i'll address this point by point...
"No, I didn't make it up. I'm not an attorney, nor have I claimed to be."
i wouldn't insult you by calling you an attorney dood
" What I know is from reading and from what I've been told. However, I don't know any criminal attorneys; mostly cops. The link I provided is one example of a criminal defense attorney's opinion on the matter that I have read. You are basically saying he is full of crap?"
i didn't read the link. i responded to what u said. if u (or he says) that felony crimes require physical evidence, that is false
what u said was direct, to the point, and incorrect - saying that physical evidence is required in felony cases except for child molestation. if u are saying that child molestation is an exception to this (nonexistent) requirement, than that is not even addressable, since the premise (that felonies require physical evidence) is false.
"So what you are saying is actually more disturbing to me than what I've heard previously about felony convictions. The fact that physical evidence is not required is ridiculous to me. Am I out of line to say that it would appear that the defense has the burden to prove innocence rather than to simply establish a reasonable doubt in those type cases? "
there is (i will say it again) NO REQUIREMENT for PHYSICAL EVIDENCE in any case (felony or otherwise) that i can think of off the bat. regardless, it is certainly not a requirement for MOST. that IS absurd. there are probably some exceptions (well, for example - proving drug possession requires physical evidence - the drugs. as a counterexample, proving conspiracy to purchase drugs does not require physical evidence (in the case of actual drugs), although there may be physical evidence such as audiotape of surreptitious recordings of the conspiracy agreement.
it is entirely different to say that most crime (felony or misdemeanor. there is no 'stricter" standard for felonies in regards to evidence fwiw. that is another fallacy) may or may HAVE physical evidence in a trial. that may or may not be true. depends on the type of crime. and how loose you want to get with the definition of PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. but i repeat - THERE IS NO 'PHYSICAL EVIDENCE RULE' THAT APPLIES TO FELONIES IN GENERAL, OR MISDEMEANORS FOR THAT MATTER.
"n high profile cases like child molestation where the public demands a conviction, would the defense not be straddled with an uphill battle because physical evidence is not required AND have to deal with the sense of presumed guilt?"
any case where there is great public demand, has that problem. sometimes it works FOR the defense (see: OJ) sometimes it works against them (see: McMartin Preschool (which was false allegations of child abuse)
"So a person can be convicted of a felony with not much other than a possible motive, lack of an alibi, and favorable testimony for the prosecution?"
there is only one way a person can be convicted of a felony (apart from pleading out)
a jury must agree that there is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
now, under the prosecutor code of ethics, a prosecutor cannot BRING a case to trial unless they believe it CAN be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
and it must pass the muster of various defense motions, including summary dismissal (with or without prejudice) prior to it ever being brought to trial
but the "finder of fact" in a criminal trial, by default - is the jury.
if the jury (all of them) believes the case has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then they vote to convict.
that is how the system works.
are innocents sometimes convicted? absolutely. are the guilty sometimes not convicted? yes.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not being hostile. I am truly curious and perplexed in light of some of the things you've said.