March 15, 2007

ValleyViewpoints

Article on ‘Mike the Victim’ is an outrage

Editor,
I believe that the article regarding Mike Silva is an outrage (Almaden Times Weekly, March 1-8, 2007, “Parents protest Almaden man’s contract to open concession stand at Almaden Library”)

All I read is poor “Mike the Victim.” I believe the true victim is his children, and ex-wife. The new victims are the Almaden residents that had this guy setting up shop in the library.

What are the details of the molestation? What does police report say? There is no interview of his children who may be adults now. Or his ex-wife. Does she think he is a great guy and a victim? Were there other charges that were dropped? Did he delete computer files when the police arrived?

Ms Light’s comments are just ignorant; "...he's fine." How does she know this? Can she promise he will not assault anyone like he has a conviction for now on a child? No, she cannot promise this.

Then Ms. Light wants citizens to talk to a convicted child molester and registered sex offender. Duh, what is she thinking? She is trying to get people to hear his side of story. Ms. Light, his story was already told in court. The way this incident was handled by Ms. Light was not in the interest to my family, children or residents of Almaden. I plan to talk to the City Council to have her step down.

Mr. Silva pled guilty to molesting a child. His own children. The DA and council and courts can change the charge, expunge records, etc. Bottom line is he was convicted. Bottom line is he pled guilty to it.

Mr. Silva knew he’d have to register as sex offender and chose that. He says he was protecting his kids. Anyone that believes that just has their heads buried in sand. I have two toddlers, and if I did not do anything, I am not going to register as a sex offender the rest of my life to protect them from telling supposedly lies, according to Silva.

However you did talk to both his lawyers. You knew what they were going to say even before you interviewed them. What they say is not unbiased. I bet the DA, if they could talk on record, would have a whole different spin on it.
The fact that he hid it from Ms. Light in the beginning shows guilt. If he did not do anything wrong why not be up front from the start?

Ms. Pyle has it right. This has gone way to far. Soon as Ms. Light learned he was a registered sex offender, he should have been out of there. And PLEASE Ms. Pyle, keep him out of my library. I volunteer to hear his side of story any time any place except my home. But I'll say the same thing when I am done talking to him. Registered sex offenders do not belong around kids!

Will Smith
Coleman Avenue

Mike Silva: Volatile subject matter requires balance

Editor,
The intent of this letter is to try and bring some lucidity and encourage more education to a very volatile subject matter while balancing the fact that we do not live in a black-and-white world, it is many shades of grey. The article written last week in the Almaden Times was a very fair and balanced portrayal of a family tragedy that happened to me 18+ years ago and has now resurfaced and fractured a part of the Almaden community my wife and I live in and I deeply regret that!

My biggest regret is that so many innocent individuals were put in extremely tenuous positions caused by this unfortunate fact of life, but to all those people starting with Library Director Jane Light, Community Center Director Dan Wax and his team and the entire library staff under Pam Crider, I sincerely apologize to all.

But I have learned over the many years I have been on this earth, coupled with my religious readings, that everything happens for a reason. My mother taught me to “never judge a book by its cover” and the irony is that is precisely what we have in this matter. A photo of me on the Megan’s Law Web site told “enough” of a story to certain individuals to create a fear based-frenzy, which on the surface is totally understandable, BUT the real story is well beyond the photograph and that is about my compassionate decision in 1989 to sacrifice my being a father in exchange for the emotional well-being of my very young daughters.

Over the years, a large group of very intelligent judges and lawyers have reviewed the “facts” of my case and have agreed to expunge my record (Alameda County), remove it from the Megan’s Law Web site (the State of California) and our own police department has determined that I have not violated any laws, yet the fear remains and curiously, in this latest chapter of rush to judgment, no one thought to talk to any of my neighbors who have lived around me for over 10 years—literally across the street from Simonds School.

In closing, because there are so many more pieces to this puzzle that need to be explained, I would like to extend to any concerned, interested and/or curious parent to join me in a community meeting at the Almaden Library/Community Center on a date to be determined at the end of the month to discuss openly your valid concerns, issues and thoughts. Because this now has become such a public matter I want, at the very least, to alleviate community concern about me over what some think is a threat to their children. Maybe after hearing the whole story and answering ANY questions you may have, the possibility exists that you may change your perception. I will work with the Almaden Times to announce the date/time of this meeting and I truly hope to see many of you there. I guess there has to be a storm before you can appreciate a rainbow so I am willing to publicly share in the hope of getting to the rainbow.

“We will only protect what we love. We will only love what we understand and we will only understand what we've been taught. Knowledge is power.”

Sincerely,
Mike Silva
Almaden Valley

Silva’s story is a travesty of justice

Editor,
I read the story about parents protesting Mike Silva’s having a concession stand at the Almaden Library with sadness.

It seems like the poor man has suffered enough and has been convicted time and time again, without anyone having or hearing all the facts. If there weren’t substantial facts to prosecute the case 21 years ago, why is he still being punished now?

