Larry
Vanderberg was falsely
accused, wrongfully convicted, and sentenced to life
in
prison for supposed crimes he did not commit. Eyewitnesses confirmed
these events did not occur and there was no evidence against him. No
reason exists to think Larry would hurt anyone, much less his
children's friends. But defendants accused of crimes against children
do not always get fair trials.
February
7, 2012
Today,
the Lord called Larry home.
The Vanderberg
family extends heartfelt thanks to all who have
faithfully supported and believed in our beloved husband and
father. Contributors to the web site made it possible for us
to
visit Larry much more than we could have with our limited resources. We
will never forget this extraordinary generosity and kindness.
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The doctor wasn't
used to seeing someone in the prison hospice fighting so courageously
for his life. Even being falsely accused all these years and having
cancer did not affect his will to live. This has been a long hard
journey...the Vanderbergs are numb, comforted by the knowledge that
Larry is now embraced and loved in Heaven.
To my loving, romantic, brave, humble man....dance for Jesus!!
Click here
if you would like to attend the memorial
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Note from the
webmaster
Some
years back, I met a powerful advocate for the wrongfully convicted. She
told me one way she knows if inmates are wrongfully convicted is when
they continue to parent their children from prison.
This is exactly what Larry Vanderberg did. Being imprisoned and
sentenced to life did not stop Larry from being the best parent he
could be. He made sure his children always knew he was there for them,
to listen to them and advise them, help them with their homework and
everything else children need from their father. Although the judicial
justice system let Larry down, he never let his family down.
January 31, 2012
Another
post from Doug Tjapkes' blog - http://humanityforprisoners.blogspot.com
Our
friend Teri and her daughter Madison gave us an update on Larry's
situation in California.
John
Paul committed a terrible deed in his youth. Now he is in the
California prison hospice facility taking care of Larry. Today when we
walked in, there was a worship CD playing. It belongs to John Paul. He
told us he keeps it playing for Larry 24/7. Not sure that Larry knew we
were there. However God has sent an angel named John Paul who looks in
on Larry every hour, cleans his room, bathes him, prays over him, and
tells me everything will be OK. And then there is Shawn, who is there
when John Paul cannot be. Larry is loved.
And from daughter Madison:
My
dad is so blessed to be in the only prison hospice in California, one
of the few bright spots in this otherwise devastating experience. The
prison inmates who take care of my father are some of the most selfless
men I've ever met...in prison or otherwise. I know my dad is being
looked after when we are not there, not by the nurses or even the
doctors, but by guys who at one time committed a crime and have now
dedicated their lives to help dying men leave this earth with dignity
and love.
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Click here for more information
about Vacaville Hospice and John Paul's crime and redemption...it's a
good read....Amid ill and dying inmates, a search for
redemption.
December 23, 2011
Doug
Tjapkes posted about the Vanderbergs on his blog http://humanityforprisoners.blogspot.com
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Sunday's
blog takes a look at our friends Teri and Larry, and how Teri is seeing
the bright side of an unpleasant Christmas.
On
the making of an unpleasant Christmas
 I'm
thinking of my friend Teri a lot these days. I even have feelings of
guilt. How come my Christmas can be so bright? How come hers haven't
been bright for years?
What would make Christmas bad for you?
How about this scenario: Your husband is a teacher, and wrongly accused
by some little girls and wrongly convicted?
How
about this one? The nation's leading lie detector examiner proclaims
your husband's innocence, beyond doubt, but the courts refuse to listen.
Or
this? Because your husband is convicted of a sex crime, and one
daughter is still listed as a minor, she may not visit her own father.
Or this? While in prison he contracts cancer. And it's life threatening.
Or this? Even while getting chemo therapy, he must be shackled and
under guard, because he is a threat to society.
Or this? Now it's a death sentence. Cancer will claim his life before
his innocence is proved.
Had enough?
Well,
if you can believe this, Teri is grateful this Christmas. Larry is in a
hospice facility, and this year, for the first Christmas in six years,
all four members of the family will be together.
Hope you're not complaining about this holiday season any more.
Pray for Teri, and Larry, and two beautiful daughters.
Send them a hug.
Click
the link to see the blog:
http://humanityforprisoners.blogspot.com/2011/12/on-making-of-unpleasant-christmas.html
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December 15, 2011
The most powerful evidence of
Larry's innocence...
a letter written on his behalf by one of his witnesses.
