Hampshire man gets 11 life sentences for
sexually assaulting 3 children
Robert E. Craig
A Kane County judge has ordered a former Carpentersville man to spend the rest of his life in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting three children, according to a news release from the Kane County State's Attorney.
Circuit Judge John A Barsanti on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, sentenced Robert E. Craig, 49, of the 600 block of Hampshire Drive in Hampshire, to 11 life imprisonment sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
A Kane County jury on Feb. 9, convicted Craig of 11 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, each a class X felony, and six counts of criminal sexual abuse, each a class 2 felony.
Kane County Assistant State's Attorneys Lori Schmidt and Reagan McGuire presented evidence that multiple times between 1999 and 2010 Craig sexually assaulted the three children. All were younger than 13 years old. The assaults took place in Carpentersville.
In 2014 one of the children disclosed to a school counselor that she had been sexually assaulted by Robert Craig, according to the release. The counselor reported the disclosure to the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services.
Illinois law states that a person convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child against two or more victims shall be sentenced to a term of life in prison for each count.
In addition, Judge Barsanti sentenced Craig to three years imprisonment for each of the six criminal sexual abuse counts. All terms of imprisonment are to be served concurrently.
According to Illinois law, Craig must serve the full sentence. He is not eligible for parole. Craig receives credit for 842 days served in the Kane County jail.
"The public has no tolerance for those who harm the most vulnerable among us," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said. "By demanding mandatory life prison sentences for those who commit such hideous crimes, the General Assembly has given its assurance that evil people like Robert Craig can no longer prey on children."
Westmoreland Co. woman charged with letting men touch her 7 y/o daughter for money
BY KEITH SCHWEIGERT
GREENSBURG, Westmoreland County — A Greensburg woman has been arrested on multiple charges after police say she permitted adult men to have sexual contact with her 7-year-old daughter in exchange for money.
According to court documents and the Greensburg Police Department, Rebecca Shandle (or Shadle) has been charged with Trafficking in Minors, Criminal Conspiracy, Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child, Sexual Exploitation of Children, Corruption of Minors, and Endangering the Welfare of Children.
Another suspect in the case, Brian Spiller, has been arrested and charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child, Patronizing a Victim of Sexual Servitude, and Corruption of Minors, according to Greensburg police.
According to the arrest affidavit, police were contacted on June 21 from a person alleging the sexual abuse of a minor. The source told police the victim, a 7-year-old girl, had been making sexual remarks, and said the victim told the source she had observed men accompanying her mother into her mother’s bedroom and then paying her money when they left.
The victim also told the source that one of the men, a neighbor who lived behind her residence, had touched her in her private area under her clothes.
After identifying Shandle as the victim’s mother, police went to Shandle’s apartment for an interview. Police say Shandle admitted she was having sex with men in her apartment in exchange for cash, and was aware of her daughter’s allegation that she had been sexually abused. Shandle told police the incident had occurred years ago.
In a subsequent interview with the victim on July 10, the victim told a child psychologist that she had been touched more than once by a neighbor who called himself “Ryan,” though that was not his real name. She said “Ryan” moved away and that she hadn’t seen him in a while.
Police returned to Shandle’s apartment with a search warrant on July 12. They found a mobile phone with text messages between Shandle and other persons arranging sexual encounters in exchange for money. During an interview at the police station — after being advised of her Miranda rights — Shandle admitted to police that “Ryan,” whom she identified as Spiller, had paid her $60 to be allowed to have sexual contact with the victim. Shandle admitted that she consented, saying she did not tell Spiller no or later attempt to contact police because she was afraid of Spiller.
According to police, Shandle later admitted that she allowed another man, whom she identified as “Greg,” to have sexual contact with the victim and sniff her underwear in exchange for $60.
Shandle was then arrested.
Police are still searching for Spiller. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Greensburg police at (724) 834-3800.
Old Fort man faces child sex, kidnapping charges
Authorities arrested an Old Fort man who they say molested a young girl and videotaped some of the abuse, according to information released Thursday.
