Well I hope this is the last chapter regarding the Ritzville trial of Manuel Beliz. Perhaps he now can become a statistic in the roles of sex offenders who go to jail for their crimes.
As you may recall in the first hearing things were much different and intimidating to Erica and her family. Jehovah’s Witnesses attended and spoke unitedly on behalf of a multiple sex offender. At one point Brother Beliz stood at the top of the court house steps while most of the congregation sat smiling on the steps and listened to him read portions of the trials of Jesus Christ and in effect applying it to himself. Truly disgusting to say the least.
The weekend before Brother Beliz went to trial in August he went out in the field ministry several times to the unknowing community. The congregation gladly supported his effort with hugs and putting him in car groups to get him out to visit with as many neighbors as possible.
When it was discovered that Dateline and several others would be at the trial in support of Erica, it seemed the pro-Beliz “Witnesses” scattered like quail and made themselves scarce. Where was the courage they seemed to have against one little girl at the first trial?
At the sentencing hearing on the 24th of September, I feel the pro-Beliz “Witnesses” had a plan “A” and plan “B”. Plan “A” was to create a situation where Erica would not be there and then they could flex their collective muscle in support of Brother Beliz. That plan could have been orchestrated by Brother John White pulling strings to get funding for Erica’s return pulled at the last minute. Brother White has been a friend of the court for many years working as a building inspector for the county and a court interpreter for Judge Miller.
Your efforts effectively put the kabash on plan “A” and as a result of your generous contributions Erica was able to not only be there but around two dozen were able to be there in support of her. This resulted in plan ”B” which was the pro-Beliz “Witnesses” to submit a special notebook to the judge first thing that morning. This notebook contained several letters of support for his eyes-only. This provided them a way to make their statement without being recognized or having to show up. The only pro-Beliz “Witnesses” were the immediate members of his family, which numbered about six people. It was interesting to note the person who threatened to kill Erica at the last trial was there, but she had four deputy’s standing very close by. She was very quiet this time. We have requested the contents of this notebook to be made part of the public record and the Judge has yet to decide to do so at this point. Your efforts also produced a person from the governor’s office, Penny Lancaster, who was there as an observer for child molestation cases. The court seemed to be put on notice they had better do this right.
We had to wait for the earlier cases to be discussed and finally about 11:45 AM they called for the case. The Prosecution used Randy Flyck a deputy prosecutor to present the case with Mr. Morgan for Brother Beliz. Mr. Flyck spoke first and asked to the maximum standard sentence. After about a ten-minute discourse the Judge then asked if friends and family would like to speak on behalf of Erica. I had earlier reviewed with Erica what she planned to say, she had it all written out, yet when she approached the podium it seemed all the emotion of what had happened came crashing in. She tearfully tried to relate how being raped as a child had taken her innocence and destroyed her life. She mentioned how he had raped her for eight years and at age 22 she was still imprisoned mentally as a result of his actions. With tears and emotion filled voice she described how she had lost eighteen years and how Mr. Beliz should at least have a similar sentence. She had written much more but perhaps what she stated summed it up best. AS she walked back to her seat her father met her with a hug as she continued to cry. The judge then asked if anyone else wanted to speak. Erica’s dad then approached the stand and described the shock and pain that was caused when he discovered what had happened to his daughter. He mentioned that his wife and he could no longer look at pictures of Erica when she was little as it reminded them she was being hurt at the time and they did not know it. As he began to cry you again could feel the pain caused by this monster. At that point several others stepped up and spoke on behalf of Erica. Some described the protection of pedophile among Jehovah’s Witnesses much like the hiding and protection of terrorists who destroyed the lives of so many recently. One brother, a former elder described how he had been instructed by Watchtower to not report a child molester even when the police were going to arrest him for not doing so. My comments pointed out from the testimony of John White, Brother Beliz’s presiding overseer at the original sentencing hearing clearly showed he was disfellowshipped in October 1996. While Brother White contended that since he had been reinstated in June of 1997 that throughout the 90’s he had never been a threat to children. I pointed out Brother white’s testimony actually condemned Brother Beliz for if he was not a threat in the 90’s he could not have been disfellowshipped in 96. Only an unrepentant person is disfellowshipped. After a few more comments I made the final statement that Jehovah’s Witnesses bear responsibility by hiding those who hurt children as they had in the case of Brother Beliz.