October
14th, 2011
Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capital, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160
Dear Governor Brown,
I
would like to tell you about my friend Larry Vanderberg, he is an
innocent man who has been sitting in prison on a charge that
he
was falsely accused of. I have been friends with Larry's
oldest
daughter Madison, since we were in the 1st Grade (we are now
both
23 years old). I testified on Larry's behalf in both
trials because I was a witness of one of the charges against
Larry, all I can say is I was there, I saw everything, and NOTHING
happened. It sickened me in court when the Jurors said that they
couldn't believe the (supposed) victims were lying because
they
were young innocent girls, but what about me and the other
young innocent girls who testified on Larry's behalf? Did they
think I lied? One thing I can tell you about me is I am a very
honest person, with a huge heart, and a huge conscience. I
never
lied, I KNOW Larry is an innocent man.
It
breaks my heart because right now Larry is sitting in prison dying of
cancer. I am writing you to raise your awareness of Larry Vanderberg,
put yourself in his shoes, if you were falsely accused of a crime and
dying in prison wouldn't you just want to be home with your family? I
know your answer is yes! Larry has an amazing family and a lot of
supporters backing him, can he please just be with his family for his
last moments on this earth? I am wondering if he can go home to his
family on a compassionate release so his family can care for him while
he is ill and get to spend the last moments with him since the last 7
years were ripped away from them.
Please
do this for this family, they deserve it after all the hell they have
been
put through. Please visit www.truthcafe.com to learn more about this
amazing
family.
Anything you can do will be much appreciated,
Thank you,
Amanda Erhard
Click
here to
read other letters people have written to the Governor asking for compassionate
release for Larry Vanderberg
December 5 , 2011
Teri
Vanderberg sent a letter to Steve Lopez at the LA Times
Hello Mr.
Lopez,
I
am very jaded at this juncture in my life and you would be too. My
husband of 31 years is incarcerated for crimes that never took place.
We have a very strong appellate attorney and have been fighting for
justice for 6 years. However now that has come to a abrupt
end...because Larry has terminal cancer. We are fighting for
compassionate release and our hearing is in Sacramento on Nov. 15th.
Presently Larry is in a hospital in Bakersfield. He was in ICU for 11
days...he was given a tracheotomy and was taken off a ventilator 2 days
ago. Our family was told to go to the hospital the following day. Upon
arrival from Orange County we were met by 2 guards who said the proper
procedures were not followed and you must leave the hospital. I asked
"How is Larry?" The guard coldly said i can't give you any information
I
called Pleasant Valley State Prison to tell them and they were sorry,
but of no help. The prisons take away the rights of the families as
well as there loved ones right to die with there loved ones. We aren't
even permitted to write letters to the hospital...or let Larry use a
phone to tell us he is OK. Now he has no voice due to the trach...he is
going to every measure so I can bring him home on compassionate
release. He said yes to a trach, a feeding tube...not the man I married
who didn't believe in extreme measures...that changes when you want to
die at home,with dignity and some control over an out of control
situation!!
So when a prisoner is in a outside hospital even
though he is chained to a bed, with 2 guards in his room...his family
cannot visit unless the inmate is hours from death.
I doubt our
story warrants a human interest story...because the public doesn't care
about prisoners. Even innocent ones...I can just hear the conservative
right responses "He was judged by his peers and they found him guilty,
so justice was served". May they never encounter the corruption of our
judicial system....
NY Times
Editorial October 30, 2011
The
vast majority of criminal cases are resolved by plea bargains: 94
percent in state courts, 97 percent in federal. For defendants,
accepting a prosecutor�s plea deal is less risky
than going to trial and possibly being convicted on a more serious
charge with a stiffer sentence.
We
are in the 6% who didn't take a plea...because Larry is innocent and we
believed our justice system to be fair and just. It's a game of winning
at all costs...we now know the "game" we have payed a high price...our
two daughters now 23 and 18..are forever changed . They are over
achievers and look "fine" on the outside...but there view's on justice,
honesty and integrity are forever scarred in there hearts and ability
to trust others.
Our website www.truthcafe.net that's our sad
but powerful story.....were not alone...I advocate tirelessly for the
falsely accused ...as long a a child can say "I was touched' no man is
a safe. We live in a sad world where men should be very careful
interacting with children. We learned it Oh so well with the Mc
Martins, John Stoll and the others in Bakersfield "Witch Hunt" produced
by Sean Penn. I am connected with hundreds of families across this fine
country of ours fighting the same accusation...no proof just words
This is a modern day "Witch Hunt" and now an innocent man is dying in
prison for crimes that never took place.
