After a Milwaukee, Wisconsin man reported abuse by "Brother David," who had given him first communion some 20 years earlier, police arrested David Sanders in December 2004.
Sanders was a monk, who had been teaching in the area at the time of the crime. When he was located, the victim identified Sanders as his abuser.
In December 2006, a jury convicted Sanders of sexually assaulting the victim and he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Shortly after the trial, the victim's grandmother found an old letter indicating that another man, David Nickerson, might be the actual abuser. Nickerson confessed to abusing the victim.
In June 2007, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office joined the Wisconsin Innocence Project in asking the court to dismiss the case, and Sanders was released.
Sanders received $23,000 from the state of Wisconsin for his wrongful imprisonment.
- Stephanie Denzel
Posting Date: 08-29-2011
