Pride Center director who kept sex predator on staff — with kids around — should step down
BY FABIOLA SANTIAGO fsantiago@miamiherald.com
The pictures of happy children at the Pride Center at Equality Park — billed as South Florida’s leading social center for LGBT people — are on social media pages, websites and in the cameras of mothers and fathers who had no idea this wasn’t exactly the promised “safe space” where the children of gay parents could play in peace.
The photos show children inside the two-story building holding up artwork, posing with parents, face-painted at an event, and frolicking outside in the three-year-old playground.
The Pride Center in Wilton Manors was born when the HIV/AIDS crisis was the gay community’s main concern, but with the advent of gay marriage and child-rearing it has evolved into a 'family-friendly' venue. It’s supposed to be a zone free of judgment or harassment, the kind of place where same-sex couples and their children engage each other, participate in activities and play without the children having to explain why they have two mommies and two daddies.
But, unbeknownst to parents, another kind of great danger lurked: a sexual predator, a man convicted of raping a child, was employed there. In one picture, he’s helping set up a Christmas party.
The nice janitor, Clarence Collins, a long-time employee who helped put up the interactive module in the playground and cleaned up after patrons of the community center, was convicted in 1995 of repeatedly molesting and raping an 11-year-old girl, who told investigators that he had pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her if she told.
To underestimate the gravity of having someone with that kind of background around children — no matter how rehabilitated he seemed to be after serving seven years of a 10-year prison sentence — is to pile on the outrage. There’s not a single kind of sexual offense against a child that should be forgiven or explained away — whether you’re the janitor or the CEO or whether you’re 25 or 65.
Now that they’ve found out, parents are rightfully angry at Chief Executive Officer Robert Boo, who knew that Collins was a registered sex predator — and never bothered to dig into the details of his crime, except to call his probation officer, who allegedly told Boo there were no issues with Collins. (There certainly were over the past five years: That’s how long Collins lied on sex-predator registration forms about his real address, which put him close to a day care center. For that, he’s back in jail.)
Claiming ignorance is not a good defense.
Collins’ background is readily available on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s sex offender registry, and although it doesn’t include details, it shows he was convicted of sexual offenses and lewd and lascivious conduct against a child under 12 — no small thing. Court records, easily accessed by Miami Herald reporter Martin Vassolo, detail the horrific case against him.
“He didn’t know and didn’t understand the gravity of the crime, the depths of the depravity,” Boo’s spokesman, Evan Nierman, told me.
“He didn’t do the legwork,” Nierman acknowledged. “He was horrified at what he read in the Miami Herald this morning.”
But Boo knew enough — and was concerned enough — to tell Collins that he needed to stay away when children were around. It didn’t guarantee anything. Parents say he was around often.
For his unforgivable negligence and colossal bad judgment — and for minimizing the danger to justify his inaction in statements he’s made — Boo should be asked to step down from his post. He characterized Collins, 63, as “elderly.” Hardly, when you don’t even qualify for full retirement. But, most important, pedophilia doesn’t have age limits. The last thing South Florida’s upstanding gay community needs is to give off the perception that any kind of child abuse is a tolerable offense.
When Boo came into the organization in 2006 as director of development, he inherited Collins, who was reportedly a good worker, showed up on time, never missed a day and was well-liked. That a man released from prison was given a second chance is fine for adults. But as soon as Pride Center became family-oriented, Collins should have been let go. It’s the law — and a widely known one at that. Child sex predators must stay at least 300 feet away from any public place where children are congregating, be it a school, day care center, playground, park or community center.
That Boo “didn’t know the statute” doesn’t cut it for me. That he became enlightened on a Friday and fired Collins on Monday in March doesn’t mitigate the years he allowed him to work among children. The apparent tolerance for a sex predator on the premises only feeds the vitriol and stigma the LGBT community endures and has fought so hard to overcome.
It’s egregious that the man in charge — and others at the center who also knew Collins’ status — kept it from unsuspecting parents. Although no incidents have been reported, the lax handling of an employee with a sordid past put everyone and the organization at risk.
This is not about Collins’ right to a second chance at making a living. This is about children’s right to be safe.
PA man faces 87 counts of sexual abuse of children
By: 69 News
PALMER TWP., Pa. - A lengthy investigation has led to the arrest of a Palmer Township man in relation to a child pornography case.
