As if Doug’s unjust arrest wasn’t bad enough, the media decided to spin Doug Porter into some sort of a character that was unrecognizable to any of those of us that know him. CNN's Nancy Grace did a horrific show that bordered on the ridiculous. The Modesto Bee continues its spin with articles that contain more gossip than fact. They were primarily done by not a reporter, but an opinion columnist. The first letter of support came out while most of us were still in shock and reeling from the incredulity of it all. Jaime N. sent that first letter, and was a champion to us as we tried to pull ourselves together.
Following is that first letter by Jaime:

In response to Jeff Jardine's reporting on the recent arrest of Doug Porter ("A matter of trust," Dec. 3, Page B-1): As a resident of Hickman and a past attendee of Hickman Community Church, I have been outraged at Jardine's biased and sensationalized coverage of this man. Porter is on trial for crimes based on circumstantial evidence and is innocent until proven guilty. Jardine's recent coverage has prematurely convicted him as a thief and murderer.
Jardine's column states, "Before Doug Porter got access to Frank Craig's multimillion-dollar trust, he had to gain Craig's trust." With his opening line, Jardine assumes Porter's relationship with Frank Craig was one of deception based on an evil goal of obtaining an older gentleman's money. Is this a fact based on evidence or is this a mere biased opinion? This is clearly an opinion.
My purpose in writing is not to argue for or against Doug Porter; that is not my responsibility, nor is it Jardine's. Doug Porter's fate now resides in the hands of our justice system. The facts will come out in the courtroom. Until this time, I ask that Jardine refrain from presenting his opinion.

JAMIE N.
Hickman
Modesto Bee Editor's note: Jeff Jardine is The Bee's local news columnist. It is the job of columnists to express opinions.

Soon others in the community began to speak up. Several people, who spoke for many, felt compelled to address the biased reporting. Following are the other two letters that Bee chose to print:

Dear Editor,

I feel I must write in response to the negative way Doug Porter has been portrayed in the media. I have known Doug my whole life and he has done nothing but help and inspire everyone around him. Doug has always been a central and active member of our community. He has been our little league coach, youth leader, wrestling coach, 4-H backpacking leader, 4-H sheep leader etc. When my parents divorced, the Porters opened their home to me and treated me just as one of their own children. For years I spent every afternoon at their house where they would help with my homework until my mom got home from work.
The message Doug always told us was that if you work hard, you can do anything. Kids that grew up around him absorbed the value of a strong work ethic. He believed in them and helped them achieve their goals. Having watched Doug my whole life build up the people around him and work so tirelessly for the community, I cannot believe these allegations against him. Doug’s example and message have always been the exact opposite.

Matt B.

That letter was followed by one more:

Dear Editor,

We have known Doug Porter for many years and feel we must speak up in his defense. Doug has done so much for our family and other families in and around our community. We have the utmost respect for him. We know that he did NOT intentionally want this to happen, but that it was an unfortunate accident. He has helped, coached, taught and counseled so many people, young, old, poor, and needy. The Porters have opened their home to several young men, took them in, fed them, raised them and taught them about the Lord, life, family, wrestling and school. Many of these young men have become successful in life as a result.

Teresa A.

After the above letters, several letters that were sent to the editor were not printed. Those kind folks contacted us to let us know that they had sent their letter, but were still waiting to see them in the paper. They also sent copies of the letters on to us so we could print them here. The following are a few, but not all of the letters sent but not printed:

Dear Editor,

It’s amazing that the Bee could even find people to slander Doug Porter. Everyone, even those who have unjustly accused him, know he’s, helped, coached or inspired so many. He coached kids all day Saturday, drove all night to get home, and was back in the pulpit Sunday morning. Having followed him home from numerous tournaments, I can tell you Doug was a great guy, but not a great driver.
Here’s the truth about Doug—he never hesitates a second and doesn’t pick and choose the type of people he helps. Young, old, down and out, alike, knew that Doug would lend a hand. There was always someone living at the Porter’s until they could get back on their feet. When my best friend died of breast cancer and her oldest daughter was killed in an accident two months later, the Porters took their younger girls in and raised them until the family stabilized. During a crisis in my life, I called Doug continually for help. No matter how busy, he always called me back. When I landed in the hospital, he was the first one there when the doors opened. That’s Doug Porter.

