Outrage After Man Gets 90 Days House Arrest For Sexual Assault Of 5-Year-Old Girl
By David Lohr
Lyle Burgess got a sweetheart of a plea deal, according to an attorney.
A retired California businessman has accepted a controversial plea deal that spares him prison time for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.
Lyle Burgess, 79, of Stockton pleaded no contest to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor on May 23, for which he received 90 days in jail and five years of probation. According to the terms of sentencing, he isn’t required to register as a sex offender and may serve his sentence under house arrest. His home is in an upscale gated community.
It's gated to keep criminals out, not in! Will his meals be brought to him 3 times a day? Will he have internet access so he can molest children online? Is there anything else the California justice system can do to make your stay more comfortable, Mr. Burgess?
“The sentence is absurd,” Kenneth Meleyco, a lawyer for the victim’s family, told HuffPost. “The man pled guilty to statutory rape, which normally involves someone older than a 15-year-old girl. A minor can’t consent, but in this case the district attorney amended the complaint and allowed him to plead guilty to a charge that has no factual basis. He should be in state prison and should have to register as a sex offender so people know who he is.”
If convicted at trial of felony sex with a child under age 10, Burgess could have faced significant prison time. State sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of 25 years to life.
The way it was presented to them was, ‘This is what’s going to happen,’ and they gave the parents no option as to what to do.
Kenneth Meleyco, attorney for the victim’s family
Burgess was arrested on Nov. 23, 2016, and initially charged with four counts of lewd acts upon a child, according to the district attorney’s office. The arrest was made after the child’s mother reported seeing Burgess put his hand down her daughter’s pants.
His attorney, Gregory Davenport, told The Associated Press that his client denies molesting the child and accepted the plea deal because he is in frail health and wants to put the allegations behind him.
“The whole case was based upon some minor touching,” Davenport said.
It may have been minor touching to Burgess, an even to Davenport, but is assure you it was not minor touching to the child. It may well affect her the rest of her life.
In a Friday press release, the district attorney’s office said the allegations would have been difficult to prove in court, adding that the child was not sexually penetrated.
Meleyco disagrees.
“It wasn’t weak,” he said. “The little girl told police what he did. She told the police therapist what he did, and she testified to what he did. The mother also saw one of the [incidents], and when he was confronted with all this, he asked for a lawyer, so we never knew his position on all of this.”
The district attorney’s press release says the plea deal was “agreed upon by all parties, including the parents of the child victim.”
According to Meleyco, the parents were not given a choice.
“The way it was presented to them was, ‘This is what’s going to happen,’ and they gave the parents no option as to what to do,” he said.
The victim’s mother condemned the deal while testifying at the sentencing hearing, saying Burgess was “getting off so easy. I want other kids to be protected by possible future abuse by this man,” she said.
The child’s father said in court, “I don’t have too many prized possessions in this world other than my family. [My daughter] will remember this the rest of her life. She sleeps on the floor outside our room.”
Meleyco is representing the child’s family in a civil suit against Burgess seeking unspecified damages for sexual abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to Sacramento’s Fox 40 News, Burgess is the founder of Rare Parts Inc., a Stockton automotive parts manufacturing and distribution company.
“She’ll get some adequate compensation for this,” Meleyco said of the victim, who is now 7 years old.
Burgess’ attorney said he believes the allegations are motivated by greed. “They are using this instance to try to gain financially,” Davenport told The Record.
Meleyco said Burgess’ status and wealth are what got him off easy.
“He’s white and wealthy,” Meleyco said. “That’s what I think. The district attorney’s office handled it that way, when it’s supposed to be up to the district attorney’s office to ensure justice is done.”
I think there needs to be an investigation, an inquiry into this. This is so far from justice as to be silly. A poor black man, or Hispanic, would spend the rest of their life in prison for what Burgess did.
Ex-Idaho police officer sentenced for child sex abuse
TWIN FALLS, Idaho -
(AP) - A former Twin Falls police officer has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing young girls.
The Times-News reports William Jansen was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty in March to two counts of sexual abuse of a child under 16.
Jansen will serve at least two years in prison for each count, but his sentences will run concurrently.
