Alabama man sentenced to life in prison
for sexual torture charges
“This is the worst child abuse I’ve seen in my career, so since 1987"
By Morgan Young
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Butler County District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer has confirmed a Butler County man was sentenced to life in prison, along with more prison time, just days after the new year for a number of child abuse and sex abuse charges.
Jonathan Paul Smith and his wife, Michelle, were indicted in March 2017 on charges of attempted murder, aggravated child abuse, sexual torture, sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 and domestic violence after two children were found badly beaten in December 2016.
The children, a brother and sister, are related to the Smiths.
Jonathan Smith was set for trial in early December but decided to take a blind plea deal. Tesmer confirmed, on Jan. 3, he was sentenced to two life sentences for two counts of sexual torture, 20 years for each of two counts of sex abuse of a child under the age of 12 (concurrent), 50 years for each of two counts of first degree domestic violence (concurrent) and two separate cases of two counts of aggravated child abuse. Each of the four aggravated child abuse cases carries a 20 year sentence.
Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden said he had never seen a child abuse case to this severity when the initial arrests were made in 2016. Tesmer shared a similar sentiment.
“This is the worst child abuse I’ve seen in my career, so since 1987," Tesmer said. “These victims had to go through a lot. It’s not fun to work on this kind of case, but there is some satisfaction in knowing justice was served.”
Tesmer said she and Nikki McFerrin will also prosecute the upcoming case against Michelle Smith. Tesmer said Michelle Smith pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, and her case is on the June trial docket in Butler County.
Both Jonathan and Michelle Smith are currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail.
Wisconsin man gets 50 years for sex assault of 8 y/o
By Superior Telegram
Godfrey Joseph LaBonte, 27, was found guilty Nov. 7 by a Douglas County jury in connection with the incident that involved an 8-year-old.
Judge Kelly Thimm sentenced LaBonte to 35 years confinement and 15 years extended supervision Wednesday, Jan. 9, according to Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf.
In December 2017, the child victim disclosed the sexual assault to a family member and identified LaBonte as the perpetrator.
“This was not a case where DNA testing was possible,” Fruehauf said in a prepared statement. “One of the key pieces of evidence was a forensic interview conducted with the young child. A child forensic interview is a structured and specialized type of interview conducted by a trained professional, which uses best practices informed by research and science to ensure that any disclosures of abuse made by a child are truthful and reliable.”
Based on the forensic interview and further investigation conducted by the Superior Police Department and Douglas County Department of Health and Human Services, sufficient evidence was gathered and presented to the jury to convince the jurors of the defendant’s guilt.
The case was prosecuted and tried to a jury by District Attorney Mark Fruehauf.
At the sentencing hearing, Fruehauf highlighted the egregious nature of the crime and the defendant’s lengthy record, including 27 prior criminal convictions as justification for the sentence.
70 y/o West Virginia man charged with sex abuse of 8 y/o
Kabrea James The Register-Herald
A 70-year-old man is accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old in Raleigh County.
According to court documents, a forensic interview revealed that Henry Quade of Midway had been sexually abusing the child since she was 8-years-old.
In an interview with Beckley Police, Quade denied the allegations and stated that he did not know why the victim would make such allegations, according to court documents.
Quade was charged with sexual assault in the first degree and sent to Southern Regional Jail. He has since been released on bond.
Idaho man faces charge of sexual abuse of a child
By TOM HOLM of the Tribune A 46-year-old Lewiston man has been accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl.
DeWayne R. Hall is charged with sexual abuse of a child by causing or having sexual contact with a minor younger than 16, and lewd conduct with a child younger than 16. Hall had bond set at $25,000 and has a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 16.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare forwarded a report of alleged sex abuse to the Lewiston Police Department for investigation Dec. 31, according to court records.
The 14-year-old girl told investigators that Hall had twice touched her inappropriately and allegedly groped her bare chest in the summer. She told investigators Hall touched her inappropriately again Dec. 27.
In an interview with police, Hall reportedly admitted to molesting the girl during the Dec. 27 incident. He told police he did not remember the summer incident, but said he may have touched her inappropriately.
Hall was booked into the Nez Perce County Jail on the charges.
Lewd conduct is punishable by up to life in prison. Sexual abuse of a child carries a punishment of up to 25 years in prison.
