Larry Vanderberg was falsely accused, wrongfully convicted, 
and has been sentenced to life in prison for supposed crimes he did not commit.

Click here to contribute to the Vanderberg family in the last months with their beloved husband and father, Larry.

 

December 23, 2011

Doug Tjapkes posted about the Vanderbergs on his blog http://humanityforprisoners.blogspot.com 

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

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 

Click these links for more information about Thad Jesperson www.signonsandiego.com  San Diego Magazine - The Education of Mr. J.

---

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. 

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.

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 here or 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. 

On August 23, 2010 Teri Vanderberg was interviewed by 89.3 Southern California Public Radio to discuss Health Care in the Prison System. click here for the interview.

Teri was a speaker at the Fast for Freedom rally on Aug. 6th 2010. The following are excerpts from the newspaper Los Angeles Progressive.

Three Strikes and the Prison Industrial Complex are fasting for freedom, proclaimed Geri Silva, because we are starving for justice, Silva, founder of FACTS, Families to Amend California,. Three Strikes the law that mandates life sentences for a third conviction, even if minor and nonviolent, stood on Spring Street Friday morning in front of the downtown Los Angeles offices of Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and Assembly Speaker John Perez. About two dozen activists and onlookers gathered there in solidarity with inmates who were fasting in 33 California State prisons while coordinated protests occurred in front of State government offices in Fresno, Indio, Sacramento and San Francisco. With chants of Prisons for profit, You know you gotta stop it, and personal testimonies from families and friends of the incarcerated, protestors sought to raise publicity and State officeholder awareness of the dysfunctional prison system and the impact of unrestrained prison spending on the State budget.

Ten percent of the prison population, says Silva, citing Gloria Killian as her source. Killian served 16 years in prison before she was exonerated after being convicted of murder in a case notorious for perjured testimony and prosecutorial misconduct. Now as executive director of the Action Committee for Women in Prison she continues the work she began behind bars, winning freedom for women prisoners
. 
Larry Vanderberg is one of the wrongfully convicted, says his wife, Teri. During a vacation in Palm Springs, in full view of her and of a number of children, Larry, a special ed teacher, tossed the daughter of a family friend into the swimming pool. Later, the child told her mother she thought he d touched her  when he lifted her. Teri Vanderberg says the overzealous D.A.' office in Riverside proceeded to have the little girl and other children questioned, using the kind of coaching and witch hunt tactics discredited by the travesties of justice in the infamous McMartin preschool case and the Bakersfield satanic abuse cases.

Now fathers tell her they know better than to spend any time around their daughters' friends. In a society where we know children need male role models and father figures, she fears we are encouraging dads to remain aloof and uninvolved. I wasn't an activist before this. she explains. We were just a middle class family raising kids in Temecula Valley. Now I've met people all around the country who are going through the same thing. As long as any child can say  I've been touched, this could happen to anyone. But you have no idea until it happens to you. It's like being hit by a truck.

As for Larry Vanderberg, even if you choose to believe he is guilty as charged, that his hand slid between the little girl's legs as he lifted her into the air, does it make sense that convicted rapists serve eight years and go home when Vanderberg got a life sentence?

Teri Vanderberg's father has cashed in the equity in his house and her church is holding fundraisers to help pay legal bills for her husband's appeal. In the meantime, in prison he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. In spite of his wife's constant, unwavering advocacy, Larry Vanderberg still waits for medically necessary follow-up care while his youngest daughter, now a teenager, writes to him, talks to him on the phone, and makes public statements on his behalf but because he's not allowed any contact with minors, she is barred by the State from visiting him.

The people who run the State are far removed from the pain and suffering,  said Silva. The only pain they have is when they get annoyed because here we are again.

