Judge Dismisses Molestation Charges

Decade-old child-molestation charges against a Ventura contractor have been dismissed by a Ventura County judge amid questions over the constitutionality of new state laws extending the statute of limitations in such cases.

Douglas Muelder had denied 11 charges of oral copulation, sodomy and other sexual assaults recently alleged by a 25-year-old man who said the assaults began when he was 13 and lasted for five years.

Two other men later made similar allegations, agreeing to testify in an effort to bolster the case against Muelder.

While a six-year statute of limitations ran out on the charges, new state laws allow for exceptions if the abuse is considered significant and there is enough evidence to corroborate the charges.

However, appellate courts have deemed the new laws unconstitutional, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jaqueline D. Wise said, and the Supreme Court has yet to rule on them.

“We’re going to take the additional avenue of appeal and hopefully get the Supreme Court to rule on it,” Wise said. “The evidence [in Muelder’s case] is overwhelming, but we have to wait until we get further direction from the Supreme Court.”