Jurors Express Anger : Child Molesting Verdicts Voided

The child-molesting convictions of three men were thrown out and a new trial ordered Friday by Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald E. Owen, bringing tears of relief to some members of the men’s families but expressions of outrage from seven jurors who had found them guilty.

Owen said he was “not going to put these peoplein prison for upwards of 40 years” based on the strength of testimony from the 17-year-old girl who made most of the accusations.

Jurors who had gone to court Friday for the scheduled sentencing asked why Owen wasted 10 weeks of their lives for the trial of a case he decided himself.

“I will never again believe in the American jury system,” said juror Joy Borzellino of Tustin.

The new trial was ordered for Larry Meyerson, 42, of Garden Grove; his father, Sidney Meyerson, 67, of Fullerton, and Robert Sonnickson, 55, of Garden Grove, a family friend . They were convicted last August on a total of 44 counts of molesting two of Larry Meyerson’s stepdaughters, aged 14 and 10, and the 17-year-old adopted daughter. The three men are free on their own recognizance.

The case divided the family, with Larry Meyerson’s wife and a former wife standing behind him and against their daughters, who said they were the victims.

Meyerson, his father, and Sonnickson were arrested last summer after the 17-year-old told officials at her school that she had been sexually molested at home. Eventually, four of Meyerson’s six children (including one of his two natural children) told police that he had molested them. But the two younger ones, a 10-year-old stepdaughter and a 15-year-old daughter, recanted their earlier statements, contending that the 17-year-old had forced them to lie.

Despite that testimony at the trial, jurors convicted Meyerson of one count of molesting the 10-year-old, based on her testimony at a preliminary hearing and statements to police that he had molested her.

The 17-year-old cried during much of her testimony. She did not learn until the trial that she had been adopted.

Larry Meyerson, an OCTD bus driver at the time of his arrest, said he was stunned by the judge’s decision.

“I was told only 2% ever get a new trial; I just thank God that my prayers were answered,” Meyerson exclaimed.

Defense attorney Paul Wallin praised Owen for having the courage to overturn the jury’s verdict.

“The reason the Legislature gave judges that right is so they can correct an injustice like this,” Wallin said.

But jurors present did not agree.

“It’s a shame,” said juror Deana Turner of Anaheim. “Those men are guilty. We went over the evidence very carefully.”

Jury foreman John Lewis said he was so upset that he planned to work against Owen at his next election.

The jurors came to court Friday because prosecutors told them that Sidney Meyerson had submitted a letter to the court, claiming an anonymous juror had called him. In the letter, the older Meyerson stated that he learned the jury had been influenced by statements made by the prosecutor, Deputy Dist. Atty. Nina Brice, during a break in the trial.

The seven jurors had gone to court Friday, prepared to testify that none of them had made the call, and that Brice had not talked to them outside the courtroom during the trial. The other five jurors submitted similar statements, Brice said.

Brice said she did not believe that Owen really thought the two girls who stood by their testimony were lying. But she said she did not know why Owen threw out the convictions.

The case will be sent back to the master calendar judge, Francisco P. Briseno, for a new trial date.

Wallin said he and the other attorneys are going to ask for separate trials for the three defendants. Wallin said he is also going to ask that Larry Meyerson be allowed two separate trials, one for each of the two girls still accusing him of molesting them.

Meyerson was convicted of 32 counts of molesting the 17-year-old adopted daughter, 4 counts of molesting the 14-year-old stepdaughter, and 1 count for molesting the 10-year-old stepdaughter. Sidney Meyerson was convicted of 2 counts of molesting the 17-year-old. Sonnickson was convicted of 10 counts involving the two older girls.