But it was a tale that changed even as she told it, that was discredited and dismissed by jurors in other trials. Even today, controversy swirls around the fact that the key witnesses in so many of the prosecutions were foster daughters living in Perez's home. Perez says he did nothing wrong. We would not, as a practice, seek out such an arrangement. Sixteen people pleaded guilty, confessed or signed Alford pleas, a no-contest agreement that does not admit guilt but accepts that the state has enough evidence to convict them.
Records indicate none had lawyers present.
They say Perez waved file folders and said they contained confirmation from other adults who had told him they participated in the crimes. Many of the accused recall, sometimes with tears, Perez and CPS workers threatening to take away their children if they didn't confess. The children would be placed for adoption, social workers said. Most say they agreed to a plea or to sign confessions Perez typed only to save their kids or to avoid life sentences. Perez said I was going to jail for the rest of my life if I didn't tell him what he wanted to hear.