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JUDGE LOWERS BAIL IN `REBIRTHING' CASE DEFENDANTS IN DEATH
OF GIRL BARRED FROM PRACTICING TECHNIQUE
A judge Friday forbid four people arrested in connection
with the death of a 10-year-old girl from practicing the
controversial ``rebirthing'' treatment. But over a prosecutor's
objections, Jefferson County Judge Charles Hoppin slashed
the $250,000 bail for two therapists and two assistants
being held on allegations of child abuse resulting in death.
Candace Newmaker of Durham, N.C., died April 19, a day
after she underwent a therapy session at Connell Watkins
and Associates in Evergreen. Sheriff's investigators say
she was smothered during a ``rebirthing' ' therapy session.
Hoppin reduced to $40,000 the bail for Watkins, who was
arrested early Friday at Denver International Airport,
and Julie Ponder, another therapist who supervised Candace's
session. Bail for their assistants - Brita St. Clair and
Jack McDaniel - was cut to $20,000. St. Clair, 41, posted
bail and was released from the Jefferson County Jail.
Watkins, 53, Ponder, 39, and McDaniel, 47, remained jailed
Friday. Besides the ban on practicing ``rebirthing,''
Hoppin ordered them to conduct therapy on children only
when a parent is present. ``Rebirthing'' is used by some
therapists to reconnect a troubled child to a parent and
to heal psychic scars from a traumatic birth. But other
therapists say it's an untested and unresearched practice,
used on children who may suffer from attachment disorders.
Children suffering from attachment disorder are often
angry and hostile kids who haven't bonded with their parents.
``This is a tragic, tragic accident. But this is not child
abuse, '' said Ponder's lawyer, Joan Heller. Authorities
say Watkins and Ponder wrapped Candace in a blue flannel
blanket, placed her under pillows and pushed against her
to simulate contractions and birth. Despite Candace's
cries that she couldn't breath, the session continued
and lasted one hour and 10 minutes, investigators said.
Prosecutor Steve Jensen argued against reducing bail,
saying Candace' s death was hideous. Candace told them
she had to go to the bathroom and that she couldn' t breathe,
but Ponder and Watkins offered no assistance and continued
to ``taunt'' the child, Jensen said. Jensen said he saw
the video, on which Watkins and Ponder say ``You want
to die? OK, then die.'' ``It is one of the most disturbing
things I have ever encountered, '' Jensen told the judge.
Watkins' attorney, Dan Edwards, said she was following
standard practices for rebirthing, which has been a valid
technique for more than two decades. The therapy is the
``last hope'' for disturbed children whose parents have
sought out other treatments, he said. ``The videotape,
if you're a lay person, it may shock your conscience,
'' Edwards said. ``But if you understand the technique,
there was nothing that was going on that was unusual.''
Heller said Ponder feels ``horrible.'' Working on children
with attachment disorders is difficult because the children
are distrusting and don' t want to allow anyone to become
close, Heller said. ``This is a terrible, terrible thing
and she is devastated by this, '' Heller said. ``She was
trying to help the child have a life, essentially. She
was trying to help this girl.'' Candace's mother, Jeane
Newmaker, brought her daughter to Watkins to help her
with her emotional difficulties after trying several other
therapies, investigators said. Newmaker, 46, couldn't
be reached for comment. St. Clair, who is engaged to McDaniel,
is the mother of three disabled children, said her lawyer,
H. Michael Steinberg. She's not a licensed therapist but
rather a dedicated mother, he said. ``She has sacrificed
her life to help these children,'' Steinberg said. Investigators
said St. Clair is Watkins' office manager and had one
of her disabled, foster children with her during Candace's
session. McDaniel, an intern at Watkins' office, is a
full-time student at Aims Community College and couldn't
afford a lawyer. He was seeking a public defender Friday.
Peggy Lowe; News Staff Writer, JUDGE LOWERS BAIL IN `REBIRTHING'
CASE DEFENDANTS IN DEATH OF GIRL BARRED FROM PRACTICING
TECHNIQUE. , Denver Rocky Mountain News, 05-20-2000, pp
5A.
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