So, he could possibly be out in 4 years? Less time already served. Wow! That's a real plea bargain!
A teenager had told police last year that Jansen had sexually abused her about a decade ago when she was between the ages of 7 and 9. Allegations also surfaced from two other girls.
Jansen apologized to the victims and their families in court, saying he's "trying to make things right at this point."
A Georgia woman faces child abuse and sexual battery charges
By: Zac Carlisle
LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - A Georgia woman faces child abuse and sexual battery charges in Lee County.
Elizabeth Naomi Taylor, 34, of Eaton, Ga. was arrested on May 29 in Summerville, Ga. by Chattooga County investigators.
In Lee County, she faces nine counts of felony child abuse and two counts of sexual battery. These counts involved more than one child, said the Lee County Sheriff's Department.
Her arrest stems from the continued investigation into Jamey Burrage. He was arrested earlier this spring by Lee County deputies for child molestation.
In late April, Lee County investigators charged him with more child sex crimes.
The Lee County Sheriff's Department says Burrage was the live-in boyfriend of Taylor.
More charges could come forth from other counties in Mississippi.
Lee Co., Miss
Man sentenced in child sex abuse of 9 y/o in Iowa
MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) - An Iowa City man has been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a little girl.
According to the Muscatine County Attorney, 40-year-old Carlos Augusto Ramirez Lopez performed a sex act on the 9-year-old girl in West Liberty, Iowa in September of 2011. A jury convicted him of second degree sexual abuse in March, 2018.
Ramierz Lopez will be required to serve 17.5 years of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Once released, he will be on lifetime supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Too bad he's not rich and white, he might have been sent to his room for a few days.
Sex abuse allegation leads to child pornography charges for former Louisiana man
By Michelle Hunter mhunter@nola.com,
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
A former Terrytown man accused of inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl and taking photos of the encounter in 2012 has been arrested and booked with possession of child pornography in an investigation that stemmed from the complaint, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
Joshua Sullivan, 38, was booked May 15 with eight counts of possession of pornography involving a juvenile, according to Lt. Jason Rivarde, spokesman for the department. Thus far, detectives have found 1,100 explicit images of children, some infants, on computer devices seized for Sullivan's former home in the 600 block of East Niagara Circle in Terrytown, an arrest report said.
Investigators still have 2 terabytes of seized data to review, the equivalent of 620,000 photographs or 1,000 hours of movies. No information was available Thursday (May 31) about why so much time passed between the original complaint, made Oct. 22, 2012, and Sullivan's arrest.
According to the incident report, relatives of a Terrytown girl took her to Ochsner Medical Center West Bank on that date after she revealed that Sullivan, an acquaintance, had done "nasty things" to her during a visit to his residence. She also told investigators he took photos of her, the report said.
Sheriff's Office investigators seized a computer and several other devices from Sullivan's home, according to Rivarde.
It does not appear that authorities searched the devices until April 2018 when Detective Nick Vega was assigned to the case. Forensic examiners analyzed the devices and found thousands of child pornography images, Rivarde said.
Good grief! They sat on it for 5.5 years? Are you serious? Is that justice?
Vega obtained a warrant for Sullivan's arrest on May 1, and discovered he was living in Talladega, Ala. Authorities there took him into custody.
Sullivan waived extradition and was brought back to Jefferson Parish on May 15. He was still being held Thursday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna in lieu of a $200,000 bond.
The case is still under investigation, and Sullivan could face more charges, Rivarde said.
Wyoming man charged with raping a 13 y/o girl
A Paradise Valley man was charged with five sex crimes involving a minor three years ago during his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court on Thursday.
James Sanders, 28, was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault (rape) of a minor, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, and one count of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
If convicted, each count of first-degree sexual assault of a minor is punishable by a minimum of five years to a maximum of 50 years imprisonment; each count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by not more than 20 years in prison; and the count of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by not more than 15 years imprisonment.
Assistant District Attorney Mike Schafer said Sanders also is facing three additional charges of child abuse.
Circuit Court Judge Brian Christensen set Sanders bond at $100,000 cash only because of the potential punishments, the additional charges, and Sanders unemployment.
