Former Pittsburgh School Board President Charged with Raping 7-Year-Old

WTAE ^ | 11/27/01

[mountaineer]

A former Pittsburgh Board of Public Education president has been charged with rape. Police say Ron Suber, 49, assaulted a 7-year-old girl on Nov. 3. He was arraigned Monday on charges including rape, indecent assualt and indecent exposure.

Suber lives in the Manchester section of the city's North Side. He served four terms on the city's school board, and was the board president for four years.

Suber is free on bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6.

[newgeezer]

Here we have yet another example of why public stoning was the perfect penalty.

[Big Dan]

"If he's guilty, he should hang" -- I agree, totally.

However I also agree that charges like this demand a high standard of evidence, and the testimony of only the 7-year-old girl should be taken with a grain of salt.

If there is physical evidence that matches the girl's testimony, then that helps substantiate the charges. But (even inadvertently) false memories are easy to implant in children.

This should not get bogged down in arguments about the truthfulness of little children, women not being believed, black versus white, when the issue should be, did the alleged incident really happen or not.

I tend to doubt it really happened since the news article would (OK, "should") have mentioned physical or circumstantial evidence if that was part of the case.

I bet this didn't happen, and will get quietly dropped. The Board Member would have to move out of the state, in any case.

[imperator2]

Where is the evidence. The testimony of a seven year old without objective evidence is not sufficent.

[mountaineer]

It's too early in the proceedings for any details to come out. Also, in sexual assault cases - especially involving children - few of the facts surrounding the alleged assault are released to the news media. They have to wait till the trial to hear the evidence. I have no doubt the child was physically examined for bruising, irritation, the usual signs of sexual assault, but that sort of information is not made public.

I heard the tail end of this story on last night's Fox53 news (I was in another room) and immediately was outraged by the notion that a man who once held such responsibility for the welfare of children had been charged with such an offense. I thought for sure the other media outlets would make it a top story, which was why I was so surprised not to see it on their web sites this a.m. In any event, that he was released on only $3,000 bond is, in my opinion, a bit unusual.

[PoisedWoman]

If Mr. Suber were white, he'd be on the cover of the NYT, Newsweak, etc. I actually hope that Jesse comes out of the woodwork so at least the story gets some play...

[Biblebelter]

I would guess that Suber would seek advice on political and legal strategies from the Democrat Rapist support group headed by Bill Clinton and Mel Reynolds.

[cjshapi]

It was reported on KDKA radio news that there is definately physical evidence that this child was raped. I don't remember the name of the medical facility that did the exam. I hope he gets a really nice cell mate!

[mountaineer]

I figured there had to be some physical evidence, regardless of whether the prosecutor or police were talking about it, as they would be reluctant to charge someone - let alone a prominent black man - on the child's word alone.