Email Thread: Merlin Affleck, Michael Haset & Cynthia Liles
May 28, 2023 11:18:17 GMT -5
musician and jonathan like this
Post by sheri01 on May 28, 2023 11:18:17 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
As you may know, we’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to
protect the community and expose wrong doings. Sadly, in many
instances when we are advocating on behalf of survivors, our voices are
not being heard by those currently in authority. We feel the pattern of
stonewalling by leadership continues even today, as evidenced by the
following email exchange. After two months of working on this crisis, it is
evident that new leaders who are willing to be ethical, transparent, caring,
and operate with integrity are necessary.
We need your help!
Please use your voices to demand accountability and change from
leadership.
Please note that as of 5/28/23 there has been no response from either
Merlin or Michael.
Forwarded Conversation
Subject:Walter Burkinshaw/Leanne McChesney
From: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 20, 2023 at 10:14 AM
To: Merlin Affleck <merlin.affleck@gmail.com>, <micalhaset@gmail.com>
Cc: Lauren Rohs <laurenarohs@gmail.com>, Sheri Autrey <sheri.autrey@yahoo.com>
Dear Merlin and Michael,
Merlin, as you know, the Walter Burkinshaw victims have been very distressed to learn
that Walter is still allowed in meetings. There are criminal cases pending against him
for alleged pedophila, which you are aware of. Last week I left a detailed message for Ben
Collyer, who I understand is one of the workers in Walter's field, explaining how
distressing it is to the victims to know Walter is in meetings. I have not heard back.
Society expects institutions to keep their communities safe -- especially the children.
You may say, "Oh, he's an old man and he's in a wheelchair," or "he's not in meetings
with children." To the victims, that shows you are standing with the alleged perpetrator and not
with them. In addition, I have worked on cases where perpetrators were still abusing
children well into their 80's. Pedophilia is not something that goes away with old age.
Merlin, I also understand that you may have a written confession from Walter. Any and
all written documentation from Walter admitting his alleged crimes is key evidence and should
be turned over to law enforcement as soon as possible. If it is true that you have such a
statement from Walter and you haven't turned it over to law enforcement, it begs the
question: Why are you protecting an alleged pedophile?
I also understand Leanne McChesney is attending meetings. She also has criminal
charges pending for alleged sex crimes against children.
It is highly probable that other children have been sexually abused that
have not yet come forward. The friends have a right to know about the charges against
Walter and Leanne. Please do the right thing and notify the friends in Canada and
anywhere else Walter and Leanne have been.
Best,
Cynthia
Cynthia L. Liles
Private Investigator
liles.cynthia@gmail.com
503-334-6866
lilesinvestigations.com
From: Merlin Affleck <merlin.affleck@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 20, 2023 at 6:23 PM
To: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Hello Cynthia,
I do not have any written confession from Walter. It was at my encouragement that he
willingly went to the RCMP himself 2 or 3 years ago and spoke to them directly. Be
assured that his case has been in professional hands for a long time already.
Yours truly, Merlin
From: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 20, 2023 at 7:23 PM
To: Merlin Affleck <merlin.affleck@gmail.com>, <micalhaset@gmail.com>
Cc: Sheri Autrey <sheri.autrey@yahoo.com>, Lauren Rohs <laurenarohs@gmail.com>
Hello Merlin,
You state you encouraged Walter to turn himself in to the RCMP two or three years
ago. He must have confessed to you? There are two NEW cases filed against Walter.
Your account of his alleged verbal confession would be key evidence. Will you agree to contact
the RCMP in Vernon and Wainwright to give a statement?
You did not address the other subject of my email. Will you agree to notify the friends
that Walter and Leanne have charges against them for alleged pedophilia and remove them
from meetings?
Thank you,
Cynthia
From: michael hassett <micalhaset@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 22, 2023 at 3:29 PM
To: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Hello Cynthia,
Our friends in the area where Walter lives are all aware of the accusations against him.
They were informed when he first moved to the town.
