VENTURA : Molestation Charges Are Thrown Out

A Ventura County judge on Friday dismissed child molestation charges against a 35-year-old Thousand Oaks woman, saying another judge made an improper ruling during the woman’s preliminary hearing.

Acting Superior Court Judge Bruce A. Clark ruled that acting Superior Court Judge Herbert Curtis III erred during Gloria G. Goldman’s preliminary hearing by barring a defense witness from testifying and by not allowing the woman’s defense attorney to play a taped police interview with her accuser.

“I think when you combine these two things, there was a violation of substantial right,” Clark said during the hearing.

Curtis could not be reached for comment.

Goldman was charged in May with having an ongoing sexual relationship with a teen-age neighbor for 2 1/2 years. The boy, now 17, was 15 when the alleged incidents began.

Goldman’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Neil B. Quinn, filed a motion to dismiss the case after Curtis refused to allow testimony that the boy recanted all of his accusations while talking with a defense investigator.

Outside the courtroom, Goldman said she planned to “go home and get back to the business of my life.”

“If (the district attorney’s office) does refile, we’re ready,” she added.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bob Calvert said prosecutors will review the case during the next week before deciding whether to refile charges.