I think it was nine in all who spoke for Erica. No one stood up to speak for Brother Beliz other than the “notebook” comments submitted earlier. Brother Beliz when asked had nothing to say. How different it was from last time. On this occasion Erica had everyone in the courtroom speaking for her, this was the total opposite from the first trial when no one was even given an opportunity to speak for her.
Mr. Morgan tried to make last arguments, not much to argue. He shot himself further in the foot by stating this way just a run of the mill molestation case. There is never a run of the mill case of child molestation, more so when you consider the facts of this one. Mr. Morgan tried to argue again that religion had nothing to do with this case, yet it seemed we had made the point it had everything to do with it. Another side point was Mr. Morgan dismissed himself from the trial and added Brother Beliz would now have a new attorney to file his appeal. I find this interesting, as Mr. Morgan was a court appointed attorney due to Brother Beliz claims he was destitute. Now it seems Brother Beliz has found enough money to hire a new attorney from out of the county to do his appeal. Could Watchtower be dipping into World Wide Work money? Time will tell.
In the end Brother Beliz got the same sentence with a reduction for time served. We were happy to take that for it meant he would be in prison for at least another eight years and would have to register as a sex offender for another ten years according to Washington state law.
Erica and all supporters at the trial were ecstatic at the results. There were around 24 there in support of Erica. It was satisfying to see Brother Beliz lead in handcuffs from the courtroom as well as the pro-Beliz “Witnesses” escorted by deputies to their car as if they were the criminals.
We all went in front of the courthouse and took a nice group picture as they were leaving. All I could think of was “run wt run”; they were spanked pretty well on this one. I hope this is a new beginning where the Watchtower will finally get the point they can’t run over victims and help child molesters without getting a black eye in the process. Thanks to all who supported this effort and helped when not one else would. What greater act of giving can there be when you help someone who is weak to stand tall? Erica stood tall with your support and prayers it will forever change her life.
At silentlambs that is how we hope to make a difference, one person at a time.
I am including the article below from the Tri-City Herald written by Shirley Wentworth. If you get the chance email her and let her know how much we appreciate her help in getting this in the public eye. It is interesting the headline in leau of Mr. Morgan’s arguments of religion not being the issue. [email protected].
Religion repeatedly arises at hearing
Ritzville-Attorneys on both sides of the case argued the trial of Manuel Beliz is not about religion, but nearly two-dozen people who showed up to support Erica Rodriguez at a sentencing hearing Monday disagreed.
Beliz, 48, a Jehovah’s Witness, was retried and reconvicted in August on two counts of first-degree child rape and two counts of first-degree child molestation involving Rodriguez when she was a child.
Deputy prosecutor Randy Flyck asked for the top of the sentencing range on all four counts, reminding the judge how young and vulnerable the victim was when the abuse began and the closeness between his family and Rodriguez’s family.
Rodriguez, now 22, was best friends with Beliz’s daughter, and he frequently molested her throughout her childhood.
Rodriguez, who says elders at her church threatened to disfellowship her if she told police about what Beliz did to her, asked Adams County Superior court Judge Richard Miller to disregard comments made by her former congregation that Mr. Beliz had changed and shouldn’t be punished for something he did a long time ago.
“That doesn’t change the fact that he’s a rapist,” she said. “I have to live with it every day of my life.”
Those who came forward to speak on Rodriguez’s behalf included friends and family members, former sex abuse victims and advocates against clergy-based sex crimes.
Bruce Baker, a former Jehovah’s Witness who traveled from Salem, Ore., told the judge about two cases of child molestation with which he was personally involved. In one, he said, he was ordered by Watchtower attorneys not to report child molestation to police. Watchtower is a magazine published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In the second case a church judicial court tossed out allegations of sex abuse because they did not have two witnesses to the crime.
The group has its own judicial court through which elders’ discipline church members.
“This organization gives false sense of security about child molestation,” he said emotionally.
“This is not a case about Jehovah’s Witnesses,” said public defender Dennis Morgan, who represented Beliz. “Everyone who spoke today wants to make this religious.”
He told the judge that Beliz was disfellowshipped by his church in 1996 and later reinstated, which he said indicated remorse. Asking for minimum prison time, Morgan also told Miller that there’s been no evidence that Beliz has molested anyone since 1990.
But Miller chose the top of the sentencing range, sending Beliz to prison for more that 11 years with sentences of 82 months, 41 months, 136 months and 89 months to be served concurrently.
Beliz had already served 32 months when he was released from prison to appeal his first trial.
Morgan formally filed last week to withdraw himself from any further representation of Beliz, who plans to file a second appeal.