I
haven't written sooner because my intellect tells me the public should
be aware of death behind prison walls...obviously there not informed
because it's not a story a journalist wants to cover.... I am writing
because my father says you would care...maybe you will prove me wrong...
Broken yet fighting,
Teri Vanderberg www.truthcafe.net
An open
letter from a special family friend who met Larry in prison.
November 20, 2011
Dear
Friends and Family of the Larry Vanderberg Family,
 My
name is Thad Jesperson. I too was wrongfully convicted. Several years
ago I met Larry Vanderberg at Pleasant Valley State Prison. I was so
grateful to finally have a kind, intelligent, spiritual man to call my
friend in such a horrible place. After I won my appeal I was able to
return home to my wife and four children. What an incredible blessing!!
I then had the chance to get to know Larry's wife Teri and his
beautiful daughters Maddy and Lexi (He always boasted about his amazing
girls. I loved that!) My wife Sydney and my four children and I have
become great friends and admirers of the Vanderberg family and we love
them like family. We have been praying for years that Larry's appeal
would go through so that he too could be returned home to the family
that he loves so much.
The latest turn of events regarding Larry
and the recent denial of his "Compassionate Release" has broken our
hearts. Imagine, a man with terminal cancer, isolated in a hospital bed
with a tracheotomy and a breathing tube with an IV in his arm and a
feeding tube being called a "threat to society" by the Parole Board
(because of a vindictive District Attorney) just so that they wouldn't
have to release him to his loving family in the last few monthss of his
life. It is beyond comprehension!!! Yesterday our family sent the
letter copied and pasted below to the Vanderberg family because we love
them so much and it hurts to see them suffering. At the last minute I
decided to Close Copy all of the names and email addresses that I see
on each of Teri's emails to us about Larry. I guessed that all of you
love the Vanderbergs as we do and that you would appreciate our heart
felt words of faith. Thank you to all of you that have responded to our
message in agreement and support.
My dear wife and I have been
praying to know what to do to help the Vanderbergs at this time.
Yesterday afternoon we both had the same inspiration to help their
family be together in the last few months of Larry's life.
After
some pushing and prodding (she did not want to be a burden) Teri
reluctantly agreed that we could put some money into her Bank of
America account to help her pay for the gas to drive the 7 hours each
way and stay overnight at a motel near the Vacaville Prison Hospital in
Northern California so that their family could visit together again.
We
are struggling financially at this time as so many of you are and yet
the Spirit was so strong when we thought of this idea that we
immediately drove to the bank and deposited some money. It is only
enough to help them go see Larry maybe one more time. We wish we could
do more. Imagine, your husband or father dying alone in prison for
something he didn't do and you cannot afford to visit him. It breaks
our hearts!!!
The feeling that we have had over the last
24 hours since we deposited some money has been incredible and filled
with love and compassion. Our humble donation to this amazing family
will make a huge difference in their lives. But, it is only enough for
maybe ONE visit!!!!
By now the Spirit of Love has whispered to your heart to know how you
can help and you KNOW it is the RIGHT THING TO DO!!!
PLEASE HELP THE VANDERBERGS BE TOGETHER!!!!
ANY SIZE DONATION THAT YOU MAKE WILL HELP!!!
Years
of legal battling, appeals, long distance visits, and countless collect
phone calls have left this wonderful family without the means at this
desperate time to visit their father and husband that they love so
much!!!
(Teri, Please forgive me for being so bold, but without
your knowledge or consent I am soliciting money to help you all be
together as a family.)
Because of our inspiration yesterday I
now have the Bank of America account number with Teri Vanderbergs name
on it for anyone who is willing to donate to this worthy cause.
All you have to do is send me an email at t.jesperson@yahoo.com stating
who you are and that you want to help. I will email you the account
number with Teri's name on it so that you can go down to any B of A and
make a deposit that will help them with the expenses of seeing Larry.
Your donation will be completely anonymous unless you send an email to
Teri telling her of your kindness. I will not have any access to who or
what donations are made.
Individually we can help a
little. Together we can change their lives and make some incredible
memories for them. What a teaching moment for his family. What a
teaching moment for your family. Tell your friends and family that know
and love YOU about this compelling story of Love and maybe the Spirit
will guide them to help too!!! I am going to share this with my friends
and family to try and make a substantial difference. Please do the
same!!!
