" Welcome back Dennis and Callahan I've just shaken the hand of a man who has a smile on his face and the little -- in his voice. As seems well adjusted and doesn't seem angry doesn't seem bitter. I would not be in that move may either be -- Gerald have a brawl and we said -- early on in the broadcast sometime around 6 o'clock. That we want to sort of beat dig deeply into the recesses of your brain. And try to take yourself back to 1986. As he went to collect call what you think you remember about the fells acres day school. Situation and Gerald an overall -- in the studio good morning -- morning a -- While we're --"

" Album I'll begin with the site I apologize. But I know speak for myself I didn't take this seriously and know. You listened in and you weren't happy -- things we said but I think what we did was. We we mocked and ridiculed opinion on the clown on the magic -- Adam it was it was comic fodder for us and I look back real regret 'cause. We and everyone else in the states should have taken this seriously I cannot believe. You when you you suffered this injustice and not that many people seem to give a damn. -- a right to prison sentences -- couple believed that. We allowed this thing happened. And there wasn't anger real real you know protests and people like gusts -- scream and amid the point early Gerry Williams scream for years about seatbelts. Where -- the people it's you who should've been screaming. About this injustice."

" Well people are really this is my belief and I think I understand it probably better than anyone. When you're accused of something heinous as child molestation. People are very reluctant to do anything. And it takes years and years and years for the media to catch up with some like there's. And once they did and once the Wall Street -- particular interest in my case which is very conservative law and order type of a newspaper. It kind of put up the antennas for everybody else and that's when the American justices in the 2020s in the 48 hours and every one came in and started really scrutinized case. As for years and years my -- we tried to solicit people to get them to come and take a look at the case. Not the words that people -- talked but the facts of the case yeah. And and we always felt that if they would look at this they would see the injustice with my camera."

" Let me take you back not you Gerald. On his mother Bartlett and a sister Cheryl. Accused of raping children the -- preschool in Malden mass that was of course he fells acres day school. The allegations against the Bentley were preposterous on their race. Children made claims of robots bad cloud two children to a magic -- for sex play. They talked about rape with a two foot butcher knife others acts of sodomy with a magic one. In spite of the fact there was not one shred of physical evidence to support those allegations in spite of the fact that not one parent. Noticed even -- usual behavior in any of their children up until the allegations came out. Nor are there any witnesses to these alleged acts of abuse. In July 1986 -- was convicted of raping and assaulting six girls and three boys and sentenced to thirty to forty years in prison. The following year violet and Cheryl convicted of rape and assault and three girls and -- And were sentenced to eight to twenty years in prison. Now we come to find out over the years through The Wall Street Journal and other outlets that researchers demonstrated that small children are highly adjustable. And that it's easy to implant false memories in young minds by asking the same question over and over again proof positive of that. But the interviewing techniques in this -- case. -- so successful children made accusations against three other teachers and two imaginary people that didn't exist and therapists and therapists who was asking. The questions. So -- go to jail in July of 1986. And spends fifteen years behind bar Bob Barr now. At what point in this process and -- long before the door playing behind you did you say when it like a wake up prize wet wet -- is something. Going to turn positive for me and people understand that this is outrageous I've done nothing wrong."

" One my negativity. When I was accused I thought this was never gonna happen you know the truth will come on I didn't do anything wrong this is just gonna go -- recommend in the gonna do an investigation -- cleared up. What happened to me was to Marvin detectives that got the hub and spoke I was arrested basically on rape and child were hotline phone call -- Whose child have been in my school for fourteen days. Within two days I was arrested for rape a child. In a daycare center that had been in my community for over twenty years my mother had worked -- kids for over thirty. And these people didn't even afford my my family invest you know in the decency of an investigation. For an allegation that they should know as investigators. Is so volatile. So I'm arrested for rape a child. And then the case just took off like wildfire yeah within six days they have a police meeting they tell the parents that go home and questioned -- children about magic -- secret rooms in clowns right in the -- common theme of the case. And then they use it later on to say -- how could all these kids say these things that's their way of justifying right that this had to be true because all these kids said the essential. Police told the parents go after kids about this this this this and that -- and thus the seeds were planted in the children's brain. Exactly and they wouldn't and all of these children if you watched the videotape and the views of these kids all denied that this stuff didn't happen. You see my feeling we're not a blame game we feel that not only were we victims but these parents and children morals and the blame lies in the so called investigate -- It will clueless when it came to investigating these kinds of cases there was no such thing as forensic psychologist. And district attorney's office they've created because of -- is -- and little rascals we Kia he's with a five or six. Big child sexual abuse cases that came in that wave of hysteria from 1985. With McMartin 'til around 94. And what made the district attorney's offices have to do is. Create real professional people that know how to question children without implanting memory that doesn't really that's not true."