The case began on April 20, 2015, when a Mills Police officer was dispatched to a residence in Mills for a report of a sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, according to an affidavit filed with Circuit Court
The girl and her sisters were with her at home, and their mother was not at home, the girl told the officer. There was a knock at the front door, one of the sisters opened it, and Sanders entered. The alleged victim and one sister went into the bathroom while the other sister talked with Sanders. After a while, Sanders entered the bathroom, told one sister to leave and "proceeded to 'rape'" the alleged victim. When finished, he told the girl he would kill her if she told anyone, according to the affidavit.
The 13-year-old girl was taken to the Wyoming Medical Center for an exam and collection of biological evidence.
While at the hospital, the girl's mother told the officer she returned home and heard the story. The mother didn't know Sanders well, but believed he had a twin brother, according to the affidavit.
On April 21, 2015, a forensic interview of the alleged victim was conducted at the Children's Advocacy Project. She recounted the incidents that included forcible kissing, intercourse and oral sex, according to the affidavit.
The biological evidence from the alleged victim was sent to he Wyoming State Crime Laboratory for examination. DNA samples also were collected from Sanders and his brother.
Last Friday, a Mills officer received the DNA analysis report from the state crime lab that stated the overwhelming probability that the assaults by Sanders had occurred.
An interview was conducted with the twin brother who said his wife is a long-time family friend with the girls. On April 20, 2015, he was at home when he received a call from one of the sisters, drove to Mills and the alleged victim told him of the assault.
A search of police records indicated Sanders had been involved in two unrelated incidents in Mills that same night -- property damage and a Family Violence Protection Act order violation. During the investigation of those incidents, an officer made contact with Sanders who admitted to being at the girls' residence that night.
The affidavit does not explain the three-year gap between the time the biological evidence was submitted to the State Crime Lab and when its report was received last Friday.
Good grief! Another example of justice delayed! (See story directly above). Child sex abuse needs to be a much higher priority in the American justice system. This is just not good enough. You are contributing to the abuse and making recovery more difficult and less likely.
Man convicted in Maryland child sex abuse
of a girl under 10 y/o
By: Tahja Cropper
SALISBURY, Md. - A Maryland man was convicted for his role in the sexual abuse of a child under the age of ten.
The Wicomico County State's Attorney Office says on Tuesday, a jury convicted 58-year-old Alonzo Briddell on charges of sex abuse of a minor as a family member, sex abuse of a minor as a temporary custodian, sex offense in the second degree, sex offense in the third degree, sex offense in the fourth degree and assault in the second degree. The charges stem form an August 2017 incident.
Wow! Less than a year from the event and he's convicted. That's justice! Well done Maryland! But why was the girl spending the night alone with a 58 y/o man, even if he was related?
At that time, a female victim went to stay at the Salisbury man's residence for the weekend. Authorities say the victim, who was under the age of 10 at the time of the incident, reported that Briddell sexually abused her.
Sentencing has been continued pending a pre-sentence investigation.
Additional charges brought against S. Carolina man in
case of sex abuse against infant
Michael Lemley
CHARLESTON — New charges have been filed against a man accused of involvement in the sexual abuse and filming of an infant girl.
Richard Wilson Smith II, who was originally arrested on charges related to possession of child pornography, has now also been charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree sexual abuse and exploitation and filming of a minor.
Smith was arrested after West Virginia State Police troopers served a search warrant at his home in in Mason County.
Troopers said in the search, they found CDs with a total of five videos depicting Smith and his ex-girlfriend, Roseanna Thompson, 45, of Charleston, molesting an infant girl, according to a complaint.
The two had custody of the child in 2015 in their home in South Charleston, according to the complaint. Troopers said the child is a relative of Thompson. Possibly her granddaughter.
Following the search, Smith was arrested on numerous charges, including eight counts of possession of child pornography.
On Wednesday, Thompson was arrested on charges including first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree sexual assault and incest.
Smith is being held in Western Regional Jail and Thompson is being held in South Central Regional Jail.
