On this week’s front page is a disturbing story — but one also filled with hope.
The story is about a local woman who was not just willing, but wanted to speak about domestic abuse. She had no hesitation about coming forward and telling her story.
The story is not easy to read because of the nature of what transpired. But it is important to read all the same.
Currently, Alysia Eichman is living in a shelter for women. It’s been obvious in communicating with her because there are only certain times that can happen. Otherwise, she is in a program designed to change her life.
In the interview, she did not hesitate to talk about her own faults, charges pending against her and why she believes this is the time she will change in life and find a clear path forward.
It’s hard not to believe her because she certainly appears to be headstrong in this case. But as I have seen over the years, things can change. It’s a well-known pattern associated with people who are abused.
I hope that isn’t the case with Alysia because, as she said, there are four children involved in this journey. That, she says, is the driving force behind her desire to change.
It was when I brought up those children that she showed the most emotion during a nearly two-hour interview that ranged from rage to remorse to crying. And just about everything else you can imagine.
Some may ask why I would want to write such a story and why she would want it out there for the public.
That is an easy answer: Because it is important.
Domestic violence and abuse is a blight on the world. It is a cause I have tried to highlight for nearly 30 years of my career. I met a woman named Tiffany in Gonzales, Texas, so many years ago who really showed me how important this issue is and how society needs to take it seriously.
She ran a program helping abuse victims and after getting to know her and the work she was doing, I knew it was something that needed to be highlighted and told to the masses.
Ever since then, I have done everything in my power to highlight what devastation domestic violence brings to people. I have learned that domestic violence knows no racial, economic or status lines.
Anyone can be subject to being violated and it happens every minute of every day all around this country and the world.
This is especially true in rural America, where the factors involved increase. Those include the small-town community feel where “everyone knows everyone,” meaning victims are sometimes hesitant to come forward.
It also means isolation, a key factor in the minds of abusers who make every effort cut their victims off from any contact with the outside world. That is much easier to accomplish in a rural setting.
And it also means that in some cases, even people who are charged with stopping the violence may be hesitant to talk about it as much because they don’t want to paint a tarnished picture of an otherwise pristine and homey area.
But let’s face the facts: domestic violence is alive and well in Mariposa County. And Madera County. And Merced County. And …
It happens all of the time and the patterns repeat themselves over and over again. Even the victims will tell you this because most of the time, it takes years for them to finally decide to break the cycle of violence.
That is why whenever I get the chance, I want to highlight this problem. If it can change one life or make one person make that phone call, I’ve done my job.
That is why Alysia said she came forward. She knew her situation was pretty much already decided when it comes to the legal system. But she also knows if her story can inspire someone to break the cycle, it’s worth telling.
Another important aspect to this particular story is the fact she was not able to read her victim impact statement in open court. Mariposa County District Attorney Michael McAfee did not hesitate to admit the system failed Alysia.
I wanted to talk to him directly about this case because it was one of the key reasons she came forward. She could not understand that one of her basic rights as a victim didn’t unfold they way she had requested.
McAfee dug through the case files and discovered that she had, indeed, made the request and once it was reviewed by probation officials, it was sent to his office in a timely manner. But when the court hearing unfolded, she was left sitting in a courtroom and was not able to read her statement.
McAfee told me that basic right is in the California Constitution and he admitted there was a communication breakdown. He also vowed to make sure it never happens again. I admire McAfee for admitting the mistake; we need more of that in this day and age.
Although it does not help the victim, it at least shows there are humans involved and mistakes can happen. I was encouraged by him saying he will see if there is anything he can do in this case to, at some point, allow her to read that statement in open court.
When I first set out to do this story, I had no idea that was going to be part of the overall picture. But it didn’t take me long to figure out she was devastated by not being allowed to read the statement in front of the court, the abuser and the public.
Sometimes, that’s all a person needs in order to at least feel like they are making progress. The spoken word is powerful and her statement is well written and, though graphic at times, intended to make a resounding point.
Yes, it was entered into the court record, but that was the end of it — at least for now.
I completely understand her desire to speak openly about what happened. I guess in some ways, she has been able to do that by letting me tell her story for the public. It may not be the same as a courtroom, but maybe it will have more of an impact.
She should have been able to do both.
As I have said, highlighting the scourge that is domestic violence is important to me as a journalist and a human being. Nobody should be subjected to such abuse, but thousands are each day.
I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for them to come forward. I’ve interviewed many victims over the years and admire each and every one of them. They know by putting their stories out there, they will be opening themselves up to criticism and humiliation, a less subtle form of abuse.
But by telling their stories and admitting their faults, they are helping combat the problem. Humiliation is one of the key emotions abusers attack, hoping it will stop victims from coming forward. Many times, it works just as they planned. Likely, most times.
But in some cases, like this one, it doesn’t. That’s a step forward.
Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com
How to report abuse
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. Locally, Mountain Crisis Service provides a 24-hour hotline. That number is (888) 966-2350 or (209) 742-5865. The national hotline for domestic violence is (800) 799-7233. You can also text “start” to 88788 to do a text chat with an expert.
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