The State : Child Abuse Case Collapses

Investigators of alleged sexual abuse at the Army’s Presidio day-care center say the case is being closed with no more charges being brought, the San Jose Mercury News reported. “The official document closing the case is being written,” FBI agents told parents of children reportedly abused in 1986, according to the newspaper. At one point, it was alleged that more than 60 children were abused at the center. The probe began toward the end of 1986 after a 3-year-old boy said “Mr. Gary” had hurt him. Gary Hambright, a former civilian employee at the center, was subsequently indicted, but charges were dropped because the judge said they were too vague. U.S. Atty. Joseph Russoniello said recently that problems had developed with the children’s abilities to testify to statements they had made earlier.