Idaho woman charged with sex crime
involving teen relative
Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.cominvolving teen relative
MENAN — A Jefferson County woman has been charged with child sexual abuse after she allegedly had sex with a teenage relative.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s office initially got a call from the 17-year-old victim’s mother who says her son was forced to have sex with Atkinson between July and August 2018, according to court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com.
Deputies conducted an interview with the victim who said he was forced to have sex with Atkinson on two separate occasions at his home, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
“He stated he told her he did not want to do anything with her but she threatened to tell his parents about him smoking marijuana if he did not,” investigators say in their report.
When police confronted Atkinson about the allegations, court documents state she admitted to one sexual encounter and “felt shame” afterward.
Atkinson was arraigned in Jefferson County Tuesday and has been released from jail. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 14 before Magistrate Judge Robert L. Crowley.
Jefferson Co., ID
Prostitutes, gambling & drugs: Texas Baptist Pastor who praised Pulse shooter resigns over ‘grievous sins’
An anti-LGBT pastor who wished the Pulse nightclub victims dead has resigned after being caught engaging in some very “un-Christian” behavior – sleeping with prostitutes and taking drugs.
Donnie Romero, founder of the Stedfast Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, told his congregation that he had been doing “un-Christian things” when he announced his resignation last week.
“I have been a terrible husband and father,” he said, fighting back tears.
Another pastor, Steven L. Anderson, stepped in and told the church, “He is disqualified from being a pastor.”
After warning people against badgering Romero for more information, Anderson later told church members the details of the “grievous sins” in a video uploaded to YouTube.
“Basically, the major sin involved was being with prostitutes, and then there were also marijuana and gambling that were also discovered,” he said.
“I committed adultery on my wife, multiple times,” he admitted. “I drank I gambled multiple times, I even smoked weed. I did sins that I committed in the past, and it even caused me to commit sins that I had never done before.”
He apologized for not stepping down “the first time I did it,” and for covering up his actions.
Romero founded the church in 2014, and gained notoriety two years later when he praised mass shooter Omar Mateen for killing 49 people at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando. The pastor told his congregation he hoped the 50 people who were wounded in the attack would also die, adding that he believed all gay people were pedophiles, the New York Times reports.
So, why did he still have a congregation after that? That is not Christianity in any way shape or form.
Meanwhile, Anderson was no less vitriolic in his response to the Pulse attack, saying there were 50 less pedophiles in the world afterwards, and that they should have been executed by the government anyway.
OMG! Is this Fundamentalist Baptist doctrine? It is certainly legalism with no hint of the grace or mercy of Jesus Christ!
Anderson founded Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, which teaches homosexuality is an abomination “which God punishes with the death penalty.” - In the Old Testament! The only death penalty God meted out in the New Testament was for lying to the Holy Spirit.
Homosexuals, like the rest of us, will stand before Jesus Christ on that Great and Terrible Day. The death penalty will be His choice, not ours.
In 2009, he said he prayed for Barack Obama’s death during a sermon. - Seriously? Is there a New Testament chapter and verse to support that? Doesn't it say pray for those who rule over you? I don't think it means pray for their death.
Anderson has also argued that people should return to a lifestyle in which there are no women’s rights. - If men behaved like Jesus Christ instead of like some preachers, I might agree with that. But the fact is that men, even (if not, especially) those from legalistic churches may not treat women with the respect and love they deserve. Women need protection on a personal and corporate scale. Some women abuse those rights, as God said in Genesis - women will seek to rule over their husbands; men will act as tyrants towards them.
Both churches are are considered hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. - Gosh, wonder why? People please understand, this is not New Testament Christianity!
PA party performer pleads "no contest"
in child sexual assault cases
Alex Rose, Daily TimesMEDIA COURTHOUSE — A 43-year-old Colwyn man who dressed as cartoon characters for children’s parties was sentenced to five to 10 years in a state prison Thursday after entering “no contest” pleas involving sexual misconduct with children.
In addition to prison time, Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Cappelli sentenced Cripps to serve 10 years of consecutive state sexual offender probation and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life under Megan’s Law.
Cripps was also ordered to provide a DNA sample to state police and complete a state Sex Offenders Assessment Board evaluation under the negotiated sentence worked out by Deputy District Attorney Michael Galantino and defense counsel Michael Dugan.