69-year-old deacon charged in alleged sex abuse of Alabama children
IRONDALE — A church deacon from McElwain Baptist Church in Birmingham has been charged with several counts of child sex abuse but has not been brought into custody yet, according to Carol Robinson. The investigation of the deacon has been ongoing since November of 2017.
Collin Galletly Jr., 69, faces two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years-old and sex abuse in the second degree. The allegations were made by the legal guardian of two girls from Irondale in November last year, prompting an investigation by the police department.
The girls are ages 9 and 12. Galletly was tutoring them in math and reading when the abuse allegedly happened.
According to the report, Galletly is expected to turn himself in and his bond will be set at $30,000.
Reno man gets life sentence for sexual assault
of several children
By Staff/WCDA
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - A Reno man has been sentenced to life in prison for a child sex case.
48-year-old Richard Kisner was sentenced on one count of Sexual Assault, one count of Lewdness with a Child Under Age 16 and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
He had been indicted on many more counts, but a plea deal was made to guarantee the life sentence, according to the Washoe County District Attorney's Office.
October 4, 2016, RPD patrol officers responded to a report of sexual assault involving several young girls at the Keno Motel. A relative of one of the girls had reported the victims had spent the night with a neighbor, Kisner, who supplied alcohol to the girls and sexually assaulted one of them.
Detectives with the RPD Family Crimes Unit were called to investigate, and determined Kisner had victimized several girls living in the area on multiple occasions. The girls were as young as 11 years old. A search warrant also led to the discovery of child pornography on several of Kisner’s electronic devices.
Kisner pleaded guilty in January 2018. The sentence ensures he serves about 19 years in prison before parole eligibility begins.
Alabama police arrest man on charge of
child sex abuse of 8 y/o
The Associated Press
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — A man has been accused of sexually abusing a child in Alabama.
Tuscaloosa police tell news outlets in a statement that 67-year-old James Don Edwards was arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 years old. Police spokeswoman Lt. Teena Richardson says officers had been told Tuesday about a possible sexual abuse case involving an 8-year-old.
Investigators interviewed both Edwards and the child before determining there was probable cause to arrest him. Edwards was taken into custody shortly after the accusation against him was reported to police.
Edwards was being held in county jail Tuesday night with bond set at $30,000. It is unclear if he has a lawyer.
Longtime NY state priest suspended over
child sex abuse allegation
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - A longtime priest in the Buffalo Diocese has been suspended over an allegation of child sex abuse.
The Rev. Mark Wolski most recently served at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg. He was also a longtime priest at St. John the Evangelist in South Buffalo.
"After receiving an abuse complaint against Rev. Mark J. Wolski, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Wolski on administrative leave as an investigation continues," the diocese said in a statement this morning. "Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint."
Rev. Wolski is the 68th former or current clergy member in the Buffalo Diocese to face credible allegations of sexual misconduct.
In Jan. 2003, then-Bishop Henry Mansell named Rev. Wolski to the Diocese of Buffalo's diocesan review board, which is charged with making decisions about sexual abuse allegations and helping to decide settlement amounts. Rev. Wolski no longer appears to be a member of that board.
The 7 Eyewitness News I-Team has spent months looking into dozens of claims of abuse and uncovered internal diocesan documents that point to a pattern of covering up claims at the very top.
You can read more of I-Team Chief Investigator Charlie Specht's in-depth reporting here.
Texas man gets 42 year prison sentence for
sexual abuse of a child
By Hardy Meredith; Brazos County District Attorney's Office
BRYAN, Tex. (KBTX) - A man convicted of sexually abusing an underage child will spend up to four decades in prison.
Jose Manuel Gonzales III was sentenced to 42 years in prison Wednesday by the 361st District Court in Brazos County.
Records show that in 2012, the victim disclosed that Gonzales sexually abused the victim multiple times in 2007, when the victim was 12 and Gonzales was 19.
The victim kept the abuse a secret for five years before disclosing it to the mother. Once the victim’s mother became aware of Gonzales’s actions, she notified the Bryan Police Department which began an investigation, according to the Brazos County District Attorney's Office.
An investigation which apparently took another 5 years. Arrrrgh!
