Two More Girls Say They Lied In Molestation Case

12/12 2008

A high-profile molestation case took another major turn. Two more young victims who told a jury Justin Erbacher molested them, now say they lied in their testimony.

Three girls testified in court and each of the young victims now says Erbacher never touched them. All of the girls told a judge it was Justin's father, Stephan Erbacher, who sexually molested them. But Stephan Erbacher killed himself the same day police were set to arrest him.

The 24 year old and his attorney want a new trial. A jury convicted him of nine felonies and he faces more than 100 years behind bars for sexually molesting young girls.

Three of those young girls told a judge Justin Erbacher never molested them. In court the defense attorney Michael Webb asked the first young girl, "how did you feel about not telling the truth?"

She responded, "I felt upset about not telling the truth."

The prosector then asked her, "Did you ever talk to your sisters about it?"

And the young girl said, "no."

Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Marshall pursed inconsistencies in the girls' stories. When the second girl, who is now 12, testified Marshall also asked her, "After the trial, did you ever talk to your sisters about Justin?"

She said, "Yes... We said that we were all telling lies and we wanted to tell the truth."

The defense asked, "Did Justin Erbacher ever touch you?"

She said, "no."

When the third victim took the stand, she told the judge "I said it was my brother but it was my dad. I realized that when I was looking through pictures."

The three girls are foster sisters and during the trial they all said Justin Erbacher molested them. But now they all blame his father Stephan Erbacher.

Defense attorney Michael Webb told me more witnesses will take the stand on Friday.

"There will be one more child and between the DA and me, three or four maybe five more people," Webb said.

Webb hopes to know by next week if Erbacher will be granted a new trial.

17 News also spoke to Melody Erbacher, the girls' mother, off camera outside the courtroom. She says all she wants is justice. She also called this heartwrenching and said she is holding on to her faith.