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About Michael Cardamone
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It starts with an accusation...
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then the rumors and gossip begin to spin...
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and so the nightmare begins.
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This could happen to you
What has become clear from all of this is that there are many terrible and
despicable things that happen between government and law enforcement The
concepts of “truth,” “justice,” and “innocent unless proven guilty,” have been
replaced by the concepts of “power,” “winning,” and “guilty until proven innocent.”
The police, the State's Attorney, and DCFS considered Mike guilty from the start,
and they did nothing except perpetuate the unsubstantiated claims made by
friends at a sleep over and other embellished stories of touching.
Mike was convicted by testimony alone, testimony that had been coerced and
coached out of girls over a period of two years. These allegations supposedly
took place in an open gym, filled with other gymnasts and parents. Yet,
with almost 100 witnesses testifying, not one person saw these supposed
highly visible and numerous incidents. Not a shred of DNA was presented, no
psychological profiles were allowed to be offered by the defense, and the jury was
not allowed to visit or see video of what the gym actually looked like with all of the
people in it.
What precedent did this set? Any teachers, coaches, baby sitters, therapists,
counselors, bus drivers, anyone can be accused and convicted without a
thorough investigation or any evidence. All that is needed for a conviction are
prompted inflammatory words from accusers. They do not need any other proof
to back their claim.
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Our commitment
We are in no way trying to minimize the situations of true victims of real crime.
However, this is not the case.
There was no "intent." There was no "wrong doing." Nothing happened.
Michael Cardamone is the victim here.
We intend to fight everyday in every way possible to clear Mike's name
and to finally acquit him of this wrongful conviction and terrible injustice.
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances
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A lower level gymnast, a girl who Mike had never coached before, fell
and needed a bandage. Mike walked with her, followed by her friend,
to a kitchen (where the bandages were and many others were around),
and put a bandage on her leg. He promptly sent her and her friend
back to the gym to start their practice, business as usual.
A few days later, armed with embellished accusations of improper
touching while applying the bandage, investigators came to question
Mike. He cooperated completely, going down to the station to answer
questions. Mike was badgered by police, they even went so far as to
lie to Mike and claim they had his DNA. Mike never wavered. He said
he was innocent and provided lists of his students. He even offered to
supply investigators with a DNA sample, but they never took it. They
had nothing to compare it with. Unsatisfied, the state pushed harder.
Michael Cardamone: Injustice in DuPage County
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People began to ask questions after Mike was no longer at practice.
Soon rumors began to circulate of this allegation, getting back to
Mike's students and their parents. Later, at a sleep over, some of
those students started to discuss it and began to joke around about
innocent touching. After that sleep over, parents and DCFS talked
with this tight knit group of girls about their conversation, pushing
them for the answers they wanted, even changing their initial
responses.
DCFS and the State's Attorney crossed the line of professionalism,
hosting pizza parties with just the girls (no parents) to discuss the
touching charges. Their stories began to sound more and more alike,
giving them enough credibility to meet the State's needs.
Mike's life was gone, turned upside down, and the girls were being
rewarded for every new thing they could conjure up.
Michael Cardamone, 28 years old, is a devoted husband, loving father
of two, and friend to many others. He was a gymnastics coach, a
profession he shared with his wife. He won State and Regional titles,
and had a dream of bringing his students to National levels. He was
on the edge of an exciting career filled with success at such a young
age ... then one day his life was turned upside down with a false
allegation ... a day etched in the hearts of many. Mike's case sets the
precedent ... in a society quick to judge without facts.
