European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Crusader under fire for Nightmare tactics by Peter Applebome the new York times for four years Faye Yager has been the Force behind a Shadow world an underground a network that she says has hidden More than a thousand abused children from a Legal system that she contends too often delivers them to their abusers. Now in suburban Marietta ga., Yager 44, is on trial herself accused of kidnapping and emotional cruelty to the children she was supposed to help. Prosecutors say that she coerced false statements about sexual abuse and repeatedly threatened two Florida children who were brought to her by a Mother who said she was fleeing an abusive husband. Yager faces a possible sentence of up to 60 years in prison although neither Side expects that the maximum sentence would be imposed if she were convicted. Supporters say Yager whose own daughter was a sexually abused by Yager s first husband is the victim of a Legal vendetta aimed at stopping her work. They note that the kidnapping charge stems from a 45-minute Van ride. Critics say she is an irresponsible vigilante who recklessly meddles with the Legal system and often harms those she is trying to help. Even some of her former allies have raised questions saying Yager can be too inclined to find satanism in the cases she pursues. Whatever the Case her trial has become a window onto a movement that More and More parents in bitter custody Case see As a last resort. Yager a West Virginia Coal miners daughter now married to a doctor Speaks with the passion of an abolitionist her eyes hard As darts and her voice a rapid fire twang. Her message is that if the courts fail to protect abused children caught in Domestic wars then Many parents usually mothers have no option but to flee into an underground network of Safe houses and new identities. There is no Way to know How Many people flee into the underground but Yager says she has helped about half of the 2,000 families she has counselled to go into hiding. She says hers is one of several networks that either hide children or assist families running from the courts. Word is spread in shelters by lawyers and social service agencies and by yagers appearances on television talk shows. A if you were raped and you re 5 years old and your parents Are getting a divorce and your father did this to you no one s going to believe you Quot said Yager. Quot they re going to treat you like you re Black and it�?Ts-1930.&Quot although some of her defenders question the Wisdom of hiding from the Legal system they say Yager and those working with her can be the last alternative to a system that does not work particularly for women who often do not have the resources to Battle abusive spouses in court. Quot Faye Yager is helping desperate parents who Are in agony Over harm coming to their children Quot said Joan Pennington executive director of the National Center for readers action line three Job fairs set for Europe in May of i la be leaving the air Force because i be elected to take the sub special separation Benefit and enter the civilian work Force. I m currently stationed in a Remote area and such things As Job fairs transition offices and Access to department of defense Dod Job placement programs Are not available. Exactly what placement programs Are available and How can i Contact them staff sgt. A Aorta e. Paul nor Vanuch a Sarmany a Rick Lawla manager command transition Asala Tanca family matters division Safe rap Lea thank you for asking about How to obtain transition assistance services from no Venich Germany. As with other Remote locations we have assigned no Venich to new York Timet Pye Yager with a amp a 7-year-old son Joshua on Tho porch of the sir Atlanta Homo. Protective parents in Trenton . Quot there s a tremendous wrong that s occurring in this country right  but her critics consider her an obsessed woman who sees the world through the warped prism of her own past. Quot mrs. Yager is a zealot Quot said Duff Ortman an air traffic controller from Lexington ky., who came to the trial offering a $25,000 Reward for the return of his 9-year-old son whose Mother spirited him into yagers network three years ago. Quot she a had a tragedy in her own life and i think because of that she sees ghosts behind every tree now. For me she a a Nightmare and for my son she s a  in fact when Yager went on trial facing charges of kidnapping cruelty to children and interference with custody the one image the prosecution and defense agreed on was of a Nightmare. In opening arguments the Cobb county assistant District attorney Rose Wing said Yager abducted Jarrod Watts then 10, for 45 minutes and subjected him and his sister Alecia who was 8, to emotional abuse two one of our main operating bases where transition services Are provided. Plase Call the Span Dahlem a family support Center at 452-6422/6894/6143 for More information. They will Tell you about the Many transition services offered including the three Day Job preparation seminars financial counselling and Access to Dod Job placement programs. The defense outplacement referral system Dors is a computer based mini-r6sum6 service where you prepare a mini-r6sum6 in the Csc. The information you provide in the mini-r6sum6 is sent to the manpower data Center in Monterey calif., and made available to civilian companies. There Are three Job fairs scheduled for Europe during May. The first will be held at Raf Lakenheath England on May 20. It will be preceded by a four hour Job seekers workshop on May 19. The second and third sessions will be held in Germany. The Vogel Weh officers and civilians club in Kaiserslautern will be the setting for another Job seekers workshop on May 26, followed by a Job fair on May 27. The workshop and Job fair then move to the old Dominion club at Heidelberg a Patrick Henry Village on May 28-29. At least 15 to 17 civilian firms will have years ago. The children s Mother Myra Watts brought them to Yager seeking Protection from their father who she said was abusive. Prosecutors say Yager forced the children to fabricate stories of sexual abuse and told them that if they did not cooperate she would return them to their father and they would never see their Mother again. Quot think about that Nightmare they went through and How for years it will haunt them Quot Wing told jurors. Yagers lawyer Robert Fierer graphically describing the sexual abuse of yagers daughter began his opening argument by taking the theme in a different direction. Quot this Case is a Nightmare Quot he said. Quot but its a Nightmare that began some 19 years ago Quot when Yager found out firsthand How grievously the courts can err in cases of sexually abused children he said. Her husband was Given custody of their daughter despite medical evidence of abuse and he was eventually arrested for subsequent instances of sexual abuse involving other girls. Fierer contended that the current charges Are an attempt to silence yagers incessant criticism of the courts. Representatives on hand to interview prospective employees. Individuals who will retire or separate within 180 Days Are authorized seven Days permissive try temporary duty to attend a Dod sanctioned Job fair or seminar if one is not locally available. Space a travel category "2b&Quot is authorized on Mac military Airlift come aircraft to travel to these Job fairs and  write us readers action line is the readers a court of last resort a a striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes wednesday May 6, 1992