Day Care Molestation Cases Don't Always Stick

April 7, 2007 — -- Police in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., have launched an investigation into child sexual abuse after arresting a man for allegedly molesting children in his wife's day care center.

William Huck Sr. faces 13 counts of first-degree child molestation and four counts of first-degree statutory sodomy with a person under 14 years old.

In a probable cause statement, Huck, a retired railroad worker, confessed to the sexual assaults. He said the most recent incident happened two weeks ago on a day when his wife left for a doctor's appointment, leaving him alone with the children.

Huck's confession has been viewed by many as an indication of his guilt. However, cases of sexual molestation involving minors are typically very difficult to tackle, experts say.

In the case in Ste. Genevieve, a town located about 50 miles from St. Louis, none of the alleged victims showed any traces of physical abuse on their bodies or clothing. Also, some of the alleged victims were as young as 6 months old, and therefore unable to communicate.

In other cases of sexual assault, proof is equally elusive. Law enforcement, child protection agencies and lawyers take a multidisciplinary response to these sensitive situations.

"It is a very delicate matter," said Anna Campaign-Romera, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Social Services. "There is sophisticated social work required."

One of the difficulties is overcoming children's instincts to protect their parents.

"Families often tell kids that what goes on in the family stays in the family," said Ileana Ascher, an elementary school psychologist from New York. "Kids are afraid their parents will be punished, or that they will be taken away from their parents."

Despite the difficulty of the investigation, social service groups saidthat there are certain indicators investigators look for when interviewing children.

"One of the main things is that if the story is specific and consistent, the chances are the child is telling the truth," said Sara Anderson, another Missouri Department of Social Services spokeswoman.