Child Molesters, Child Abuse Effects: Bulimia, Eating Disorders, Addictions

The committee is chaired by Winchester Commonwealth’s Attorney Alexander R. Iden.

Investigator Andrew Vipperman gave the committee his insight into sexual abuse against children.

Vipperman, who does a majority of the interviews of sexual abuse allegations for the police department, said the community has a lot of resources to use to battle the problem.

“The police, courts, and social services, have been great helping battle this crime,” Vipperman said.

He said it is really tough to have to talk to a child about being abused, and also said many children usually disclose their abuse in a variety of ways.

Oftentimes, abuse never gets reported because the child has fear, feels guilty for what happened, and is afraid of the punishment from the family, Vipperman said.

One of the best ways Vipperman said to help children talk about the abuse is let them talk about it any way they can.

“If it’s a picture, let them draw it. If it’s something else that symbolizes the act, let them tell it,” he said.

Vipperman said once the alleged abuse is revealed, the long process of healing and helping can begin.

But, because those channels can reach so many people before the courts get a case, that can make the process arduous for the victim and the family.

Prosecuting accused offenders of child sexual abuse is not always a win, said Iden, who has prosecuted abuse cases in his nearly four years as Commonwealth’s Attorney.

He said it is not easy prosecuting an alleged abuse case, and juries are never a guarantee.

“Sometimes, people do not want to believe this happens, but it does,” Iden said. “But education and help from the resources we have can inform people there is a problem.”