Officials say 25-year-old Jacob Wilkens is facing 87 felony counts of sexual abuse of children, and two felony counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
Investigators opened the case in July 2017 after receiving numerous tips from Cyber Tip Line Reporting, an organization that reveals tips of the searches of websites involving child pornography.
A subpoena returned an IP address that led police to a computer at a residence in Palmer Township. A search warrant was obtained for the resident's home, where police confiscated multiple cellphones, tablets and gaming systems.
Additional search warrants on each device revealed numerous photographs and videos of child pornography, officials say. Internet searches of websites relating to children dealing with pornography were also found.
Officials noted "the photos and videos all appear to be retrieved from the internet, and were not photographed by the suspect."
Wilkens is committed to Northampton County Prison with bail set at $50,000 straight.
In the UK, this man would not get jail time but would get a suspended sentence and be ordered to take courses and counselling and be forbidden any number of rights. If he fails those orders, he would then go to prison. This is how the UK is trying to deal with spectacular over-crowding in prisons and giving some pedophiles (child porn only) an opportunity to get better.
Phoenix man gave young daughter sexual
enhancement supplements
Joe Enea
PHOENIX - A Phoenix man is accused of giving his pre-teen daughter sexual enhancement supplements, then uploading sexually exploitative videos of her to the internet.
In October 2017, Australian investigators identified a user profile connected to a sexually exploitative photo album labeled "daughter." The internet address used was traced to a home near 35th and Dunlap avenues.
The Australian investigators turned over their information to U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents in Phoenix.
On April 4, HSI agents served a warrant on the home, where they allegedly found multiple digital devices with the user profile. The 44-year-old suspect reportedly admitted to agents that he had been downloading "child sexual abuse material for years."
The suspect also reportedly admitted to giving his daughter, who is under 10 years old, "female sexual enhancement supplements."
Several of the uploaded images were identified as his daughter.
He also allegedly told agents that if he weren't stopped, "the sexual abuse of his daughter would escalate."
The Arizona Attorney General's Office has charged the man with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Houseguest arrested, reports of sexual abuse
on child in Florida
CHIPLEY – A houseguest at a local residence has been charged for sexual abuse on a child.
Investigators at Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested 57-year-old Allen Keith Smith, of Chipley, who had been a houseguest at a local residence, a WCSO news release stated. WCSO received reports Saturday alleging sexual abuse on the child.
It was not immediately clear the age of the child. However, the release stated Smith had entered the child’s bedroom “where he began touching the victim.”
Smith was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious conduct by a person 18 years of age or older and cruelty towards a child (child abuse) by an act that could result in physical or mental injury.
He was taken into custody and booked into the Washington County Jail where he is being held on a $75,000 bond.
Alabama pastor found guilty of rape and
sex abuse of a child
By: WKRG Staff
MOBILE, Ala. - The jury has found Pastor Alvin McNeil guilty of rape and sex abuse of a child under 12.
Judge Lockett revoked his bond and took the defendant into custody, the District Attorney's office said.
56-year-old Alvin McNeil was a pastor of Open Door True Worship Apostolic Church.
The Prichard resident was booked into Mobile County Metro Jail back in September 2016. He was charged with child sexual abuse, first-degree rape, and first-degree sodomy, according to the jail log.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 24.
Texas 'monster' sentenced to 55 years for child sex abuse
By TOMMY WITHERSPOON twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
A former funeral home employee convicted last week (8th story on link) of sexually abusing a 4-year-old former family member was sentenced on Tuesday to 55 years in prison with no possibility of parole.
Jurors in 19th State District Court deliberated about 90 minutes before determining punishment for 25-year-old Anthony Paul Machina. The jury convicted him Friday of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact. The jury also recommended a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $10,00 fine on the indecency count.
Because Machina was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl younger than 6, he is not eligible for parole and must serve his 55-year sentence day for day.
Jurors on Friday found Machina not guilty on two other counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child in other incidents alleged to have happened in January 2015.
In closing statements Tuesday, prosecutors Gabrielle Massey and Sydney Tuggle asked the jury to assess significant sentences, saying the child's lost innocence is worth a life prison term.
