The Boy in the Box (Vidal, California)
Encyclopedia
The "Boy in the Box" trial was held at the Riverside County Superior Court in Indio, California
in 1969 and 1970. It was, at that time, portrayed as a case of child endangerment.
after their ranch near Vidal, California
was raided by deputies of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department on July 26, 1969.
When the deputy sheriffs arrived at Solar Ranch, they found six-year-old Saul Gibbons sitting inside a six-foot by six-foot box with a chain padlocked to his left leg and attached to a heavy metal plate.
It was alleged that "the boy was kept chained up in a small box and left exposed to the heat of the Sonoran Desert
for fifty-six days, between May 1969 to July 26, 1969. He did not leave the box at any time during those fifty-six days."
However, the doctor who immediately examined the child testified that he was "A normal six-year-old boy, perhaps a bit dirty, but not suffering from malnutrition or dehydration." This statement is not consistent with the general accusations of prolonged confinement over many days.
Thirteen members were arrested at the Vidal compound. Four were convicted of a felony, receiving six months in jail, five were convicted of a misdemeanor, receiving three months in jail, and four had their charges dismissed at the Indio branch of the Riverside County Superior Court.
Jean Brayton, her husband, the boy's father, and three other members left California before they could be arrested, going on the run from the authorities. Three years later they all surrendered in court, but none were forced to serve a sentence in jail because it was determined that the circumstances surrounding their charges were subject to entrapment
laws. Jean Brayton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years probation and a $500.00 fine. Her husband, Richard Brayton, had his charges dismissed. Frater Dys, who had actually chained the boy for no more than 10 hours, pleaded guilty and received probation. Other members had their charges dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Indio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
in 1969 and 1970. It was, at that time, portrayed as a case of child endangerment.
Investigation and Arrest
Charges were filed against thirteen members of Solar LodgeSolar Lodge
Solar Lodge was a secret society that was established in 1965 and withdrew into initiatory inactivity in 1972. It was loosely based on ideas from Ordo Templi Orientis and used the curriculum of the Astrum Argenteum established by Aleister Crowley....
after their ranch near Vidal, California
Vidal, California
Vidal, California is a small Unincorporated community located in southeastern California, in San Bernardino County on U.S. Route 95, north of Blythe, California and south of Needles. The town is west of the townsite of Earp, California and west of Parker, Arizona on State Highway 62. The town...
was raided by deputies of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department on July 26, 1969.
When the deputy sheriffs arrived at Solar Ranch, they found six-year-old Saul Gibbons sitting inside a six-foot by six-foot box with a chain padlocked to his left leg and attached to a heavy metal plate.
It was alleged that "the boy was kept chained up in a small box and left exposed to the heat of the Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
for fifty-six days, between May 1969 to July 26, 1969. He did not leave the box at any time during those fifty-six days."
However, the doctor who immediately examined the child testified that he was "A normal six-year-old boy, perhaps a bit dirty, but not suffering from malnutrition or dehydration." This statement is not consistent with the general accusations of prolonged confinement over many days.
Thirteen members were arrested at the Vidal compound. Four were convicted of a felony, receiving six months in jail, five were convicted of a misdemeanor, receiving three months in jail, and four had their charges dismissed at the Indio branch of the Riverside County Superior Court.
Jean Brayton, her husband, the boy's father, and three other members left California before they could be arrested, going on the run from the authorities. Three years later they all surrendered in court, but none were forced to serve a sentence in jail because it was determined that the circumstances surrounding their charges were subject to entrapment
Entrapment
In criminal law, entrapment is conduct by a law enforcement agent inducing a person to commit an offense that the person would otherwise have been unlikely to commit. In many jurisdictions, entrapment is a possible defense against criminal liability...
laws. Jean Brayton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years probation and a $500.00 fine. Her husband, Richard Brayton, had his charges dismissed. Frater Dys, who had actually chained the boy for no more than 10 hours, pleaded guilty and received probation. Other members had their charges dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Sources
- Washington Post, 31 October 1969, "Boy Tells Of Chaining By Cultists"
- Memorandum to Director of the FBI, dated 15 August 1969 from the Special Agent In Charge of the Los Angeles FBI regarding the request of the Riverside County District Attorney's Office for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution assistance.
- http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mystic-history Mystic-History website: The True History of Solar Lodge.