" What what an -- to John's question. When did it seem real I mean what they were yeah yeah it was to be brought under LP this scenario went when you act when they actually slammed the prison door behind you when the judges. When the sentence came down what did you say this nightmare of my life is now this nightmare."

" Well when I saw the case before -- even -- convicted. Just seeing the case and how it took on a life of its own in the media coverage and it was just so one side it was 6 o'clock news level of us do on the front page every day right I mean they were things that they were saying naked swimming and parties and kiddie pornography rings and robots. And it was so ridiculous that you you you just felt like he wanted to just yeah I didn't know what to do and then when you get convicted I mean. My jury deliberated for thirteen days it's the longest liberated trial Massachusetts history but still a convict them. You know now we have jurors that come forward later on its annual if we knew back then what we know today. We -- have -- convicted Alaska and it's just you know it's too little too late Richie spent time what prison well I because I was so high profile they they chose the kind of techniques I was in protective custody for almost fifteen years you are I was up the -- housing correction for almost nine years and it went deployment remote five. And then. I got -- my case study that notoriety. You know people right I hear from other people that inmates in the system said that you don't need to be peace. People know -- it's. So they told me that I could go to a site I made it you know I made an attempt to go to a real prison right could be in you know general population. I can enjoy some of the freedoms. -- But for the most part -- considered like. A separate entity from everyone else so they don't really care about you know freedom -- stymie get out and -- and showers and got that everybody guts of the president's. A label you call you our child child molest our king. Rapists right when I went out the -- reckon the fortunate thing about the Barack house of correction was a lot of the guys that work via from my community. And from day one they knew it was really so it was very fortunate to be in that kind of environment. And a lot of the inmates I mean I'm not gonna say that they thought they would I was a great guy it's a game when you're imprisoned I mean the murderers the populism the best in the child kills of the -- as a Ira. And you guys on the right and I was practically at the bottom -- child killer -- guess would be a little bit below me but not too much fun."

" Select a step above Charles Jackson Axelsson carried unbelievable. And and did you wake up every day -- this nightmare is -- and Dominic someone's gonna come and say oh it's all. Mistake you can -- now well I I what I tried to do was I couldn't control what they did to me in terms of the conviction but I did know that I could control how I dealt with this whole night and I had. I have a beautiful wife three beautiful children. And a lot of support in and mean and I count on my elements."

" In on -- and and I had you know tremendous friends and feeling that stock quote me. From didn't want. Knew that I was not the person that these people made me out of did you write letters yes. And in fact I you know we we talked you know once Dorothy Rabinowitz got to write about my case and the reason she did was I saw her she was covering the case I watch the 48 I was piece on. Kelly Michaels was in New Jersey daycare worker was accused in the week here case of the same thing -- work. And I wrote her a letter and center pitcher my children. And I asked their -- help and now. She did. You know and when she started right -- my case it -- instant credibility in my situation. And invited a lot of the people that come. And and that's the the beauty of this whole -- The media helped convict me in the media helped the free my soul and."

" And when you wrote the letter of the darkened -- was what year was that that was in 1995. And when Mujica. Not until 20062004. He talk and almost ten years do you bring it to the attention right. Of the woman who eventually won a Pulitzer prize cover in the case to detect and ten more years of all of anguish in his before."