Mellisa B.

Dear Editor,

Your article about Doug Porter, and the criminal charges against him is absurd. The Doug I’ve known for over 30 years is a humble, honest, hard working, unsophisticated country preacher who would help anyone, and would probably screw up from trying something beyond his capabilities before he'd not try to help them.
The Bee is trying to sell the public the most interesting story, which isn’t the truth about Doug Porter, but about an evil minister. You folks at the Bee are selling your own spin.
Doug has a well documented history of being a lousy driver, but no history of being a financial planner, accountant, construction manager, psychologist, drug-counselor, marriage counselor, or the many other things he attempted to help his diverse congregation. He’s a good man getting tried in the newspaper with biased, incomplete, poorly researched, and even juvenile reporting, and he and his family are having their lives destroyed because of it.
Seriously, a real story to research is Mr. Craig's feud with his sisters, their backgrounds, and why Mr. Craig specifically wrote them out of his will, which they are bitterly contesting, with Doug bearing the brunt of their vitriol. That's the real story.

Steve B.

Dear Editor,

We would like share a perspective of Doug Porter that has not been seen in the newspaper. We’ve known Doug for over 17 years, beginning when he coached our son in wrestling. His positive impact on our son, demonstrating daily a hard work ethic, discipline, and integrity, was such that we could not have asked for a better role model, coach, and friend for him. Doug was a coach who really cared for his athletes, not just their physical condition, but their morals and spiritual condition as well. We truly feel our son stayed out of trouble and had a great school experience because of Doug’s positive influence.
As we grew to know Doug better, his love for his family and helping the small town of Hickman was apparent to all. Hickman at one time had the reputation of being a rough town with a drug problem. Doug’s leadership helped turn that little town around. A drug rehabilitation house was started and helped many users. Many local residents found hope and a changed life there. Doug has done nothing but try to better the community of Hickman. We know him well, and he has our utmost trust and respect.

The Bee opinion page editor Judy Sly, sent this reply to the following two letters:

We ran several letters critical of The Bee and supporting Doug Porter immediately after his arrest. Since early February, we have stopped running letters and will let this case be resolved in the justice system. That's our standard practice with pending criminal cases.

Judy Sly
Editor of the Opinions Pages
The Modesto Bee

Editor,

The reporting about Doug Porter has been so inaccurate; I’m questioning everything I read in the Bee. As a teacher at Hickman School, I’m aware of his involvement in the community. Those who know Doug are horrified at the spin from our local newspaper. Once, for example, when he became aware of a homeless family living under the bridge, Doug’s characteristic response was to take them to his home. It was not a cautious response, but that’s what he did. They stayed with the Porters, and enrolled the children in school. Eventually, Doug found the father a job on a dairy with a house for the family. When two other students found themselves homeless, the Porters once again opened their home. I was moved by the difference I saw in these boys from the caring they received from Doug’s family. Doug will help anyone in need without giving thought to the consequences to himself. Mr. Craig wanted others to help with his museum, but no one would. Doug was ill-equipped to build a museum, but agreed to help. It’s appalling that Doug’s kind intentions made him vulnerable to unfounded accusations.

Paulette D.

This letter was written after one of the Bee reporters wrote a ridiculously slanted article that ignored much of what had actually happened that day in court. Instead, she dredged up all the prior "charges" and rehashed them again.

Editor,

I’m dismayed regarding the unabashed bias by your reporter. The article about Doug Porter’s hearing was spun to the point of being unrecognizable. The journalistic gymnastics she performed to ignore what really happened that morning was amazing. Was it the same hearing that I attended last Tuesday? My parents came here for a better life. They proudly became citizens and we’ve always had faith in our justice system. I’m sorely disillusioned by what has occurred in Stanislaus County. Doug, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, community member, pastor and coach-- kidnapped, and put in chains when returning home from visiting his daughter’s family for Thanksgiving in Mexico where they serve as missionaries. Doug was at home in La Grange just the week before. Instead he was arrested at the border while returning to the US to make it appear that he was avoiding capture; A dramatic publicity stunt by our DA’s office, hungry for notoriety.
How they can keep him in jail, denied bail for over 4 months, on nothing more than gossip by vindictive people and a witch hunt by the Bee? We should all be aware it could happen to us.

Agnes D.