Why would women defend Nethers?

Jury finds man guilty of molestations
Szakoni, Mark. Newark Advocate, May 2, 2007, pg. A1.

NEWARK -- A Newark man faces up to 50 years in prison after he was found guilty Tuesday of molesting two girls.

Loren L. Nethers, 38, was convicted of eight counts of gross sexual imposition and four counts of sexual battery. He faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The jury had to decide whether Nethers, his girlfriend and one of the alleged victims were telling the truth or if the then-12-year-old female victim was, Licking County Assistant Prosecutor Dan Huston said.

He was convicted of molesting two girls, now ages 13 and 20, but not a third, who now is 18.

The girl who now is 13 told the court Monday that Nethers touched her breasts from about Thanksgiving 2005 to until mid-June 2006, when she was placed in foster care.

Nethers, his girlfriend and the now 18-year-old who originally accused Nethers of molesting her testified to the contrary Tuesday.

A important moment of the case occurred when a taped conversation was played in which Nethers was heard attempting to influence his girlfriend and the 18-year-old's testimony while he was in jail, Huston said.

Huston said the girlfriend and 18-year-old testified they had never been coerced by Nethers.

One count of sexual battery was dropped against Nethers during the proceeding after the 18-year-old refused to testify for the prosecution but did so for the defense, Huston said.

Three counts of rape and one count of sexual battery were dropped against Nethers because of the incomplete testimony of the 20-year-old, Huston said.

He said the two victims were guilted into not giving complete testimony because they didn't want Nethers to go to prison, where they feared he would commit suicide.

The 18-year-old girl said she accused Nethers of molesting her because her boyfriend told her it would enable her to live with him.

She said the 13-year-old continues to accuse Nethers of molesting her because the state's foster care told her she will be able to go home.

"The jury, I think they done him dirty," the 18-year-old said.

She said Nethers' lawyer, Carl McCoy, didn't adequately represent him.

Nethers' girlfriend said she was having a dispute with him when she told authorities Nethers molested the girls.