminds me of forty thirty years ago when mothers did not want the fathers involved in their lives they waited for the first opportunity for a break in child support to remove the father from their children. It was not until the law was changed that fathers who had legitimate claims were protected from such harassment. Whether that was right or wrong they did so until the law was changed to protect fathers.

An innocent man chose suicide, because he felt overwhelmed and had no credibility because he was already condemned.

You are right when you say a person who is molested usually does not come forward, usually goes through a disturbance in behavior and usually has to seek treatment long after and often seeks treatment for something else and then it is discovered there is this underlying evidence and support. Usually a child remembers the acts of the perpetrator but is not exact about the date. There are evidences of collaborating evidence naturally. Usually there IS more than an accusation.

That is why I know the language of this legislation needs delicate care; I am in no way considering legislation that would aid the molester. People who have been victims had no voice for so long, that is why I need your help. The definition of “who” is a victim must include those falsely accused.

The saving grace for this is, unless the child is believable, unless there is some sort of evidence, it is usually caught. The child is generally interviewed by several different authorities (counselors, police, prosecutors), and there are usually inconsistencies in the stories that bring doubt to the story.

I don’t know how old your niece/nephew was when this is reported to have happened. Young children are incapable of making up stories of sexual abuse. It either really happened, or the story was fed to him/her.

False reports of sexual assault/abuse are disgusting, loathing, reprehensible. It destroys lives, and belittles the actual crime. It also makes it more difficult for true victims when they come forward.

Those who make false reports should be made to pay the same punishment as a real sex offender.

I dont know if your brother was innocent or guilty. My posting of this article is not meant to show innocence or guilt. The purpose of this blog is to show the damage sexual abuse causes… all of the damage. To the victim, to the family, to the public perception, to the falsely accused, and to the rightfully accused.

I am very sorry for your loss. If he was innocent, I hope his ex-wife pays for her crimes.

Richard is the one who chose to end his life rather than wait for a decision by the court . No matter what he was going through , it was his choice . Unless your ex-sister-in-law were to come forward and admit to false accusations , Richard will not be cleared . He gave up his only chance at doing so and took the easy way out . Innocent until proven guilty is a nice concept , but unfortunately it is more of an idea than a reality .

The problem I see with cases receiving no press until conviction , is that there are often many victims over many years that have been abused by one individual who goes on trial for one particular offense.
Discussing these cases in the press not only prompts past victims to come forward sometimes – it also raises awareness about how this process works . There has been too much silence about sexual abuse in the past , and there still is now .

You propose having accusers meet a “criteria of proof” with something more substantial than an accusation . I believe that is the way it works . A child or parent does not just walk into the D.A.’s office , make an accusation and then get a trial set up based entirely on an accusation. Anyone can and should be able to make an accusation of abuse – but the investigators and attorneys have to provide a judge with sufficient evidence to make an arrest and file charges. Then the D.A. has the task of proving guilt in a court of law. If Richard was innocent , it was his obligation to himself and his children to stand up and defend himself from false accusations .

The laws are not perfect by any means , but it is usually the abused child who suffers from these imperfect laws. When it comes to cases of child sexual abuse , there is rarely any physical evidence . A lot of people don’t know that .

Children rarely make up stories of sexual abuse , but it does happen. As in the you article cited in your post , parents do sometimes make false accusations , which is a truly horrible crime in itself , not only against the accused parent , but against the child as well . I wish Richard had waited for the decision in his case instead of ending his life , because if what you say us true – and I have no way of knowing that it is – then he left his children permanently in the hands of a vicious person. If he was living in an emotional hell because of these charges , and they were false – it kills me to think of what his children must be going through right now .

(There is an article written by Mary Schenck on this website, who names a woman; Amy Dow of Urbana, who falsely accused her ex-husband of child-molestation, as a way to get revenge on her ex-husband. She received probation of two years.)
IL women admits to falsifying claim of molestation January 4, 2007
Posted by Tina in Illinois, The Facts, Figures &Fight, US News

Richard whose signature was still wet on his divorce papers was sadly arrested and taken into custody on his way out of the court room building. Already losing much through the divorce could not post bail and lost visitation of his children. Richard’s life was cut short because he saw no end to the maliciousness. “They convict innocent men” that is what Richard thought…and then he killed himself.

I am here to tell you that the name of Richard Brand an innocent man will be remembered for proposed of legislation, in the state of Illinois. This matter should:
1) Receive no press until conviction, so that innocent men can receive privacy protection from the press, etc.
2) have accusers must meet a “criteria of proof” established by competent psychologists or counselors with something more substantial than an accusation. Richard did not fit the profile of a child molester (any professional would have proved this had he sought one out, but he did not because he was innocent)), nor did seek to be in the company of children.

The real motive of actions was money, the inheritance of one, Steven Beard millionaire (who ironically was shot in his own home and bed) of Texas. Perhaps if detectives would have done a little digging they would have uncovered a real scoop, it seems the family has a real problem in sharing.

This legislation still needs to be formulated and I am asking all of you to help me.
Richard was my brother.

Richard minded his own business, and the people and families that
knew Richard know in there heart and soul that he was a good person,always there to help you if you needed him.

One last thing, the person who made this terrible accusation of Richard A brand, I feel very sorry for you. If it is indeed a malicious
lie you are going to answer to the man upstairs. I sure wouldn’t want
to be in your shoes for all the money.

To all Richard’s friends and family my sincere sorrow and love go out to each one.

Richards friend of 40 years