" Did you not give up. Well I you know and a lot of pain and -- guys in prison hang themselves to a thirty at thirty day -- yeah you know because they couldn't handle it. I'm not that kind of person I've I've always been athletic coming -- athletic things right I love my female love my kids I I wouldn't do that you know I would never give."

" How would you describe the progression of your emotions from July 86 is that when you -- and yes until the day you got out was it was it fear followed by anger followed by bitter what was -- a lot of words in a -- what was yeah."

" Russian it's it's kinda like you have to resolve itself at least I did for me it was like you know I get to get used to this I gotta find a way that live in this environment. Get through you know I mean an end in Sunday's it was minute to minute. Some days it was stated dates on Beijing have stretches where it it was all right and then after awhile. It's -- you get used to it to get numb yeah you do you do and you have to learn to do other things to keep your mind occupied. I -- my bachelor's degree from Boston University when I got the base they correctional right. So that was good that was a lot of good things."

" The number you had in mind most of date -- looking at how many years were you expecting to do what I had to do two thirds of thirty years as ice -- was sentenced under the old guidelines so I -- thirtieth fortieth fortieth sentence sort of the do two thirds during a third one right. And because of education and -- you're allowed during the time often between them so I ended up doing seventeen years ten months so in July 2001 the parole board. Unanimously. Unanimously recommends. You freak you more free US set free. After fifteen years what you think -- On that day and -- now I knew better it was a commutation requests and the reason I went for a commutation request before the parole board. Was that I had heard. Mike my case is live in the media what my moments as I heard governor salute to make a comment about -- they've seen that he thought it was a very serious injustice. When asked my lawyers couldn't be try to go for commutation. And we did we made a request we went for it we were granted the hearing which is very Rhea and I go to five -- not -- For commutation that's the first step in the process now I thought I was you know doing all right but then governor salute she decides to become the ambassador to Canada. -- Jane Swift -- And what happened was."

" I knew I was gonna have problems. And Martha Coakley was future on district attorney at the time and she rallied the parents and got them to what the state house try to effect -- with decision which she. And so that's that second step by failed. In the third step would have been the governor's council."

" You're probably not with Jane -- she was ready to grant commutation well no I don't know -- I said if -- she -- in the right have been all set right. But I think because of the fact that swift was the -- Martha -- rally that some of the parents and what did they expect it -- the globe report that swept was leaning toward accepting the board's recommendation. And turning -- great. It might be true I don't know. There's so many things to try to remember in this case I write in my game especially you down fifteen years and now you think you might be on the brink of getting it's finally a break Cutler do you. And and Martha Coakley decides to get involved yeah. And call parents. I guess I mean I was in this -- rallied the parents know that profound yup and she got them you know to what the -- and try to get her decision what you trying to of southern justice of autism technical partners where you -- remember the my optical we Scott Harshbarger and -- Euro in the same this turn -- friends right -- the data that they don't have a car."

" It's the -- him they couldn't in this case you think she. You can't speak for unknown right that you know you were innocent did you know you a -- and I I don't think she would -- say that. In on public by. I'll tell you as a warrior and knowing the facts in this case if she didn't know it up she saw what would happen in. In the things that she knows they had to change since my case they don't do things they used my case in the interviewing techniques that were used in my case. As a tool to teach. People in college how not to do -- and most of the people who were convicted along with you across the country -- there are already free before and you work. Sit there and -- taken I'm I'm free to I would banks and it just never happened -- it yes JC just seemed always Ian. Embed with the district attorney's office every time we -- granted a new trial by judge spot in my agent warrants being. I mean this case would even go to trial today because the evidence that they obtained just -- coerced testimony that children would would be it inadmissible because of the way it was a thing."

" If you're just tuning in we're -- Gerald overall he from the fells Acre day school trial but to have just. -- this region back in back in the mid 1980s tonight on fifteen UN up with another three on top of that because an overzealous prosecutor decides. Now there's some filtering of -- nest to be done here let's keep this guy and at that point you say up it's just nothing legal form there are gonna happen."