“Michael Cripps is a dangerous sexual predator who sought out children and preyed upon them for his own perverse, sexual gratification,” said Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland Thursday. “While we realize no amount of prison time as dictated by the state guidelines, within which we must work, is ever enough in cases such as this, nor will any amount of incarceration undo the harm caused to the victims, Mr. Cripps is subject to lifetime Megan’s Law registration which will ensure he can never get close to a child again.”
DA Copeland has a lot more confidence in the system than I do. Where there is a will, there's a way.
Cripps was arrested Sept. 21, 2017, after authorities followed up on a tip from a Childline referral alleging Cripps sexually abused a minor. Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division detectives interviewed a 5-year-old at the Child Advocacy Center who detailed a series of involuntary sexual contact with Cripps.
Investigators then combed through other instances in which children were under Cripps’ care and identified four other victims.
Jack Whelan, the Delaware County district attorney at the time of Cripps’ arrest, previously told the Daily Times that his primary method of establishing trust in his victims was through relationships with various women.
Whelan said the single mothers would invite Cripps into their homes to stay for a period of time and that he would provide “child care” while they went to work.
“He would establish a relationship with the mother and then sleep in a separate bedroom with the boys,” said Whelan. “A mother, of course, complained about that and thought it was inappropriate behavior.”
Mothers - hint: any man who wants to spend time with other people's children ought to be considered highly suspicious!
One victim said Cripps would “always sleep with a boy in his bed when kids stayed overnight.” The affidavit of probable cause also alleged Cripps “would become angry” with the boys if they resisted sleeping in bed with him. One boy even got into a physical altercation with Cripps over a refused request.
Whelan said the mothers who were dating or involved with Cripps were not aware of his deviant sexual relationship with their children.
Cripps lived in at least 13 different addresses between 1998 and 2012 throughout Delaware County including Darby, East Lansdowne, Lansdowne, Upper Darby and Aldan, and at least two locations in Philadelphia and Avondale.
His five accusers, now in their teens or early adulthood, allege their assaults occurred between 2008 and 2012, when they were between the ages of 7 and 17. One claimed that Cripps would rape him or perform oral sex on him “just about every day” between early 2009 and 2011, from the time the victim was 13 until the age of 16.
Good grief! And he got 5-10 years?
Cripps ran a costumed birthday party enterprise, M.C. Parties, in which he would masquerade as various cartoon characters to entertain children for $65 an hour. Whelan previously said investigators had not linked the business to potential victims, but said Cripps might have used parties or the internet as a way to meet vulnerable women with young boys.
Cripps’ sexual misconduct with children was first suspected in 2013, when he was charged for a string of burglaries in Upper Darby involving thefts from storage lockers. He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of criminal trespass and two counts of receiving stolen property in 2014, for which he was sentenced to three-six years in a state correctional facility.
Whelan said allegations of misconduct with children at that time were thrown out due to insufficient evidence. Cripps was on probation for the burglaries when he started advertising M.C. Parties on fliers and his Facebook page, Whelan said.
Anyone who believes their child was also victimized by Cripps is urged to call the District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division’s Child Abuse Unit at 610-891-4118.
Colwyn, Delaware Co., PA
Upstate NY man arrested for sexual contact
with 7 y/o child
Post-StarPolice arrested a Johnsburg man for allegedly having sexual contact with a child at a residence where he was staying.
Frasier was arraigned at Warrensburg Town Court and is being held in the Warren County Jail.
The case was investigated by Jason Palmer and Edward Affinito of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. The victim has been issued a no-contact order of protection.
Johnsburg, NY
70 y/o Oregon child sex abuser sentenced
A Warrenton handyman was sentenced Wednesday to over six years in prison for sexually abusing three young girls.
No, no, no! Not again. He plea-dealt from 81 years to 6? After sodomizing a girl? That's just insane.
Hagnas was accused of abusing three girls under 14. Two of the girls were abused in 2015. The other accusations, from a girl under 8 at the time, date back to the 1990s.
Hagnas, known as the "candy man" for the treats he would hand out to children, was a community volunteer. He helped at a local Mormon church and cleaned the Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton, where the most recent abuse took place. For work, he managed rental properties and would perform handyman jobs at people's homes.
Hagnas' access to children — largely due to his likability and occupations, and despite a 1986 sex abuse conviction — was a common theme Wednesday.