Detective Billie Brown of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged Charles Dean Herron, 32, of 230 Breezy Hill Drive in Old Fort, with two counts of first-degree statutory rape of a child by an adult and one count each of incest of a child under 13 by an adult, statutory sex offense of a child by an adult, first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and first-degree kidnapping.
Brown said Herron had sexual contact with a female acquaintance that is now 8 but was 4 when the incidents began. He videotaped some of the sexual abuse, according to Brown.
The victim just recently told family members, who reported the allegations to the Sheriff’s Office.
Herron is being held on a $900,000 bond.
Old Fort, NC
Lexington Co. Man Gets Life Sentence for
Child Sexual Assault of 7 y/o
LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC (WLTX) - A Lexington County man convicted of child sexual assault has been sentenced to life in prison, according to Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard
A jury deliberated less than an hour before finding Bryan Jeffrey Ellis, 30, guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to the solicitor.
Judge R. Knox McMahon then imposed a life sentence on Ellis with a consecutive sentence of 15 years. Under state law, the life sentence means that Ellis will never be eligible for parole.
“The loss of innocence is something you can never get back and will not be tolerated in Lexington County," said Solicitor Hubbard. "The sentence today sends a clear message."
Prosecutors say Ellis sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl on multiple occasions. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation on January 24, 2016, after the girl told a family member about the abuse and a 911 call was placed. Ellis later admitted to the sexual assaults.
Ellis' confession, seven pages in length and in his own handwriting, was offered as evidence during the trial. Family members of the child also testified that Ellis admitted his guilt to them when they confronted him.
The child victim, now age 9, testified during the trial and identified Ellis as having assaulted her numerous times.
Obviously, I'm not a lawyer, but why, when the perpetrator confessed, does the victim have to testify? Am I the only one who thinks that's weird, not to mention cruel?
Evidence recovered from Ellis' smart phone revealed that Ellis was using the device to research information on sex addiction less than two hours before giving his confession to law enforcement.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge McMahon spoke of the child's "stolen innocence" and called Ellis a “predator.” He described the life sentence as a "necessary measure to protect the community" and ensure that Ellis will not harm additional victims in the future.
Ellis is being transferred to the S.C. Department of Corrections to begin his sentence immediately, according to Solicitor Hubbard.
Spartanburg Co. man charged in
sexual assault of 8-year-old
By Amanda Shaw
BOILING SPRINGS, SC (FOX Carolina) -
The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said a man is facing charges after the sexual abuse of a child.
Deputies said in June they were notified of a sexual assault which had occurred between October 2015 and August 2016.
According to the incident report, 31-year-old Larry Freyta is accused of engaging in sexual battery with an 8-year-old victim. Arrest warrants indicate Freyta engaged in sexual battery of the child and performed a lewd act on the victim.
He is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
He was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center.
Fugitive arrested 14 years after
sex abuse against 9 y/o girl
By Crystal Bailey
WILLISTON, Fla. (WCJB) A fugitive wanted for sexually abusing a child is finally in custody in Levy County. 55 year old Nathan Nixon from williston -- a fugtitive levy county deputies couldn't find anywhere.
"We tried for several years to execute the arrest warrant going to any of his last known addresses, checking with acquaintances. He just fell off the grid," said Lt. Scott Tummond with Levy County Sheriff's Office.
A 9 year old girl told investigators back in July of 2003, "a person who she trusted the most did sexual things to her that were hard for her to talk about because they were 'gross.'"
"After our investigator filed the paperwork with the state attorney's office and the courts agreed to issue the warrant for his arrest which was just a matter of 24 hours, Nixon disappeared," said Lt. Tummond.
After 14 years on the run, Nixon was found in Mexico and then deported back to the US in June. Nixon was caught by officials in the U.S. Marshals Service.
His bond is set for three million dollars. "Should he make bond, there are provisions that the judge has already placed on him, he won't be able to leave the area, he has to check in frequently," said Lt. Tummond. "If convicted, he could do the rest of his natural life in prison."
Lt. Tummond said the victim, now a young adult, is relieved to start the prosecution process.
Former Huntersville doctor pleads guilty to
child porn charges
by: Blake Hanson
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. - A former Huntersville doctor accused of child sex crimes pleaded guilty in court Thursday.