We pray that ALL who read this and the letter pasted
below will be touched and will do what they can to make a difference in
the lives of a family that is worthy of this kindness.
Thank you for your love and compassion,
The Jesperson Family; Thad, Sydney, Lauren, Sherie, James, and Thomas
Here's
the letter referred to above.
Dearest
Vanderberg Family; Larry, Teri, Maddy, and Lexi,
We
are so very sorry that this World can be so incredibly Cruel... We Love
your Beautiful Family ETERNALLY and That is the Perspective that we All
need now as We suffer this tragedy Together... We ABSOLUTELY believe
that this World is where we Learn to Live by Love... Grow in Wisdom and
Spiritually... And, Prepare for ETERNITY---Where we Will One Day Live
Surrounded by Love... FOREVER!!! Yes, it is difficult to focus on that
fact at this time, but it is nevertheless True... Sometime in the
future we will ALL be together surrounded by those that have learned to
Love, AND, Forgive instead of Hate...
LOVE is the Most Powerful Force in the Universe and for many of us
Larry has become the Embodiment of that LOVE!!!
The Larry Vanderberg Family IS LOVE!!!
Perhaps
more than any of us, Larry has Learned... Grown... and Prepared himself
to Live in LOVE for Eternity... His Compassion and Love for His fellow
man is unsurpassed in my experience... He has Borne the Challenges and
Adversity of this Life with Incredible Love, Patience, and Grace...
Just as our Savior has taught us to do, Larry has Lived to Make a
Difference with, and by, Love... Countless Hearts have been touched...
Countless Souls have been comforted and taught... And, Countless of his
brothers and sisters, each of us Children of God, have been drawn
closer to the knowledge and Love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, because
of His incredible Example of Courage and Faith... I am a better Man and
We are a better Family because of Your Positive effect on each of us...
Larry Vanderberg has ALREADY Won the Race!!!
It
may be that Larry will be Welcomed Home by our Heavenly Father to an
Eternity of Comfort and Peace before the rest of us... We will All Miss
Him Very Much!!! Our Faith in God's Eternal Plan will Comfort us and
Sustain us... And, if we are to follow This Great Man into Eternal
Bliss we Must do Just as He has done each day... We Must Run the
Race!!! Each Day We Must Live his example of Love, Patience, and
Grace!!! We Must overcome the Evil of this World through Love... Each
of us can Live as Larry has Making a Difference through Love...
We
are Forever Grateful for the Example of the Vanderberg Family... We
Love You as Family... We will be there for You as Family until that
time when we will All be Together again in our Heavenly Estate
surrounded Eternally in God's Love and Peace...
May God Bless You Dear Vanderberg Family during this very difficult
time!!!
Forever your Supporters with Eternal Gratitude and Respect,
The Jesperson Family; Thad, Sydney, Lauren, James, and Thomas
October 6, 2011
 After
six years apart, Lexington and Larry, were able to see
each other
once again. September 4, 2011, was one of the happiest days of
their lives!!
Words
from Lexington regarding her joyous reunion:
I
can't even begin to express to you how I felt on this day. A flood of
emotions rushing in and out of me... from extreme joy to sadness, from
fear to laughter. On the ride up to the prison, I was silent, afraid
that saying one word would bring the tears flowing from my eyes. I was
able to contain myself until I got into the visiting room and knew that
I was just seconds away from seeing my daddy, after over six years of
waiting it finally hit me that the day had arrived. I sat there crying
tears of joy and fear staring at the door my sister said he would walk
through any minute. At last... after what felt like forever.. the door
opened and I saw him, tears flooding his eyes as well. I had the urge
to jump up run into his arms, yell his name, but was afraid the guards
would get mad. When I was finally able to hug him I couldn't let go;
this is what I had been waiting for, to be held in my father's arms
then to sit down with him and my mom and sister and have the family
meal we had all been waiting for six long years. I couldn't stop
smiling, laughing, staring at him, I was so full of joy, I didn't know
what to do with myself. It was one of the best days of my life, I
didn't care that it was in a prison visiting room or that we were under
constant surveillance. All I cared about was that I got to see my best
friend, my daddy.
