Man's sex abuse acquittal shows challenges for prosecutors

NEW YORK (AP) — The acquittal of a suburban foster father charged with sexually abusing boys in his care shows the challenges prosecutors face in proving abuse allegations without strong corroborating evidence.

Gail Goodman, a psychology professor at the University of California at Davis whose research has focused on child abuse and the accuracy of witness memory, said it's striking the jury foreman favored acquittal from the start.

Research also shows corroborative evidence can make or break a child sexual abuse case, Goodman said.

Sandusky was convicted of abusing several boys and is serving a lengthy prison sentence but maintains his innocence.

Goodman also cited the case of former Delaware pediatrician Earl Bradley, whose conviction on charges of being a serial child molester was partly based on videotapes found by investigators.

David Finkelhor, the director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, agreed it's much easier to prosecute abuse cases when there's photographic evidence.