Michael
From: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 22, 2023 at 9:19 PM
To: michael hassett <micalhaset@gmail.com>, Merlin Affleck
<merlin.affleck@gmail.com>
Cc: Lauren Rohs <laurenarohs@gmail.com>, Sheri Autrey <sheri.autrey@yahoo.com>,
Darryl Doland <DarrylDoland@gmail.com>
Hello Michael and Merlin,
I'm sorry-- there must be some confusion. I didn't ask if the friends in Walter's area
were aware of the accusations against Walter. I was letting you know that it is very
distressing to his alleged victims to know that he is still attending meetings. Neither one of you
have acknowledged in your replies that this news may be upsetting to the alleged victims and
neither one of you have asked what you can do for them. That tells me your focus
is not on the alleged victims. In fact, it tells me you could care less about the alleged victims. If you
cared about victims, you would notify the friends in Canada of the pending charges
against Walter and Leanne and ask victims to come forward
Merlin, you say you had Walter turn himself into law enforcement a few years ago. I've
read the minutes of your April 6, 2023 meeting in Kelowna, B.C. You acknowledge
Walter allegedly committed crimes. I understand he confessed to you. Do you realize Walter
denied everything to law enforcement? It dawned on me after our last email exchange
that if he had truly confessed when you sent him to law enforcement, he would have
already been charged and most likely entered into a plea deal. I've confirmed that did
not happen because he denied everything.
So, again, are you willing to give a statement to law enforcement in the new cases that
have been filed? If not, why not? Your actions are very confusing to me. I do not
understand why you would choose to stand by an alleged pedophile instead of the victims who
were innocent young children when they were allegedly sexually abused by their overseer -- the
most trusted position in the hierarchy of the Truth. I also noticed in your minutes that
you felt Walter's alleged crimes were on the "low end" of the crime scale on a scale of 1-10.
The actual act of sex abuse against a child has absolutely nothing to do with the trauma
response. I have worked on hundreds of these cases and have witnessed this
phenomenon many, many times. One child who is raped (Edited for public) can have less of a
trauma response than that of a child fondled by the same perpetrator. Again, the actual
act has no correlation to the trauma response. It is not up to us to determine the
severity of trauma inflicted on victims.
Cynthia
Cynthia L. Liles
Private Investigator
liles.cynthia@gmail.com
503-334-6866
lilesinvestigations.com
As you may know, we’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to
protect the community and expose wrong doings. Sadly, in many
instances when we are advocating on behalf of survivors, our voices are
not being heard by those currently in authority. We feel the pattern of
stonewalling by leadership continues even today, as evidenced by the
following email exchange. After two months of working on this crisis, it is
evident that new leaders who are willing to be ethical, transparent, caring,
and operate with integrity are necessary.
We need your help!
Please use your voices to demand accountability and change from
leadership.
Please note that as of 5/28/23 there has been no response from either
Merlin or Michael.
Forwarded Conversation
Subject:Walter Burkinshaw/Leanne McChesney
From: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 20, 2023 at 10:14 AM
To: Merlin Affleck <merlin.affleck@gmail.com>, <micalhaset@gmail.com>
Cc: Lauren Rohs <laurenarohs@gmail.com>, Sheri Autrey <sheri.autrey@yahoo.com>
Dear Merlin and Michael,
Merlin, as you know, the Walter Burkinshaw victims have been very distressed to learn
that Walter is still allowed in meetings. There are criminal cases pending against him
for alleged pedophila, which you are aware of. Last week I left a detailed message for Ben
Collyer, who I understand is one of the workers in Walter's field, explaining how
distressing it is to the victims to know Walter is in meetings. I have not heard back.
Society expects institutions to keep their communities safe -- especially the children.
You may say, "Oh, he's an old man and he's in a wheelchair," or "he's not in meetings
with children." To the victims, that shows you are standing with the alleged perpetrator and not
with them. In addition, I have worked on cases where perpetrators were still abusing
children well into their 80's. Pedophilia is not something that goes away with old age.
Merlin, I also understand that you may have a written confession from Walter. Any and
all written documentation from Walter admitting his alleged crimes is key evidence and should
be turned over to law enforcement as soon as possible. If it is true that you have such a
statement from Walter and you haven't turned it over to law enforcement, it begs the
question: Why are you protecting an alleged pedophile?
