title: The legend of robert halsey.
abstract: This article examines the criminal conviction of Robert Halsey for sexually abusing two young boys on his school-van route near Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Halsey's name has been invoked by academics, journalists, and activists as the victim of the &#0147;witch hunt&#0148; in this country over child sexual abuse. Based on a comprehensive examination of the trial transcript, this article details the overwhelming evidence of guilt against Mr. Halsey. The credulous acceptance of the &#0147;false conviction&#0148; legend about Robert Halsey provides a case study in the techniques and tactics used to minimize and deny sexual abuse, while promoting a narrative about &#0147;ritual abuse&#0148; and &#0147;witch hunts&#0148; that apparently requires little or no factual basis. The second part of this article analyzes how the erroneous &#0147;false conviction&#0148; narrative about Robert Halsey was constructed and how it gained widespread acceptance. The Legend of Robert Halsey provides a cautionary tale about how easy it is to wrap even the guiltiest person in a cloak of righteous &#0147;witch hunt&#0148; claims. Cases identified as &#0147;false convictions&#0148; by defense lawyers and political activists deserve far greater scrutiny from the media and the public.
authors.affiliation: , Campus Box 1977, Providence, RI, 02912, Ross_Cheit@Brown.edu.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cheit