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Not the victim
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Posted on Mar 14 2000
I feel I must respond to some of the misconceptions regarding the recent case against Mr. Joseph A. Arriola. The comments of some editorial and letter-writers focus entirely on Mr. Arriola, as if he is the victim.
This case is not about Joseph Arriola; it is about a vulnerable 15-year-old girl who Mr. Arriola took advantage of while he was in a position of authority over her. The case is also about a very serious social problem: the abuse of children for the sexual gratification of adults. The tragic results can be seen in teen pregnancy, children contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and emotional damage to children not yet ready for sexual intimacy. It is about protecting other children who might be victimized in the future.
In their haste to absolve Mr. Arriola, the commentators ignore the victim, and the larger social issue. What is even worse, by rallying around the defendant and questioning the actions of the AG’s Office, the commentators discourage other young girls from reporting similar cases.
Incidentally, this is not a two-year-old case, as some have suggested. The conduct may have occurred two years ago, but the case was reported to DPS in February of 1999. Once our office received notice of the case, we vigorously pursued the necessary follow-up investigation, as we do with all such cases.
This is an issue many of us feel very strongly about. The Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Public Safety welcome the assistance of anyone who wishes to help us prosecute these crimes more effectively, and protect the children of the CNMI from sexual abuse.
Jim Benedetto
Assistant Attorney General
