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Mom admits lying about sex case

By SHAWNTAYE HOPKINS
Published August 8, 2005

The mother of a girl whom a former judge is accused of molesting admits lying to deputies and taking drugs.

The mother of one of the girls whom Gary Graham is accused of molesting has admitted lying to sheriff's deputies because she was angry with Graham.

During an interview with law officers, the mother, who is Graham's former girlfriend, never corrected investigators when they referred to the molestation happening in February 2004. But in a subsequent deposition, she said the molestation couldn't have occurred during that time.

She also said she lied when she told deputies that Graham had tried to buy her daughter's love.

The mother said she was taking drugs (identified in a court filing as cocaine) around the time of the interviews. She also said that, when the allegations arose, her memory may have been clouded because of the drug use.

The woman also admitted that she lied during prior questioning when she said she had not spoken with Graham before speaking with him on a telephone call that authorities monitored.

The State Attorney's Office disclosed the inconsistencies last week. Prosecutors are legally required to provide this sort of information that may help the defense's case.

The notice states that the woman "has made statements in deposition that are in direct conflict with or excluded from statements she made to various law enforcement agencies and the Department of Children and Families and State Attorney's Office."

Names were removed from the court document.

Graham, 57, is accused of sexually touching two 10-year-old girls. He has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts and awaits trial.

The mother told investigators she thought her daughter had not disclosed the allegations before because she was scared. But she later said her daughter denied that anything had occurred, according to the prosecutor's filing.

The girl initially told investigators that she wasn't sure if anything had happened and it may have been a dream.

Assistant State Attorney Richard Buxman said it is not clear at this time what sort of effect the statements will have on the case.

"The testimony of the child victims are going to be the most important," he said. Prosecutors have not yet taken their depositions

Graham's attorney, Stephen Romine, said the mother's credibility has been hurt and the state will need to "make sure they have a factual basis to proceed."

[Last modified August 8, 2005, 19:54:30]