October 29, 2012- Day Six

Having worked with delinquent kids facing charges, I've often heard their defense lawyers warn, "The cop lied" tactic rarely works.  As a society we trust our folks in uniform. Terpening. In opening statements the Terpening defense attorney made clear accusing Barry County and the Michigan State Police of bad deeds would be part of their defense. We've heard questions asked of witnesses, already, in furtherance of this defense.

Now, testimony has been heard from from a young man, in uniform, serving his nation in the Army. Nicholas testified at the Preliminary Hearing September 2011 and this, now 18, year old testified to Michael Terpening's attempting to engage him in sexual acts.

One of the little known facts of this case are the numerous allegations of sexual acting out by Michael Terpening not limited to the teens in the Earth Services, "House Next Door" program, Terpening's prior arrest  in 2003, and complaints by 3 other victims going back more than 10 years.  Young people with minor criminal charges with orders to perform their community service worked off  requirements at the animal rescue Terpening. operated. It turns out a number of young men allege contact with Terpening while being supervised by Terpening had sexual contact with him while working for Terpening. While they accuse Terpening of these acts while under his authority, these young men were at least 17 years old and Terpeing's alleged acts were beyond the reach of the criminal court.

Click to read transcripts from the September 2011 hearing, or click now to read the testimony of this witness from the earlier hearing.

Jen, the Former Terpening Follower, testified today. Jen discussed her involvement as a "Terpening Follower" and how she came to be involved with Rodney's so called recant on YouTube. Jen saw the WWMT interview and explained she became involved with the effort to encourage the recant in a video produced by Jen, Jamie Moore Bell and Susan Ward Gillihan in the back of Susan's car. It was this video that later showed up on YouTube.

On direct exam, Jen later testified to an exchange with Terpening following Rodney's telling her the sexual abuse did happen. Jen confronted Terpening, at the time, telling Terpening Rodney said he lied in the recant video and the allegations were true.  Terpening responded to Jen's statement Terpening said, "Tell him to he's going to have to keep lying..." The cross examination was not remarkable.

In the court room today was Terpening's father, Follower Katie Rucinski and a couple older women. Susan Ward Gillihan and Jamie Moore Bell and a few others remained outside. Terpenings wife has not been seen since lately, nor has Terpening's mother.

Terpening, in a really strange aside has been seen "staring" people down in the court room. We saw it last week and again today.