And Molly Bell, describing herself as straight out of Compton, explained why she was present and fasting even though it's not my husband. It's not my son. But somebody has to stand in the gap for those who cannot stand here.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Recently, Larry's case was reviewed by students at University of Tampa as part of an Introduction to Corrections class. The project was to complete a Case Analysis of a possible wrongful conviction case. The students' decision was that Larry's wrongful conviction should be overturned. When the teacher, Kim Schnurbush, sent the results to us, she wrote "I would like to thank all of you for sharing information about your loved ones with my students.  Although I do not believe any of these reports will have a profound impact on the specific case you sent for review, there are now a handful of UT students more aware of the failures of the criminal justice system.  Education is the first step." This was the students' finding:

Wrongful Conviction Reasons:

Government Misconduct:

In the case of misconduct, we have misconduct on the lawyers and the police. The prosecution argued facts not in evidence and objected to appellant�s right to have counsel. The misconduct also fell on the defense counsel, who failed to object to prosecution. In the court, the jury was only told they could find the appellant guilty of his charges and nothing less, although California statue states otherwise. The last piece of misconduct that I found was with the police. This misconduct took place when the appellant took the polygraph test and the detective failed to turn it on.

Analysis:  

Based on  the research, I believe the appellant to be innocent. The appellant was treated unjustly through the system that was meant to protect him. The research showed that the stories of the girls were too similar, the actions by the parents were questionable, and the conduct of the criminal justice system was not of correct procedure.

Conclusion:

I find that the appellant appeal should be reversed and found innocent. This case has several reasons that it should be overturned. From this case, I have learned that one can never be too careful and people must know their way through the criminal justice system.

If you have any questions about this study, you may contact the school directly.

Kim Schnurbush
Box Q, Plant Hall 238
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
University of Tampa
401 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida  33606
813-257-1806 or x1806
kschnurbush@ut.edu
www.utcriminologyblog.com

Friday, September 4, 2009

A message from someone who's husband is wrongfully accused:  

07/10/09

Hi Teri-

I saw your post in the Petition for Michael Moore and went to your website and had to contact you.

My husband is in prison in CA, innocent and wrongly convicted of sexual abuse of his step daughter. He was convicted in Sept 2005 and sentenced to life in prison based on only her words, no dna, no evidence, no nothing.

I know exactly what you are going through. We have spent the last four years undercovering a TON of evidence that proves Ray's innocence and are filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the appellate court. The superior court was kind enough to lie (no surprise there since the only way he got convicted was because everyone lied- so true to form- the DA and the judge lied in thes proceeding too) and deny the habeas petition even though we proved beyond a doubt that Ray did not commit this crime. I wrote every agency imaginable and we have documents that prove that every prosecution witness lied. (We recently obtained an affidavit that Ray's ex-girlfriend admitted to lying and coached his step daughter to make the allegations and told her what to say). So we are fighting the court battle which is a hard road I tell you. We also had two forensic experts agree to work on his case pro bono after he was convicted and their evaluation of all of the evidence supports Ray's innocence too.

I was so excited to hear about the Innocent group and Mr. Doug Tjapkes. I have had no luck with the innocence project and they have just made me so mad that I quit calling them.

So, where do you live?

Anyways, I thought should contact you, we have so much in common. I also am the director of a group that helps provide support and educational assistance for the falsely accused and wrongly convicted. We are not attorneys and work mostly by email but we can offer support and help answer questions, whatever it might be. www.false-allegations-team.com. Mary Ann is also part of our group.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Julie 

Comments from the Freedom March:

07/07/09

I am extremely happy that Teri was able to participate in the Freedom March for the Wrongfully Convicted on behalf of her husband Larry.  She had very little knowledge about the march and still, in a heart beat she was there in full force, supporting and bringing awareness.

That's what families do, I know.  My son has been convicted of the same thing only I guess he is fortunate.  He was convicted of 8-16 years, not life. 

I came across Teri and Larry's story through the Witch Hunt comments list.  We connected, seeing as how we had so much in common, and we now do anything and everything we can to show the world, even if only our country, that this is common!!! It can happen to you, to your husband, your son, your daughter...it may already have. 

When I met Teri, it was a hope I had that we could come together and form some sort of movement to bring awareness to wrongful convictions.  We became informed of the Freedom March and, as we now see our lives, we got involved.  DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU!!!!!!!!!  Open up your eyes and see that our judicial system is NOT working!  It needs to be changed before it affects you.

My heart, my prayers, and my voice all go out to Teri, Larry and the girls.  The life they have been dealt and the sadness they all endure is worse than anything you could ever possibly imagine.  Keep them supported and show them you care by getting involved!!!!

When it happens to you, don't say "You didn't know!"

MaryAnn Lubas
www.justiceformike.net
 

07/05/09

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!"

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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.

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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 

 

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