Lawman Should Not Be Sullied by Son’s Actions

Re “O.C. Lawman’s Son, 17, Held in Rape,” July 12:

Your article detailing the career of Assistant Sheriff Donald G. Haidl seems to have implicated the father instead of his accused son for the rape. Anyone with children can tell you that we have little control over our kids once they have become teens.

In fact, our laws have made it nearly impossible for parents to discipline their wayward children at all regardless of their ages. We should be held no more responsible for our ancestors’ acts than our older children’s. Certainly this alleged rape deserves some space in your paper, but the episode should have been more prudently treated as any other rape case be the parent of the accused a janitor or senator.

John T Chiu

Newport Beach