During the punishment hearing, prosecutors presented evidence that Gonzales has previously been convicted of Aggravated Assault, Assault, Theft, and Criminal Trespass.
Gonzales elected to have District Judge Steve Smith assess his punishment.
Alabama man wanted on child sex abuse charges
By Alex Jones, Digital Content Producer
(WTVM) -
East Alabama authorities are searching for a wanted man this morning and they need your help.
29-year-old Cornelius Bowen is being sought by Tuskegee police.
They say the Macon County man is wanted on child sex abuse charges.
Authorities think Bowen may still be in the Macon County area or in the Brownville community in Tuscaloosa.
Anyone with information on this man’s whereabouts is asked to call Tuskegee police.
They say your tip may lead to a cash reward.
Child molester determined to be sexually violent offender and a risk to upstate NY
By SCOTT DESMIT
BATAVIA — Patrick E. Sewar says that while in prison, he has learned a variety of ways to suppress his sexual urges, specifically the urges that caused him to molest children.
These include methods such as snapping a rubber band on his wrist, smelling something foul or taking a cold shower, techniques typically discussed in sex offender treatment programs.
Sewar, 26, was in Genesee County Court Wednesday morning for a hearing to determine his level as a registered sex offender.
He is scheduled to be released from Wyoming Correctional Facility in July. Sewar, formerly of Knowlesville Road in Shelby, has served nearly four years of a five-year term imposed in both Orleans and Genesee counties for molesting two children under age 11.
First, a little background on Sewar:
When he was 15, he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old child in 2006. He wasn’t convicted until Nov. 4, 2013, in Ridgeway Town Court. The conviction was a misdemeanor, a deal that came given Sewar’s age and the time that had elapsed since the abuse.
Still, Sewar was sentenced to 90 days in jail and was given a Level 2 sex offender status.
Two weeks after his misdemeanor conviction, Sewar was indicted by a Genesee County grand jury and accused of molesting a child under 11 while in Darien in July 2013.
Then, in December, about a week after he was indicted in Genesee, he molested another girl, this time in Shelby.
Both counties now had felony charges against Sewar, then 22, which eventually led to the five-year prison term.
Now, since he is scheduled for release, he must undergo a Sex Offender Registration Act hearing to determine his level. Sewar is already a Level 2.
In court Wednesday, it was revealed the state Board of Examiners suggested that Sewar remain a Level 2 offender. The registry issued levels 1, 2 and 3 to sex offenders, with 3 being the most severe determination.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Zickl, however, disagreed with the state board’s recommendation.
He said Sewar’s history is a “compelling cause for an upward departure.” He said at the time of Sewar’s arrests, his deviant behavior had been “escalating in severity,” showing a lack of control, particularly since he molested a child while under indictment.
Did I mention, sin is progressive?
Sewar, Zickl said, is “a significant risk to re-offend” and asked Judge Charles Zambito to label Sewar a Level 3 offender.
Sewar’s assigned attorney, Michael O’Keefe, disagreed. “We ask that you don’t departure from the recommendation as a Level 2,” O’Keefe said. He said Sewar has made gains in prison through treatment and will abide by all the rules as a Level 2 offender.
Sewar read a letter he wrote, detailing some of what he learned while in sex offender and alcohol treatment in prison. “I overcame my guilt and shame and learned about myself,” he said. “I have learned to take responsibility and move on with my life. I learned about my offense cycle.”
Sewar then mentioned the methods he learned to suppress his urges, such as snapping a rubber band on his wrist. “I can never change my past and the people I hurt and disappointed. I feel sad and hurt because of that,” he said. “I made bad choices in my life. I’m not a bad person.”
He told Zambito he did not want to be judged the rest of his life and that he wanted to get a job.
Zambito cited numerous reasons to label Sewar a Level 3 offender. “I do find he is a sexually violent offender,” Zambito said.
He cited Sewar’s history of assaulting children, his history of drug and alcohol abuse —that one victim was a stranger and that the state board’s examination “did not fully capture the extent off that history.”
“His use of sex as a coping mechanism is very concerning,” Zambito said.
It was not determined where Sewar will be living once he is released from prison.