Tuggle read excerpts from a journal Machina kept that was turned over to authorities after his arrest.
" 'She is my guiding light, the one who keeps me sane, the one who makes sense of everything. Why did I want to harm her? What darkness is this? The madness within,' " Tuggle said, quoting from the journal. She then referred to the passage and said, "That's a monster. He is telling you he is a monster. Don't forget about that. … This isn't something where you take into account his age or his lack of criminal history. What does it mean to do this to a 4-year-old girl? Should he be free again ever? That answer is no."
Attorney Jessi Freud, who defended Machina with Waco attorney Alan Bennett, asked the jury to be merciful to Machina, saying a life sentence is not the proper resolution to the case. She said the minimum sentence of 25 years with no parole would be more appropriate.
"We are talking about the number of years he has been on Earth," Freud said. "No one thinks 25 years with no possibility of parole is a slap on the wrist. That is not leniency."
After the trial, Bennett said he, Freud and Machina respect the jury's verdict "but respectfully disagree with the outcome of this case."
Former Oregon coach pleads guilty to
child sex exploitation
TIM EPPERSON The World
MEDFORD — Sean Jeffrey Haga, 32, of Bandon, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of child sexual exploitation, according to a press release from the U. S. Attorney's Office in Portland.
The case relates to a June 17, 2016, incident in which Haga shared child pornography online using Kik Messenger with an undercover FBI task force officer. Haga told the undercover officer that he wanted to travel to have sex with the officer’s minor daughter, and that he possessed photos of himself sexually abusing a minor victim. Haga sent multiple pictures depicting the abuse to the undercover officer.
The FBI worked through the night to identify the person associated with the online user ID, the location from which it was being used and the identity of the resident at that location. Based on the information collected, FBI agents in the Medford Resident Agency were able to obtain search and arrest warrants. Haga was arrested on June 18, 2016, without incident.
Haga was formerly employed as an educational assistant, track coach and basketball coach in the Bandon School District.
He was sentenced in February in Coos County Circuit Court to 300 months (25 years) in prison on a charge of first-degree sodomy for performing sexual acts with a person under 12 years old related to the same incident.
Haga faces a maximum sentence for the federal charges of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a five-year term of supervised release. He is also subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. Haga will be sentenced on July 19 before U.S. District Court Judge Anne L. Aiken.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Amy Potter, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
76 teachers lost their N.J. licenses last year,
almost half for sexual abuse
By Kelly Heyboer kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com,
One was accused of bending back the fingers and rapping the knuckles of uncooperative students. Another allegedly helped kids cheat on state tests. A third robbed a bank.
Last year, New Jersey yanked the teaching licenses of 76 teachers and school officials for a wide variety of misconduct, sexual abuse, crimes and other allegations inside and outside the classroom, according to a NJ Advance Media review of state records.
The educators who lost their credentials ranged from a veteran former principal accused of dragging a 10-year-old through the halls of a Trenton school to a newly-credentialed teacher in Camden County accused of having sex with a member of a high school softball team he was coaching.
The fate of their teaching licenses were all decided in a nondescript Trenton conference room by the Board of Examiners, a state panel made up of a mix of teachers and administrators selected to spend a year deciding which teachers get kicked out of the classroom.
In 2017, the board voted on 104 cases -- including 76 where educators were permanently stripped of their teaching credentials, according to a review of the cases by NJ Advanced Media. In the other 28 cases, the teachers' licenses were suspended. (In cases where the Board of Examiners' written decision did not explain why the teacher lost a license, court documents and news articles were used to provide background for the cases.)
Kentucky man charged with child sex abuse
and child porn possession
By Charles Gazaway
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A man will appear in court this afternoon on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor and multiple charges involving child pornography.
An arrest warrant on 26 charges was served to Jeffrey Wayne James, 35, of Louisville, yesterday at Louisville Metro Corrections.
The warrant, which was generated on April 3, charges James with 15 counts of possession or viewing child porn, 8 counts of promoting a minor under 16 in a sexual performance, one count of sexual abuse of a victim under age 12, one count of tampering with evidence and one count of voyeurism.
The eight counts of promoting a sexual performance by a minor happened between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, according to the indictment. The other 18 charges are alleged to have occurred between January 11, 2011, and February 23, 2017.
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