possible triggers follow
As I mentioned yesterday, six brothers in an eastern North Carolina town have been indicted on charges that they molested their younger sister for almost a decade--from the time she was 4 until she was 14 (she's 16 now). Their parents, John and Nita Jackson, were also arrested for knowing about the abuse and doing nothing to stop it. While the six boys are all still in jail on $150,000 bond each, John and Nita were released after posting $15,000 bond. Am I the only one who's uncomfortable with this?
Based on the facts of this case, I can't begin to understand how these two parents got such a low bond. The only way for abuse as horrific as this to go on for this long is if John and Nita taught those boys that this behavior was even remotely acceptable. You really can't leave people like that out among us, ever.
And even without this to consider, they've already demonstrated that they have the means to flee. Soon after one of the brothers, Eric Jackson, triggered the investigation by confessing his horrific crimes to a pastor, investigators wanted to talk to the girl. But John and Rita not only refused to let her talk, but packed up and moved to Colorado. However, Perquimans County sheriff Eric Tilley got in touch with the Colorado Department of Human Services, who promptly removed the girl from her parents' care. The parents went back to Colorado after being arraigned--not exactly the kind of thing you'd do for an out-of-state trial. At least one commenter in my original diary suggests that doesn't bode well for them being back in court for the next hearing on Monday. Maybe those of you who are better versed on legal matters than I am can shed some light on this, but the fact that these two got a bond low enough that they could get out makes absolutely no sense at all to me.
The parents could get a maximum of 13 years in prison if convicted, while their sons face charges that could potentially send them to prison for the rest of their lives. That doesn't sit too well with Tilley, who told WTKR in Hampton Roads that he believes the parents are responsible for this tragedy even though they're charged with lesser offenses than their sons. Granted, they'd both be very old by the time they got out of prison--John is 65 and Rita is 54. But when you're dealing with crimes this outrageous, no expense should be spared to ensure that these two stay in prison for as long as legally possible.
It's possible that they could get more charges very soon, though. Soon after the investigation started, two of Eric's other brothers confessed as well. Even money says that Eric and his two brothers are dropping dimes on everyone involved--including their parents. Hopefully when this case goes back to court on Monday, there's enough evidence to ensure these two monsters--and that's about the kindest term I can use--stay in jail through the trial.