MASSACHUSETTS
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Dianne Williamson
dwilliamson@telegram.com
Andrew J. Myers, 34, sat passively at the defense table during a brief hearing at U.S. District Court. Short, bespectacled and unassuming, he glanced behind him just once, apparently searching for his parents. As he left the courtroom, he mouthed “I love you,” to his mom, who covered her face and broke down in tears.
The scene was heart-wrenching. Within days, Myers’ mother has witnessed the public transformation of her son from likable local lawyer and Boy Scout leader to one of the most despised members of society — a suspected pedophile.
The Northbridge man is just the latest suspect to catch everyone by surprise, even though we’ve grown somewhat accustomed to revelations that otherwise “normal” adults are harboring a dark, secret sex life. In Meyers’ case, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges he communicated with minors by email and offered to perform sex acts. He also received emails containing pictures of prepubescent boys exposing their genitals.
“I don’t know what to think,” his mother said softly, before her son was led into court.
Neither do the experts. Recently, though, some fascinating studies are debunking some long-held views about pedophilia.
For years, we’ve been told that pedophilia is an addiction or a horrible illness or a manifestation of an abusive adult seeking power and control. It’s a failure of character, an evil predilection. Of course, we’ve learned long ago that pedophiles tend not to be monsters lurking in bushes but more often our fathers, our priests, our police, our teachers. Frequently, they’re upstanding members of the community, well-regarded and respected.
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