Now
not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that only weeks after that
perfect weekend we would get the news that my dad only has six months
to live. Although this is the worst news we have gotten since we heard
the words "he has 25 years to life," I am so grateful that I got the
chance to see him!! That my dad was strong enough to hold on just long
enough for me to hug him, act out my monologues I've been using at
auditions, eat with him, laugh with him, sing to him, share my life
with him.
We are faced with a horrible darkness but I can still
see the light in all this blackness, God let us be together again and,
for that, I am thankful, I am truly thankful. God has his way in
everything, and I know he is still watching over us and protecting us
in this hard time.
Dear
Friends of Larry Vanderberg,
Thank
you very much for supporting this website. I am so happy to be able to
post these pictures, knowing there are so many people following this
story and taking up the cause. It is bittersweet to know you are out
there - to know that so many people are affected by this frightening
and horrible situation - innocent people being denied their
Constitutional Right to unbiased trials before their peers. After all,
didn't our forefathers figure out that, if 12 people considered the
evidence without being tampered with or influenced in any way, the jury
would not make a mistake and find an innocent person guilty beyond the
shadow of a doubt? When there is no evidence
that a crime
has even been committed, there is no possibility that 12 people would
find - beyond a reasonable doubt - that someone was guilty unless there
was undue influence.
I
wanted to start a website a long time ago because the
public needs to know about this widespread phenomenon: innocent
people being convicted of absurd charges in unfair trials.
But who wants to hear about it? This is a subject that is hard to
broach. I was trying to figure out what to do with my website when I
met Teri Vanderberg. It was devastating to hear about what happened to
Larry and the Vanderberg family but I knew this was the perfect story
to tell on the website.
My
heart goes out to all of you who follow this story because you are in a
similar situation. I wanted to share with you that it was what happened
to Thad Jesperson, who had been one of my son's teachers, that opened
my eyes to the subject of false accusation/wrongful conviction. It's
such a painful subject, once he was free, I tried to forget about it.
But it is impossible. Once you know there are innocent people in prison
whom our system has failed, it's hard to
sleep at night.
Teri
Vanderberg has been a relentless advocate on behalf of wrongfully
incarcerated prisoners, it is an honor to help her spread her message.
To send a comment to the website click
hereor email Teri directly.
Click here
for links to other sites about wrongful convictions.
Supporters
of Larry Vanderberg attended the Freedom
March for the Wrongfully Convicted in 2009 and 2010. Teri
Vanderberg and Maddie Vanderberg were speakers. Click here to read Maddie's
comments.
First Family
Photo in 6 years.
October 2010
The
Vanderberg family is extremely grateful for all the love and financial
support received at a recent fundraiser held at "The Gathering Church."
The fundraiser was for Larry's legal defense team.
Eighty church friends attended
in support of Larry Vanderberg's innocence.
Larry Vanderberg's youngest daughter, Lexington, singing Hallelujah on
behalf of her father.
 |
Thad
Jesperson, an innocent man freed from Pleasant Valley State Prison, who
was friends with Larry while incarcerated, spoke on behalf of
Larry's innocence. |
My name
is Lisa Johansen. I have written on this once before, clearly not
enough. I was at the Freedom March this past week, and once again, was
blown away with what we all (that were there) remember from the trial,
how no one could believe Larry to be found guilty with such skewed
testimonies from children who had obviously been coached.
Once
again, I left with tears in my eyes and pain in my heart for a family
that has been ripped apart. I was also absolutely blown away at how
well the girls and Teri are handling this horrific situation.
Larry, I
know is so very proud of them, as they are proud of him as well. Let's
please just all pray that someone in their right mind will look at this
and see what a huge mistake has been made here, and get Larry out of
the HELL that he has had to suffer in these last years, and bring him
back home to his family where he belongs! You are all amazing.
Lisa
07/02/09
Madison Vanderberg also
spoke at the Freedom March on behalf of her father, Larry Vanderberg.
These are her words...
 When
I was in high school, I testified in two trials. When my friends were
worrying about what kind of prom dress they wanted to buy I was
worrying about what I would say on the stand that would help defend my
father's innocence. I would testify in court, praying my father
wouldn't go to prison, and then drive an hour back to school and
pretend I've been missing school for dentist appointments.
I'd
characterize my father's trial as a "he said, she said" witch hunt.
