Wrongly Accused

* Your Dec. 19 article regarding the dismissal of the charges remaining against Kevin Carney serves to remind our society of a number of issues. The issue I wish to address is restitution to those of us who have been wrongfully, negligently or maliciously accused of pedophilia. (I obtained a declaration of factual innocence in 1987.)

There are far too many of us who have been victimized by these accusations. I do not believe that we should weaken the reporting laws or the consequences for pedophilia. However, the laws should be expanded to protect innocent people from these accusations. There must be consequences for people who intentionally or negligently cause this kind of devastation in the lives of innocent people. And the innocent must be restored to their former position in society regarding their economic and employment situations and their reputations.

THOMAS E. BRANDLIN

Los Angeles