The victims' families and others said Hagnas tried to groom their children. Some of the tactics included obtaining the cellphone numbers of children and attempting to spend time alone with them.
"Mr. Hagnas, you are a wolf in sheep's clothing," the mother of the victim from the 1990s said. "You manipulated your way into people's lives for the sole purpose of molesting their children."
The first crimes were reported in 2005, but investigators at the time did not find enough evidence, beyond hearsay, to pursue charges. But 10 years later, an unusual encounter would eventually strengthen the case.
When Hagnas visited the family of the two more recent victims, the girls typically would rush to greet him. One time, though, one of the girls darted toward her room, raising the suspicion of her grandmother, Deputy District Attorney Dawn Buzzard said. The girl eventually reported the abuse to her grandmother.
With the additional allegations, investigators conducted more interviews and arrested Hagnas in 2017.
In the two decades since the first incidents, the victim developed a drug addiction as she coped with the trauma, her mother said. She described her daughter's struggle with normal physical contact.
"You make me uncomfortable and scared around guys," the victim wrote in a statement read in court. "I don't want you to hurt anyone else like you've hurt me."
Buzzard said Hagnas has repeatedly denied committing the crimes, claiming that family members may be responsible and that the girls forced themselves on him.
"For once in your life, Mr. Hagnas, tell the truth. These girls deserve it," the mother of the first victim said.
Later in the hearing, Circuit Court Judge Cindee Matyas asked Hagnas if he wished to make a statement.
"Not a word, your honor," Hagnas said.
Matyas said the girls were brave to report the abuse by a family friend. "In my generation, there was a lot of abuse going on, but we weren't sure about what to call it," Matyas said. "We've thought we've evolved and can recognize that special kind of suffering, but I think we've got a long way to go."
The grandmother of one of the children Hagnas allegedly tried to form a relationship with said he probably thought he "pulled the wool over" her eyes.
"I had a long time to not say things because I knew he would be arrested," the grandmother said. "You may be able to fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Many people have been affected for a lifetime because of your cunning ways."
NC man sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison
for sexual assault of toddler
Queen pleaded guilty to the charges in Lincoln County Superior Court on Jan. 9. When he is released from prison, he will receive two and a half years of supervised probation, be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and be subjected to satellite monitoring, the release states.
The victim was between the ages of 1 and 3 years old at the time of the offense and is related to Queen. The offense was reported in September 2018.Queen was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Forrest D. Bridges and was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lydia Hoza.
Det. Kelsey Harrington handled the investigation for the sheriff’s office.
A second person, Ashley Nichole Lattimore, 27, of Maiden is facing the same charges. She is expected to appear in Lincoln County Superior Court today. Lattimore remains in custody under a $250,000 secured bond.
Virginia man, 79, pleads no contest on child sex abuse charges, will serve 4 years
By Alison Graham alison.graham@roanoke.com
FINCASTLE — A Buchanan man pleaded no contest Thursday to charges of aggravated sexual battery, forcible sodomy and sexual penetration of a child under the age of 13.
Gass was arrested May 3 after two girls came home hysterical and told their parents he had sexually assaulted them. The children, both under the age of 13, left home to walk their dog and ride their bikes and encountered Gass both times. He hugged and kissed them both on the cheek and touched one of the girls on the chest and the buttocks over her clothes.
The older girl, who was 12 at the time, said she smelled alcohol on his breath.
When charges related to this incident came to light, the commonwealth’s attorney’s office received calls from two other women who said Gass had a history of this behavior, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Lethia Hammond said.
One woman, who lived with Gass at the time of the assaults, said he abused her from age 6 to 13. He only stopped when she pulled a knife on him and threatened to hurt him if he continued the abuse. These incidents brought a slew of other charges, dating from 1996 to 1999, including animate object sexual penetration and sexual battery.
As part of the plea agreement, 15 charges were dismissed. Gass was convicted on one count of aggravated sexual battery for the May incident. Circuit Judge Joel Branscom sentenced him to five years, which will be suspended after Gass serves one year.
Gass was also convicted of animate object sexual penetration, oral sexual assault on a child under 13 and aggravated sexual battery for crimes he committed in 1996. Branscom sentenced him to 10 years for each charge, which will be suspended after he serves three years and three months.