There was no evidence, it was simply the words of a few confused little
girls against my father. I don't want to de-legitimize anyone who was
ever been molested or sexually abused, but as long as kids can say the
words "he touched me," all men are in danger, regardless if it is true
or not. A while back, my mother was on the phone with a Sacramento
official asking for legal advice and she happened to mention what my
father was in for. The man on the phone told us how he refuses to be
present in his house if his daughter is having a sleepover. His
anecdote emphasized that men cannot play with children anymore, they
cannot take that risk. It's so sad, because in today's climate of
victimization, men are afraid to play with children.
The
judge said in his closing statement that "children don't lie," it's not
that children don't lie, children just do not understand the weight and
the severity of the words, "I was touched." Throwing a kid into a
swimming pool and having your hand accidentally move does not
constitute "inappropriate touching."
It's way too easy to put someone
in prison. It takes one kids word and a mans life is easily
ruined.
Not
everyone in prison is a criminal. 17,700 men and women in California
Prisons are innocent. We need to lift the veil of ignorance that is
plaguing our nation and raise awareness for this often ignored disease
of the falsely accused. I want my dad to see me graduate from college,
I don't want to sit in a prison cafeteria to visit my father anymore.
With marches like this hopefully more noise will be made and justice
will be served for the thousands of innocent men and women in prison.
The falsely accused deserve the life that was wrongfully stolen from
them.
07/02/09
Larry
Vanderberg's rebuttal to D.A. Micheal Hestrin comments in "The
Californian" on June 10th 2009
You
said that it is "silly" to think you would put an innocent man in
prison. What an odd term to use for a tragedy. This is not the first
time you have made light of a horrific situation. Thirty to forty
people attended my trial to support me and my family on a daily basis.
You called it "a dog and pony show."
You know as well as I do, that
it is impossible to "cheat" a polygraph test. Dr. Rovner's tests have
been admitted as evidence in numerous cases in California as well as
throughout the United States
Each of the questions were taken
directly from the court reporters transcripts. Either the girls lied or
I did. I proved that I did not.
I tried to take a polygraph test
with the police prior to my arrest .After two hours of interrogation,
the police declined to test me.
The recent Grand Jury report on
the Riverside DA's office points to a climate under pressure to get
jury convictions "or else." I suppose you called the Grand Jury results
"silly" as well.
Mr. Hestrin, what you have to accept is the fact that you did put an
innocent man in prison. It's not "silly" It's pathetic.
Larry Vanderberg
06/18/09
Following
is a letter from a former student of Larry Vanderberg, who wanted to
comment on the article in the Californian - her letter was directed to
Doug Tjapkes, the advocate who is supporting Larry.
Dear Doug,
My
name is Daniella Martin, I'm 23 years old from Lake Elsinore, Ca. I
came across an article in the Californian newspaper this morning
regarding Larry Vanderberg, and saw that you were working with him. I
am a former student of his, and was surprised to see that he was
sentenced to life in prison. I was 13 years old when I was in his class
and never felt uncomfortable around him in anyway! When I heard he was
on trail in 2003 I wrote a letter to the newspaper and the DA's office
regarding how great of a teacher he was and the impact he made on my
life. The newspaper published my letter but I never heard anything
else. I had no clue the trial ended in a life sentence.
I
am writing you now to let you know that Mr. Vanderberg was a great
teacher and has helped a lot of students that other teachers gave up
on. He made a huge impact in my life and I do not believe that he
deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars! I don't know if I
can help you in anyway, but I do want it to be known that he was a good
teacher regardless of anything else.
Thank you for your time,
Daniella Martin
Former student of Larry Vanderberg
06/15/09
There are
facts of this case not reported, if people knew what actually happened,
they might see it differently.
One
of the major missing pieces of information, is how often this happens.
There are so many innocent men in prison who are falsely accused. It is
hard to believe possible, in the United States of America. It is
unthinkable that honest citizens are denied their Constitutional right
to a fair trial, but it is happening all over the country. I have seen
it with my own eyes, and that is why I started this web site for Larry,
and his family.
_______________
06/10/09
The
Californian
WILDOMAR:
Group believes convicted molester is innocent
By Tammy J. McCoy - For The Californian | Wednesday, June 10, 2009
10:02 PM
A
former Lake Elsinore teacher serving life in prison for molesting young
girls recently passed a polygraph arranged by a nonprofit group that is
lobbying for his freedom.
Larry
Vanderberg, 57, formerly of Wildomar, was convicted in 2005 of six
counts of molesting four girls ages of 6, 7 and 12. The girls were not
his students, but knew Vanderberg's daughters.
