Judge refuses to nullify plea bargain in molestation case

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A judge this afternoon rejected an accused child molester's request to nullify a plea bargain that carries a 22-year prison sentence.

An attorney for Jack Edward Andrews, 59, argued in West Valley Superior Court that Andrews' prior attorney did a poor job representing him, and failed to investigate Andrews' case or prepare a defense.

Judge Jon D. Ferguson denied the request after hearing several hours of testimony from Andrews' prior attorney, Waldo Brown, and from Andrews himself.

Andrews testified that during most of his conversations with Brown, the two men made small talk. He estimated they spent "a few minutes, if that much" discussing his case.

When he was offered a plea bargain in March that carried a 22-year sentence, he pleaded no contest because he "assumed that was the best we could do," he testified.

Deputy District Attorney Karen Schmauss noted Friday that Andrews potentially faced a life sentence if convicted at trial.

Andrews, of Ontario, was arrested last year on suspicion of touching two of his young daughter's elementary school classmates.

He later confessed to police that he molested seven other young girls over more than a decade, according to a police report contained in his court file.

Andrews is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 29. Schmauss said several of Andrews's victims will speak at the hearing.