" It's depressing but you know you you this so many setbacks I mean I had a rape victim I mean I have so many appeal issues that were so strong that they were. It was ridiculous and I had a I found out after it was convicted that I had a person that sent him a jury that was raped when she was sixteen years old and during the war idea -- In in she's she didn't admit that one of the first questions they -- while. Is when you have of the victim of a crowd yeah. If you well of course isn't just as a defense attorney you're gonna -- out out -- use a preemptive gentle she lives. We find out right after a convicted I might ways get a phone call from the guy she sent the president talent. Us that she had sent him to prison for rape and when she was sixteen -- out of -- for retrial or some sort of it's a constitutional right to guarantee a fair and a passenger and how can I get a fair and impartial verdict yeah. From -- from a rape victim. Of the."

" Stanley -- the Martha Coakley rally and they still you're neighbors. On this people live in my community gathered that the numbing neighbors like an -- and extorted me but you know I don't have -- I can't forcible have been in contact with them because that's dynamite. Requirements as a pro leaves no contact with the you know. We're sisters not allowed to speak and well my sister could speak it was one of those agreements that when my sister -- her case overturned and then they were. Yes JC ruled out you know you had to verdicts from. But first and then Bornstein. And they were gonna send my moments just about the present but Martha Coakley made a deal my -- and said listen basically we will not appeal this revised revoke. We'll put you on probation just don't talk -- the media and don't. Appeal anymore. It was like a gentleman's agreement between -- current. MI -- I mean it wasn't something with court awarded they can't do I mean they can't -- audio nut you know you hear your first amendment rights away from so. That's that's why my sister just chooses to trying to. Lead a professional life she's got a good job and she just tries to stay away from that the equalizer this."

" Gymnastic question earlier today so why aren't you. Money while what did you not get a settlement with the state. And and to the."

" Well considering you and an innocent of this crime or use that parolee if so they're saying on -- to describe arms the convicted. Your sex offender oh yeah I'm it GPS bracelet on him a curfew every night that I can't leave the house between 1130 and six. I -- polygraph every six months. I have to period 360 dollar a month GPS the new beetle royal feet and forty go phone -- to monitor them honest and not only that I -- not only do you not get money your victims. Still get money while -- premier insurance yet insurance company paid them about twenty million. Twenty million dollars close to that it's between sixteen point. Some of them get like a monthly it's one of those things it's been you know dependent on how they settled how much time and the school you know they get more money -- longer I guess they were exposed of -- Abuse."

" You know so so what is the technical term of of how they handled your case -- what was -- commuted were you parole where I was -- were parole he has sold as the commonwealth considers you. A felon there. Convicted felon no question in spite of the fact they know that you did nothing wrong with it doesn't work like that -- It just doesn't work that way if you could get my mind as you reverse and ninety you know. -- GPS miracle there."

" It's likened in Tiananmen square China when they shoot people on the net charge the family for the bullet barely up. That's this well you know I don't know how you deal with and -- and do you drink no hard drugs and now. I enjoyed my family I fish and call your kids my kids 3029 and 25 loses half their lives yeah I went to jail when I was with the prison when and one my daughters were. Six and seven I came home and they were almost. 25 and twenty mr. weddings and a -- are my auto waited for me to come home and GM a line item on my room on my -- on my wedding date -- that is what they had to hear it and at school around the moment my wife's a schoolteacher in the community am I living in my daughter's also school -- special Ed teacher -- the most -- might might might. My -- colleagues were very supportive from the beginning. A class and that's one teacher's not supporting Martha Coakley for a present there's a lot of these 200. That's and I think you can meant to be -- it. Haven't watched these ads and listen these people endorser and say that might be the next senate -- the woman that kept you in prison and for the three more years when she knew in our that you were -- They don't have the courage and and she talks about accountability. Being accountable for what does this commonwealth -- to my extremely until the enemies of the children the alleged victims in this case. Is I mean it's just unfathomable I mean you -- can even imagine. They don't have enough money to pay everyone involved in this -- to admit that they made a mistake just to to mark you know fifteen to eighteen years."