While
polygraphs are generally not admissible in court, the leader of the
Michigan-based organization Innocent! is among those hoping these
findings will attract help from the legal community.
Doug
Tjakes, a former broadcast journalist who serves as president of
Innocent! has worked with Vanderberg for a year.
"We serve in an advisory capacity," he said. "We write news releases.
We can help them as a support group."
Tjakes
is so convinced of Vanderberg's innocence that he chose Larry
Vanderberg to receive the free polygraph examination donated to
Innocent! by a Los Angeles-based expert.
Innocent! is not affiliated with the well-known Innocence Project.
Tjakes, 72, said the group has a staff composed of about 15 to 20
people, most of whom are volunteers.
They
have not gotten anyone's conviction overturned, Tjakes said, but their
efforts have helped get some felons paroled in Michigan. He was unable
to provide any rates or statistical data about their successes, however.
The Vanderbergs sought assistance from the Innocence Project in San
Diego but were rejected, said Vanderberg's wife, Teri
Vanderberg.
While
declining to comment on the Vanderberg case, Jeff Chinn, associate
director for the California and Hawaii Innocence Projects, said
molestations cases such as Vanderberg's present unique challenges on
appeal.
It is very difficult to get new evidence in molestation
cases that involve children who are victims when there is no evidence
beyond the victim's statements, Chinn said.
Appellate judges are not likely to be swayed by a polygraph alone, he
said.
"The
courts have not been moved by polygraphs," he said. "If an appeals
court believes the person innocent, can they base it on polygraph? No.
They need something else to hang their hat on. Admissibility is a
factor. Right now they (polygraphs) are not admissible."
Vanderberg
was charged with touching three girls in 2001 while playing with them
in the pool and playing games like airplane. A mistrial was declared in
2003 after jurors deadlocked 7-5 for guilt. The mistrial was reported
in The Californian and a fourth girl then reported Vanderberg had
orally copulated her.
During his second trial, Vanderberg took
the stand and told jurors he didn't know that girl. He testified that
he did not believe she had ever been to his home. However, the girl
described the Vanderberg home in great detail and one of Vanderberg's
daughters testified the girl was her best friend.
Vanderberg
testified that his momentary contact with the other girls was
accidental. He denied being sexually attracted to children.
The
prosecutor said Vanderberg put his hand underneath the underwear of two
girls and fondled one of them. After his conviction, the jury forewoman
said she didn't believe Vanderberg could accidentally touch one girl
between five and 10 times.
Vanderberg was sentenced in February 2005 to life in prison. He is
serving his time at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga.
Teri Vanderberg has been fighting to get her husband released from
prison.
"Because nothing happened," she said. "I have known my husband for 29
years. I know his character ... This was all fabricated."
While
they provided no proof, Tjakes and Teri Vanderberg contend the girls
were coached or manipulated into saying that Larry Vanderberg touched
them.
"We clearly believe he was wrongly convicted," Tjakes
said. "We see a lot cases where kids are dishonest; used as pawns by
adults. ... Actual evidence in these cases are non-existent."
Teri
Vanderberg said her husband was a victim of a "witch hunt" and noted
there was a climate of fear in the community after his mistrial.
However,
prosecutor Michael Hestrin and the mother of two girls Vanderberg was
convicted of molesting said the children in this case had no reason to
invent tales.
The four girls did not know each other and they
had no reason to concoct a story like this, said the mother of two
girls Vanderberg was convicted of molesting. Her name is being withheld
because identifying her would effectively identify the victims.
The
girls were interviewed by a specially trained social worker ---- not
police officers or prosecutors ---- and the interviews were recorded,
Hestrin said.
"There was no climate of fear," Hestrin said. "If this was somehow a
witch hunt, it would not stand the test of time."
Hestrin balked at the idea that he was on a mission to convict an
innocent man.
"It's just silly, it's just nonsense," he said.
The
fourth girl who came forward after the mistrial had gone to her mother
about Vanderberg before the first trial. The family decided to handle
it privately until her mother learned how the first trial ended.
That is when they made the decision to come forward, the prosecutor
said.
"I
understand his family is have a hard time accepting this," Hestrin
said. "Eventually, they are going to have to come to terms with the
fact ... he's guilty."
Tjakes and Teri Vanderberg are confident the truth will come out.
