Women Recant, Freeing Man After 20 Years
- Share via
From Times Wire Reports
Prosecutors in the town of Bolivia dropped charges against a man who served 20 years in prison after the two girls he was convicted of molesting recanted their stories.
The victims, who were 4 and 6 when they made the charges, testified that they falsely accused the man under pressure from their grandmother because she wanted to protect the real abuser -- a cousin of the girls.
More than 40 members of the family of Sylvester Smith, 53, were in court when the charges against him were dismissed.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