Huntersville police arrested David Shope, 41, in 2015 after an eight-month investigation by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit.
According to arrest warrants in 2015, Shope's computer contained child pornography.
Police said Shope was sharing pictures and videos with an undercover officer.
Shope admitted to disturbing actions Thursday detailed in court documents.
In those documents, investigators said that Shope shared videos showing "the sexual abuse of children," and that on his computer there were videos showing "sadomasochist conduct" of kids "under the age of 12."
His attorney said his client is very remorseful, and pointed out the actions have nothing to do with his job as a doctor.
The maximum penalty for the charge is 20 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, attorneys recommended a little more than 10 years and that the doctor agree to register as a sex offender.
Shope's license expired in February 2016.
Arizona sex-crime fugitive caught in Barrington
The FBI Chicago Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force arrested a wanted sex-crime suspect from Arizona Thursday on the 100 block of West Penny Road in Barrington.
Jose Gil Acosta, 53, whose last known address is in Arizona, was taken into custody without incident, FBI officials said.
Acosta has been wanted by the Maricopa County sheriff's office in Arizona since April 2013 for sexual conduct with a minor/molestation of a child, sexual abuse and aggravated assault.
Acosta was placed in the custody of Cook County Sheriff's Police in Maywood as he awaits extradition.
The task force that arrested Acosta is comprised of FBI agents, Chicago Police detectives and Cook County Sheriff's Police officers.
Former aviation youth leader arrested for
sexual assault of a boy
By Emily Matesic
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - A Neenah man who served as a leader in a local youth aviation program has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.
Robb J. Szymik, 46, is charged with Using a Computer to Facilitate a Sex Crime; Sexual Assault of a Child Under 16; Soliciting a Child for Prostitution; and Child Enticement.
Szymik's LinkedIn page show he served as Vice President of the Youth Aviation Camp for 22 years. It operates under the name of Aviation Explorer Base, which has removed Szymik from any "involvement or contact" with the organization.
On July 5, an Oneida police officer was called to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle near Fish Creek Road in an area reserved for Oneida Nation tribal members.
A criminal complaint obtained by Action 2 News states the officer located Robb Szymik sitting in the driver's seat of a truck parked in the area.
While the officer was talking with Szymik, a woman stopped to report seeing someone run down the road out of the tree line.
The person was later identified as a 14-year-old boy.
The complaint says Szymik initially claimed he did not know the person running from the area, but later admitted to contacting the teen through a social media app to meet for a "hook up."
Szymik told investigators he didn't know how old the boy was, but noticed that he "looked younger" and told him to get out of the truck.
The teen told investigators that he met Szymik on a dating app called "Grindr." The boy said he previously met with Szymik at the same location in May 2017. The victim said Szymik offered to pay the teen $75 to have sex.
The teen said they did not have sex but did take part in a sex act. The teen said he told Szymik that he was 14 years old.
The victim said on July 5, Szymik contacted him on Grindr and they met up at the same area. Szymik sexually assaulted the teen in his truck, according to the criminal complaint.
When the police officer arrived to investigate the suspicious vehicle, Szymik told the victim to run and hide in the bushes, according to the criminal complaint.
Szymik was taken into custody. The criminal complaint states that officers searched his truck and found a video camera; a name tag with the title "Aviation Explorer Base-Vice Chairman"; and an invoice showing Szymik has a leadership role in the "EAA Boy Scouts."
The Aviation Explorer Base, located in Oshkosh, partners young people with advisers to learn about airplanes.
The Aviation Explorer Base released this statement to Action 2 News:
"Upon hearing of the arrest of Robb Szymik for alleged felony child sex acts, the Aviation Exploration Base immediately took action to remove him from any involvement or contact with the Aviation Exploration Base. All staff and leaders involved with the Aviation Exploration Base have been made aware of the situation.
Based on the current investigation and legal proceedings, none of Mr. Szymik’s alleged criminal activity involved anyone associated with or involved in the Aviation Exploration Base, we took immediate action to remove this individual and prohibit him from any future participation in the Aviation Exploration Base program, Exploring and all Scouting programs."
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