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Eva Knott

Eva Knott is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Before the judge pronounced sentence that day, a man identified as John Doe A spoke to the court through a video monitor. The prosecutor said this alleged abuse victim (now a mature man) “wanted to be here in person, but he was not able to fly out here.” The handsome man spoke with a soft southern accent and said, “I have been dealing with issues from Jeffry Barton for 36 years now.” He said he has his own grown kids now. “I find out a few weeks ago he will be incarcerated for 8 years for the crimes he committed.” The man plainly didn’t like it, “But I’m a rancher not a lawyer.” He complained that while Barton has been in custody, “He had many more rights than the kids in the boarding school had, when they were 12, 13, 14 years old. The families sent these kids off to school to teach them to be fine men. They could never have dreamed they would be subjected to a rogue sex offender, a pedophile!” He praised the victims who had the courage to testify during the jury trials, “They’re all great men.” “I understand that Jeff Barton will be released,” he said. “But what kind of monitoring will there be? There is the internet, they have a lot more access than there used to be.” Judge Harry Elias answered, “The state department of parole manages each individual parolee, after he reports to parole, and they get his case file.” The man answered politely, but sounded disappointed, “Yes sir.” He added, “I hope the restrictions placed on Barton will keep him away from kids.” Honorable judge Harry Elias explained that he agreed to the plea deal because he wanted to finally resolve the case, which has gone on for years, Barton was first arrested in 2013. The judge said Barton had 2,967 actual days in custody and 3,412 days “custody credits,” which means Barton has been in custody more than the 8 years he agreed to in the plea deal. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2021...
— December 6, 2021 3:16 p.m.

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Jeffrey Scott Barton was released from custody on November 30, the same day he was sentenced, after he made a plea deal in which he admitted two counts of felony child abuse. The same judge who previously heard Barton’s two jury trials, Honorable Harry Elias, sentenced Barton last Tuesday to 8 years, which effectively meant “time served.” That same morning, defense attorney Sherry Stone requested Barton get his two expired passports returned to him, so he can use those as ID until he can get a California driver’s license or other current ID. Barton turned 64 years old in custody last month. He is described in local jail records as 5 feet 10 inches tall (he looks shorter) and 200 pounds. Judge Elias ordered Barton to check in at the parole office on Simpson Way in Escondido by Friday, December 3. The judge further ordered that Barton must register as a sex offender for life. At the same hearing, judge Elias signed ten-year protective orders for three of Barton’s alleged victims, those men were identified as John Does A, B, and C. Defense attorney Sherry Stone tried to demand “immediate release” for Barton, from the courtroom, she said she brought clothes and shoes for Barton to change out of his jail clothes. But judge Elias said he would not interfere with normal “Sheriff’s procedural release” from the local Vista jail, the judge told Barton that he would be released “sometime today.” Jeffrey Barton spoke to the court before his sentence was announced. He thanked various attorneys who worked on his case over the years, especially Robert Boyce for “spending years” on his appeal — which successfully caused a California appellate court to overturn Barton’s jury conviction (the appellate court declared that the trial judge erred by dismissing one juror who reportedly refused to join jury deliberations). Jeffrey Barton stated in court, “They should be ashamed of themselves for going after a non-profit institute!” Barton was apparently offended that some of his alleged victims have filed civil suits against the schools where they were allegedly abused by Barton. (The alleged victims, now all grown men, were all young boys who attended three different schools around the USA where Barton worked at various times in his life.) Today, Jeffrey Barton seemed to blame news media for the attention his case received, saying, “When the press gets ahold of things, they grab it and civil suits happen!” He faulted the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper, Barton claimed they made “ridiculous” mistakes regarding which years he worked at which schools, and whether or not he was ever a soccer coach.
— December 6, 2021 3:13 p.m.

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

There is some confusion, because Hon. judge Robert Kearney took the plea deal and signed it. But there are indications that Hon. judge Harry Elias, who heard both trials, will pronounce sentence. One court clerk stated that defendant Jeffrey Barton is expected to be released for "time served" on the day he is sentenced, Tuesday November 30, 2021. There is also confusion about in which courtroom the sentencing will take place, at 9 a.m. in San Diego's North County Superior courthouse in Vista, California.
— November 21, 2021 9 a.m.

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Here are some of the pages of Jeffrey Barton's plea deal. It is not known if any of his victims are expected to speak at his sentencing at the end of this month. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2021... http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2021...
— November 19, 2021 11:48 a.m.

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

The prosecutor revealed that a plea deal was reached today, November 17, 2021. This was a surprise hearing, off calendar, and Jeffrey Scott Barton admitted two counts of child abuse, and the 4 other counts were dismissed. ("He pled to Ct 1 PC288a(c)(1) and Ct 2 PC288a(c)(1).") He could get up to 14 years prison, or Honorable judge Harry Elias could sentence Barton to 8 years prison. Barton has been in prison 4 years already, so it is unclear if this might end up being "sentenced to time served," or released on parole? The actual date of sentencing is set for the end of this month, November 30 at 9 a.m. in Department 23 of San Diego's North County Courthouse in Vista.
— November 17, 2021 2:21 p.m.

Dad takes girls to Oceanside's Pit Stop Diner, ends up at Tijuana hotel

Last week, Martin Elpidio Ponce Ramirez made a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to one count of PC 207(a) (kidnapping) and admitted the special allegation PC 667.85, (child under 14 adds 5 year penalty); plus he admitted to two counts of PC 236\237(a) which is false imprisonment and can be charged either as felonies or misdemeanors. For this deal, defendant Martin Ramirez, 45, allowed himself to be represented by criminal defense attorney Adela Lopez. The new prosecutor for this case, Erika Maskal, said that Martin Ramirez could be sentenced to 8 years at the minimum, and up to 11 years and 4 months prison, at the maximum. His sentencing date is currently set for January 19, 2022.
— November 1, 2021 12:54 p.m.

Oceanside drug addict loses third child

Kelsey Carpenter appeared in court on October 27, 2021. Her attorney reported, "Carpenter is doing really well. She’s clean and sober and is no longer required to wear drug patches." Her next court date is set for December 22, 2021. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2021...
— October 29, 2021 3:27 p.m.

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Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21

Dad takes girls to Oceanside's Pit Stop Diner, ends up at Tijuana hotel

Oceanside drug addict loses third child

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