Rachel Goodle

46 Years

• Rachel faced 46 years in prison for a crime she did not commit. Accused of having a relationship with one of her high school students, Rachel faced the unimaginable. 
• Losing her entire life as she knew it simply because a high school kid perpetuated false rumors and decided to accuse her of a relationship even after he and his parents repeatedly said nothing happened.

Institutional Failures

How is it possible that a fictitious, pornographic story could lead to this when there was no evidence against her—not a single text message between them, no secret meet-ups, no physical evidence, and a dress that was allegedly unbuttoned but had no buttons?

• The School District that concluded no relationship occurred and then prioritized fantasy over fact. 
• The allegation coerced and charges brought without police ever stepping a foot in the classroom that was lined with windows where the incident allegedly occurred.
• The District Attorney’s Office was too weak to stop the lies even though they quietly tried to make the case disappear with a deferred prosecution agreement.

 Faith in God & the Truth

Those who pursued her said there were inconsistencies with some of her answers, but so called inconsistencies on inconsequential facts said under the pressure of questioning could not transform a lie into truth.