Megan’s Law is such an important law, but to me, everyone is clumped together on this list whether they are a serious sex offender or whether they committed a less serious offence of urinating in public or exposing themselves.

In Europe, if a man ran across the football field naked for a prank, he would possibly be fined and then his friends would buy him a couple of drinks in the local pub; over here it would be so much more serious as your name would be put on Megan’s List as a sex offender. I’m presuming once you’re on this list it is pretty hard to get off, so the fact that Mike’s name is not on the list anymore must account for something. Instead of perpetuating this travesty of justice, why not give Mike a chance to hear his side of the story and not adopt a vigilante attitude until we know all the facts.

Gloria Ashdown
Porto Alegre

Let Silva get on with his life

Editor,
I was really bothered by the article regarding Mike Silva, the man who is setting up his concession stand at the Almaden Library. It really concerns me that society has not learned that some people have paid their dues and need to be left alone to get on with their lives.

I was teary-eyed reading this article as it hits very close to home.

After my husband and I were married, he was accused and convicted for an act he did not commit. He opted to participate in a Furlough program instead of taking the months and maybe years it would take for a trial just so he could continue to protect his business and support his family. Due to some judgmental individuals not willing to listen to my husband’s side of the story, he still lost his business and we darn near lost everything we built together; all based on false accusations. Still, after six years, we struggle to get even close to where we were before because this will always haunt him. His offense was also decreased to a misdemeanor!

As a parent of two, I completely understand the concern for a parent wanting to protect their child. Mr. Silva is not asking to run a parent-free daycare. He wants a concessions stand in a public library that is always busy and visited by people of all ages. Let’s be the better community and give this man the chance he deserves so that he, too, can just live his life!

Anonymous parent
Almaden Valley

Silva deserves to live his live without black cloud of suspicion

Editor,
I have known Mike Silva for over 15 years and am disheartened that he is still being persecuted for accusations that are not only dubious but certainly paid for over and over since.

Traveling with Mike throughout the United States during a two-year period working together on a softball team, I got to know a very dedicated and caring father. His passion for softball was only surpassed by his passion and love for his two daughters. Many of our conversations inevitably came around to talking about his two girls, and I was always taken aback by the degree of love and concern he had for them both. I have known few people in my lifetime that have shown more compassion for their children than Mike exhibited toward his two girls.

I find it ironic that the people of Almaden are just trying to “protect” their children, when several years ago that is exactly what Mike was trying to do when he refused to have his children take the stand in a court of law and have his attorney grill them with questions that were already tearing their family apart. I went through this time with Mike, and can only tell you that it is a parent’s worse nightmare.

Having what I believe was a vengeful ex-spouse accusing you of something as horrific as sexual misconduct is a devastating event to go through. But just as you can’t “unring a bell,” these accusations changed the way people have perceived Mike for the past 15 or so years. Yes, he did take the fall for this alleged behavior, but he was convinced that is was for the benefit of children and that after five years, he could put this horrible nightmare behind him.

Mike would like nothing more, at this point, than to explain and answer any questions that the Almaden community may have. He realistically understands the hesitation the parents of Almaden may have in allowing him to be in an area populated with young people. He just wants this whole situation to be brought out into the light, and to let the community decide if he is worthy of contributing to the Almaden area.

Mike has lived across the street from an elementary school and all its activities for over 10 years. For those that have known Mike, we can only say…how much more does this man have to pay for a crime he pled guilty to in order to save his children? Remember, this was before Megan’s Law list and his plea agreement was basically a five-year punishment, which would then be reduced to a misdemeanor.

For numerous reasons (space does not allow for explanation) things have drawn out over the years. But, he is one of only about 4 percent of convicted sex offenders that have been removed from Megan’s Law list. Whether you want to believe his innocence or not, this man has paid enough and deserves to live his life without this black cloud continuously hanging over his head. He’s not asking to run a day care center…he wants to run a beverage kiosk at the Almaden Library…in the same neighborhood he has lived in and contributed to, for over a decade.

Skip Houston
Carriage Hill Drive

Alien label dehumanizes immigrants

Editor,
I’m appalled by Don Stone’s comments in the article on immigrant rights! (Almaden Times, March 1-8, 2007 “City Council passes resolution supporting immigrant rights to public safety”)

If you are a citizen in the United States, your ancestors were a) Native American Indians or b) immigrants. My ancestors immigrated to this country: They were immigrants—not aliens. Our society regards illegal or undocumented immigrants as “aliens” and this label dehumanizes those immigrants. It also illustrates our own fears and weaknesses.

Were Don Stone’s ancestors Native American Indians or were they aliens?

Kim Davis Brock
Washoe Drive

Let the Almaden Times hear from you. In order to be considered, letters must be signed by the author or come with the full name, address, and a phone number (which will not be printed).

Send letters to newsroom@timesmediainc.com, or via mail to:

The Almaden Times Weekly
1310 Tully Road, Ste. 107,
San Jose, CA 95122