Forum (Forum & Focus)
Apr. 10, 2009
Bakersfield's Crucible Moment
Mike Willemsen reviews the documentary "Witch Hunt," which explores prosecutors run amok and small town hysteria.
FORUM COLUMN
By Mike Willemsen During the early 1980s, Bakersfield, in company with some other communities throughout the country, was victim to a wave of hysteria that led to the convictions of many innocent men and women for child molestation. It arose and spread in a manner reminiscent of the witchcraft hysterias of an earlier age: A single, unfounded accusation led to a community panic as more and more people were accused of increasingly bizar...For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
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