"We have lots of new information," said Teri
Vanderberg. "I'm not going to say what it is just now."
_____________
May 26,
2009
Immediate release
Vanderberg
innocent, prominent polygraph examiner claims
Dr. Lou Rovner,
arguably one of the most qualified polygraph examiners in the nation,
is supporting the claims of innocence by Larry Vanderberg, 57, of
Temecula Valley. Rovner, of Rovner and Associates in Los Angeles,
states that he conducted a polygraph examination of Vanderberg at the
Pleasant Valley State Prison on April 22, 2009. He said the examination
was conducted using scientifically validated methods and procedures,
and monitored and recorded by state-of-the-art equipment. He said
research by the American Polygraph Association showed this method to be
the most scientifically accurate, and claims that his accuracy rate in
published research was nearly 96%!
Vanderberg,
formerly a teacher, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in
2004, after being convicted of inappropriately touching four girls,
ages 6-12. He has maintained his claim of innocence since his first
arrest in 2001.
Dr.
Rovner, who has conducted polygraph research that has been published in
scientific and professional journals, said Vanderberg's exam lasted
about two hours.
A numerical evaluation is done at the completion of
these exams. Rovner said that, to be considered truthful, Vanderberg's
score would have to equal or exceed plus-six points. And, to be
considered deceptive, the score would have to equal or exceed minus-six
points. Vanderberg's score was plus eleven!
As such,
said Dr. Rovner, it is his professional opinion that Vanderberg's
testing statement was truthful and accurate.
The
well-known polygraph examiner had been retained by the Michigan-based
organization INNOCENT, often doing business as Humanity for Prisoners.
The organization has endorsed the efforts of Vanderberg's supporters to
free him on the basis of a wrongful conviction.
INNOCENT
President Doug Tjapkes
had high praise for the work of Dr. Rovner. "We have used his services
in critical cases in California, Florida, and Ohio with excellent
results," said Tjapkes. "In fact, as the result of his testimony in an
evidentiary hearing in Ohio, he persuaded a judge to include his
scientific results in court, which led to the exoneration of an
innocent prisoner!"
Editors:
Dr. Rovner can be reached at 818.340.6963, and copies of the polygraph
test are available.
#######
May 21,
2009
Immediate Release
Innocence
organization endorses Vanderberg
Claims
of wrongful conviction by a California teacher, his wife and
supporters, are now being supported by a well-known organization based
in Michigan. Doug Tjapkes, President of INNOCENT! and author of the
book SWEET FREEDOM, announced today that his organization has endorsed
efforts seeking freedom for Larry Vanderberg, 57, of Temecula Valley.
Vanderberg was sentenced to 25 years to life in 2004 after being
convicted of child molestation involving four girls, ages 6-12. He has
claimed his innocence since his first arrest in 2001 on similar
charges. His first trial ended with a hung jury. He is currently
incarcerated in a California State Prison.
Tjapkes said that
INNOCENT, also doing business as Humanity for Prisoners, first took an
interest in the case as Vanderberg was being treated in the prison
system for cancer last year. "Much of our prisoner advocacy involves
inmates who are not getting appropriate medical care," he explained.
After further study, he said, the organization determined that
Vanderberg was innocent of the charges, and deserved to be freed from
prison. Meanwhile, the cancer story had a happy ending. Earlier this
year a radiation specialist declared: "I believe you are cancer free!"
INNOCENT
is proud to be part of the team seeking the release of Vanderberg,
according to Tjapkes. He said the organization carefully chooses its
clients, and of all prisoners who have been freed due, in part, to
efforts of his agency, none have returned to prison!
"Our work has just begun," Tjapkes stated.
#######
Larry
Vanderberg does not fit the profile of a duplicitous person who was
living a double life. It is inconceivable that juries can be convinced with
flimsy evidence that
fine, upstanding family men have dark sides that are hidden from the
people with whom they are closest. Every fact about this family is
consistent with who they say they are - solid U.S. Citizens who have
done nothing wrong. There is nothing to indicate
a horrible secret was being kept.
This
remarkable family has continued to thrive under the worst of
circumstances. Larry has continued to parent his children, putting
their needs before his own, and setting aside the most unfair
circumstances he endures, to keep his family together. Teri, his wife,
has stayed by his side, fighting for his freedom every way she knows
how. Does that sound like someone who molested children?
Click here
for more
about the Vanderberg's plight
Click here to read the results of the
polygraph
|
