Bitterroot polygamous sect divided after sex abuse accusations against Utah leader
Kristen Inbody, kinbody@greatfallstribune.com
PINEDALE – A split among members of the Apostolic United Brethren, a polygamist Mormon fundamentalist sect, is playing out in a Bitterroot Valley town of fewer than a thousand west of Corvallis and US Highway 93.
The church has been torn apart since daughter Rosemary Williams, who is on the television show “My Five Wives” and two nieces accused the church president Lynn Thompson of Bluffdale, Utah of molesting them.
Some Pinedale AUB members have established a Second Ward, marriages have been strained even to separation and the congregation’s Pines Academy private school has seen declining enrollment, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Hixon investigation involves child sexual abuse allegations
Idaho - The criminal investigation that prompted the abrupt resignation of state Rep. Brandon Hixon, R-Caldwell, involves sexual abuse allegations, the Idaho Statesman reports today, and Hixon was investigated for a similar allegation in 2014.
The Statesman reports that Canyon County Prosecutor Bryan Taylor asked Attorney General Lawrence Wasden to take over the case because of a conflict of interest, because Taylor knows Hixon and has worked with him on several issues. An Oct. 25 agreement obtained by the Statesman mentions “sexual abuse allegations,” without elaborating; the Statesman’s full report is online here.
In addition, the Statesman reports that a Caldwell detective in December 2014 looked into a claim that Hixon inappropriately touched someone, possibly a child, but charges were never brought because the victim was not able to provide enough details.
A partially redacted report says the case could be reopened if the victim “was able to communicate to us later that something has happened.” It also notes Hixon saying such an allegation “could ruin his political career.” The AP reports that Hixon was accused of inappropriate touching while babysitting at home.
Hixon, who is divorced with four children ages 6 to 17, resigned from the Legislature on Oct. 19. He was in his third term. The governor has received nominations of three District 10 Republicans to replace him: Jarom Wagoner, Donald Easteppe and Jeff Taggart..
Chinese man convicted in rare child pornography trial in Pennsylvania
Peter Hall, Of The Morning Call
After a rare trial where jurors viewed the videos of child sexual abuse that an Easton man was accused of downloading and sharing, the panel convicted him Wednesday on all counts after only 45 minutes of deliberation.
Weiwu Zhao, 76, was convicted of four offenses including a second-degree felony count of distributing images depicting indecent contact with children younger than 13. That means Zhao faces a maximum sentence of 29 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled Dec. 18.
Zhao was charged after investigators said they tracked a three-minute, 22-second video to Zhao’s computer, and later used a search warrant to seize the device from his West Madison Street home. A forensic analysis of the hard drive uncovered 13 other videos, police said.
Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Laura Majewski said the verdict brings justice for each of the victims whose abuse was depicted in the videos. “It’s important for the public to understand this is not a victimless crime and each of those victims now has a voice because he has been brought to justice,” Majewski said.
While child pornography is a major target for law enforcement, very few cases go to trial and most end with a guilty plea if the evidence is not thrown out because of errors by investigators.
In Zhao’s trial, jurors saw parts of the 14 videos, which moved some to tears. Judge Jennifer Sletvold warned jurors after seeing the videos not to allow their emotions to prejudice them against Zhao.
Zhao represented himself at trial, having hired and fired three lawyers as his case wound through court. A native of China who relied on an interpreter during the trial, Zhao railed against the justice system in legal filings, claiming he is being framed and invoking racism against Asians.
Iowa man sentenced for enticement,
awaiting trial for child sex abuse
Twenty-one year old, Alex Trent VanderVeer, of Knoxville, Iowa, was sentenced to 136 months in prison on October 20, 2017 for enticement and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activities.
VanderVeer will serve 30 years of supervised release following imprisonment and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. VanderVeer pled guilty to the charges on June 21, 2017. As part of his plea, VanderVeer admitted that approximately between February 20, and through approximately February 23, 2017, he used a facility of interstate commerce, namely the internet and internet-based services, to violate the federal statute. VanderVeer further admitted that he knowingly used the facility of interstate commerce with the intent to persuade or entice a 14-year-old female to engage in illegal sexual activity, namely sexual intercourse with an adult more than four years older.
VanderVeer is awaiting trial in Jasper County on charges of sexual abuse of a 13-year-old minor.
This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of the Inspector General, Marion County Attorney’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Jasper County Attorney’s Office, Newton Police Department, and Mid Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.
Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the 24-hour Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also operates a Cyber Tip line at www.cybertipline.com that allows parents and children to report child pornography and other incidents of sexual exploitation of children by submitting an online form.
NCMEC also maintains a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST, and a website at www.missingkids.com. Complaints received by NCMEC that indicate a violation of federal law are referred to the law enforcement for appropriate action.
Man arrested on sexual abuse charges
A Midland man was arrested Friday after he allegedly sexually abused two children, according to court documents.
Jorge A. Soto, 37, was released Sunday on two $100,000 bonds for first-degree felony charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.
A Midland police detective received a case on Oct. 24 for follow-up investigation.
Two children were interviewed at the Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center and said Soto had sexually abused them years earlier, according to his arrest affidavit.
If convicted of a first-degree felony charge, Soto could face up to life imprisonment.
Oklahoma man wanted in child sexual abuse case
by Ashley R. Ellis
CLAREMORE, Okla. (KTUL) — A Claremore man is facing allegations of sexually abusing a teenage relative. Carl Beitzel was charged Oct. 30 with child sex abuse. An arrest warrant was issued the same day.
According to court documents, in early September the 17-year-old girl told police Beitzel inappropriately touched her a month earlier while playing a video game and she was too scared to call 911 at the time. The teen said she told her mother who promised to confront Beitzel about the incident but neither police nor DHS Child Welfare was called.
In an interview with investigators, Beitzel told police the victim was playing a video game and asked for help. He denied touching the girl in a sexual manner and said if it did happen it was either an accident or she took it the wrong way.
According to the affidavit, Beitzel was accused of touching another young girl years earlier but was not arrested due to a lack of evidence.
Upon arrest, Beitzel will be jailed on a $100,000 bond.
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