‘Somebody Messed Up’

I want to commend you on your article regarding the Terry Bartholome case. I have followed the trial of Stuart Bernstein because I am aware of many of his contributions to our county’s educational system and found it extremely difficult to understand the motivation, logic and justice of his being singled out for prosecution in this case.

After reading your article, I find it even more difficult to understand how Bernstein is the culprit in this case, much less the criminal. Here we have a situation that went on for 2 1/2 years before he was involved, that a number of other responsible people were made aware of and, in fact, sought to ignore and cover up by transfering Bartholeme and writing meaningless memos.

Then, Bernstein who, because of his outstanding career record, is promoted into a new position, receives a cursory, at best, mention of the potential problem (which no one else believed was a real one for 2 1/2 years, or so they testified) and notifies the school police department after two weeks on the job is somehow determined to be a criminal and solely responsible for the entire situation.

The granting of immunity to people who were much more directly involved, the timing of the prosecution in relation to the statute of limitations, and the focus on Bernstein who was the “new boy on the block” strikes me as a major injustice not only to Bernstein but also to the county.

How could such a teacher be hired in the first place? Why were the allegations not investigated more thoroughly at the time they were made? Why would such a transfer ever be allowed?

These are the questions that need answers and unless continued pressure is brought to bear they never will be.

VINCENT F. MARTIN JR.

Pacific Palisades