" Obviously is a long time certainly -- longer are behind bars but I'm wondering aside from the people who know you know the details of this case and are familiar with the situation. When you casually meet somebody in your introduced. People remember accurately what happened fifteen or eighteen years after 1986 or they still -- to -- is a bad guy."

" I've I've never ever once in my life had someone say something negative in fact quite the contrary my community I lived in my whole life and I've been. In Marvin put the 55 years less the seventeen I was imprisoned in my family. Has all Libya and no one's. Ever said anything but good things are so supportive and I've had people come up to my wife and I at restaurants and paper bills do things that you -- even imagine people come into my lives. To The Wall Street Journal articles a man from Connecticut whose our good friend of -- he's from my kids that go to college I mean it's just amazing the things that generosity."

" In an and that paid all your kids to go to Kuala Augusta concerns is India. Really. While NC still in that community Nolan Nolan that I love it means is you know and market I don't hide from anything I -- a liberal who I am not would. Somebody thinks I am you know and I mean this a case. Most harder going away unjustly and onto an island. Or watching them do that to your mother. That was worse. And I would've stayed in prison for the rest of my life like -- development model is cheap my mother worked her whole life. She dedicated her life that -- hearing of children and -- she was. She was like -- patriarch in in after school programs in a resource to single moms because my mom was a single parent because my dad left us when we were young it was an alcoholic. And she was sold. Such a resource through a single moms and the -- in general. For them to take that whole life's work the work of Japan on the toilet on line phone call is just. It's it's like things that movies -- be books can be written about -- unbelievable I should know this has has anybody were contacted to about a -- I I you know I hear you guys talk to some really good office and here and tell you had a guy on -- was writing about the New Hampshire case the case -- chairman mr. chairman I was -- love to have someone just just you know I'm not -- I want -- the right just come and look at it up. I'll tell you to label the -- and he'd be the perfect unbelievable. Story we have all the information. And in just that. Just on my mom and just tell her story and what leads up to what happened balls -- would be unbelievable this is an ironic question as a convicted W you don't have the right to vote. On a initiative wrote a new Hillary you voting this week are you north -- let's get enough votes that -- and everyone that we know and is a lot of people to vote for Scott Brown. He's gonna win this thing."

" I ask you about your your your mind set and and the progression when you were imprisoned. What's it like when you finally smell fresh -- and you walk out how to cut your dodger brain reacts to freedom after eighteen years."

" It's it's pretty unbelievable. I was gonna be any Shawshank redemption type deals -- you know I I knew that you know if I could deal with going to prison for some -- can do -- I didn't do. And I can certainly silly deal with being free you know a lot of people have a problem like inmates with the transition. But because I had such a wonderful family and I stayed in such good conflict it's kind of I was kind of the exception and not the rule lot of guys that are in the can. Eventually I mean they burned a lot of bridges is not a lot of hope forum you know it's time high transition for me it was very easy. Gerald -- somebody did he went he got a job with. With CLT here are written them out Barbara's always bring good matches treasurer of agents. She's a good person by. And and is that we you do now known and I I just that was just a I just -- yeah -- a small little -- officials and -- the can't certificates that you can't get a real joke and not it's impossible. And I know a lot of people and they'd love to help me but it's just difficult I mean I'm a level three sex and you know you don't eat eat you can't you gotta be careful and indeed wanna bring someone in. To an establishment and it's gonna affect you how's it went out you know -- so people have a tendency to say we'll go for the next you know."

" Gerald we we appreciate you coming in the story is certainly compelling. Repeating what juries and at the beginning we -- doesn't feel badly for any of the discussions of the work. Except your ball well -- you know it is Stevenson into difficult to keep -- life not boy you're not. In a bitter at all I have to say at least for us we can tell if someone is about earlier -- our -- some -- to he had that's that's going -- my name it's it's not a -- weren't like people think now. Arm as and hurled at me and they had -- Joe good Mitchell thank you good -- meet you Dennis and Callahan we'll be right back."