I also understand Leanne McChesney is attending meetings. She also has criminal
charges pending for alleged sex crimes against children.
It is highly probable that other children have been sexually abused that
have not yet come forward. The friends have a right to know about the charges against
Walter and Leanne. Please do the right thing and notify the friends in Canada and
anywhere else Walter and Leanne have been.
Best,
Cynthia
Cynthia L. Liles
Private Investigator
liles.cynthia@gmail.com
503-334-6866
lilesinvestigations.com
From: Merlin Affleck <merlin.affleck@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 20, 2023 at 6:23 PM
To: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Hello Cynthia,
I do not have any written confession from Walter. It was at my encouragement that he
willingly went to the RCMP himself 2 or 3 years ago and spoke to them directly. Be
assured that his case has been in professional hands for a long time already.
Yours truly, Merlin
From: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 20, 2023 at 7:23 PM
To: Merlin Affleck <merlin.affleck@gmail.com>, <micalhaset@gmail.com>
Cc: Sheri Autrey <sheri.autrey@yahoo.com>, Lauren Rohs <laurenarohs@gmail.com>
Hello Merlin,
You state you encouraged Walter to turn himself in to the RCMP two or three years
ago. He must have confessed to you? There are two NEW cases filed against Walter.
Your account of his alleged verbal confession would be key evidence. Will you agree to contact
the RCMP in Vernon and Wainwright to give a statement?
You did not address the other subject of my email. Will you agree to notify the friends
that Walter and Leanne have charges against them for alleged pedophilia and remove them
from meetings?
Thank you,
Cynthia
From: michael hassett <micalhaset@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 22, 2023 at 3:29 PM
To: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Hello Cynthia,
Our friends in the area where Walter lives are all aware of the accusations against him.
They were informed when he first moved to the town.
Michael
From: Cynthia Liles <liles.cynthia@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 22, 2023 at 9:19 PM
To: michael hassett <micalhaset@gmail.com>, Merlin Affleck
<merlin.affleck@gmail.com>
Cc: Lauren Rohs <laurenarohs@gmail.com>, Sheri Autrey <sheri.autrey@yahoo.com>,
Darryl Doland <DarrylDoland@gmail.com>
Hello Michael and Merlin,
I'm sorry-- there must be some confusion. I didn't ask if the friends in Walter's area
were aware of the accusations against Walter. I was letting you know that it is very
distressing to his alleged victims to know that he is still attending meetings. Neither one of you
have acknowledged in your replies that this news may be upsetting to the alleged victims and
neither one of you have asked what you can do for them. That tells me your focus
is not on the alleged victims. In fact, it tells me you could care less about the alleged victims. If you
cared about victims, you would notify the friends in Canada of the pending charges
against Walter and Leanne and ask victims to come forward
Merlin, you say you had Walter turn himself into law enforcement a few years ago. I've
read the minutes of your April 6, 2023 meeting in Kelowna, B.C. You acknowledge
Walter allegedly committed crimes. I understand he confessed to you. Do you realize Walter
denied everything to law enforcement? It dawned on me after our last email exchange
that if he had truly confessed when you sent him to law enforcement, he would have
already been charged and most likely entered into a plea deal. I've confirmed that did
not happen because he denied everything.
So, again, are you willing to give a statement to law enforcement in the new cases that
have been filed? If not, why not? Your actions are very confusing to me. I do not
understand why you would choose to stand by an alleged pedophile instead of the victims who
were innocent young children when they were allegedly sexually abused by their overseer -- the
most trusted position in the hierarchy of the Truth. I also noticed in your minutes that
you felt Walter's alleged crimes were on the "low end" of the crime scale on a scale of 1-10.
The actual act of sex abuse against a child has absolutely nothing to do with the trauma
response. I have worked on hundreds of these cases and have witnessed this
phenomenon many, many times. One child who is raped (Edited for public) can have less of a
trauma response than that of a child fondled by the same perpetrator. Again, the actual
act has no correlation to the trauma response. It is not up to us to determine the
severity of trauma inflicted on victims.
Cynthia
Cynthia L. Liles
Private Investigator
liles.cynthia@gmail.com
503-334-6866
lilesinvestigations.com