Gass will have to register as a sex offender and cannot have any unsupervised contact with minors. He was also sentenced for two years of probation and will be required to undergo any sexual offender treatment required by his probation officer.
Hammond said she spoke with the victims and their families and they were satisfied with the plea agreement.
Oklahoma man found guilty of child sexual abuse
By Rachel SnyderA jury reportedly returned two guilty verdicts January 10 against a Sand Springs man for sexual abuse of a child after a three-day trial.
Anthony Miller, 40, was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl, according to a report.
He was found guilty - there's nothing 'alleged' about it.
“I was impressed with how strong the child victim was when she had to face her abuser in court as she testified,” Prosecutor Stephanie Jacoby said in a statement. “Naturally she was frightened but she remained focused to make sure the truth came out and justice prevailed.”
Good for you girl! So proud of you.
Miller will be formally sentenced in front of Judge Doug Drummond January 14.
Plea deal made in Upstate NY case of
child sex abuse of 6 y/o
Investigator admits to lying on stand
By Kenneth C. Crowe II - Times UnionTROY – A Hoosick Falls man sobbed and shook when he pleaded guilty to a sex crime against a child Thursday under a deal reached after a State Police investigator admitted Wednesday during cross-examination in Rensselaer County Court that he had lied while testifying in the trial.
“The revelation that the State Police investigator admitted to testifying falsely during the trial played a large role in the DA deciding to offer a more favorable plea agreement,” Joseph Ahearn, the county assistant conflict defender assigned to represent Downey, said after the plea, which came on the fourth day of the trial.
Ahearn said he wants to see the district attorney’s office and the State Police examine Investigator Thomas Judge’s courtroom appearance. “We should all expect more from the State Police,” Ahearn said.
A spokeswoman for District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly declined to comment on the impact of Judge’s testimony.
Ahearn aggressively questioned Judge Wednesday morning about his May interrogation of Downey and his testimony during the trial. “So, you testified falsely in this courtroom,” Ahearn asked the investigator Wednesday, to which Judge responded, “Yes.”
Ahearn’s questioning led Assistant District Attorney Cheryl McDermott to argue Wednesday that Judge had misspoke while testifying. McDermott said, “It doesn’t rise to perjury.” By Wednesday afternoon, several State Police investigators had come to the second-floor courtroom for Judge’s return to the stand.
County Court Judge Debra Young asked the investigator Wednesday afternoon if he wanted an attorney present to advise him after he was accused of lying during his testimony. Judge declined Young’s suggestion.
Attorney George E. LaMarche III arrived to advise Judge.
“Joe Ahearn is a crafty cross-examiner who can confuse an officer during cross-examination. Do I think the officer lied during cross-examination? Absolutely not,” LaMarche of Dreyer, Boyajian, LaMarche, Safranko of Albany said Wednesday after court concluded for the day.
"Tom was looking forward to clarifying some of the statements he made yesterday and clarifying some of the accusations Joe was making. He was not testifying falsely," LaMarche said Thursday after the trial.
Young met with Ahearn, LaMarche and McDermott about the case Wednesday in her chambers. Young, Ahearn and McDermott met again Thursday before the plea deal was announced. “We have conferenced this matter extensively,” Young said Thursday afternoon before the plea deal was offered on the record by McDermott.
Downey sat slumped over while entering his guilty plea. At times, Downey cried and his body shook. Ahearn had to give him a handful of tissues at one point.
Downey’s guilty plea means the 6-year-old victim will not have to testify. She was scheduled to appear as a prosecution witness.
Downey was indicted for felony predatory sexual assault against a child, felony first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, felony second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
Young ordered Downey be taken to the Rensselaer County Jail. He will be sentenced Feb. 1.
California 6th-grade teacher arrested for
alleged sexual abuse of 2 minors
Through the course of the investigation, authorities determined that Martinez worked as a sixth-grade teacher at Frisbie Middle School in Rialto. Investigators learned that the minors were acquainted with Martinez but were not his students.
According to the sheriff's department's Crimes Against Children Detail, Martinez allegedly assaulted two victims, numerous times, over the course of a few years.
Martinez was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of continuous sexual abuse to a minor. He was booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, and his bail was set at $700,000.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims. If you have any relevant information about this case, you're urged to contact the Specialized Investigation Division, Crimes Against Children Detail, Detective J. Melrose (909) 387-3615. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).
No comments:
Post a Comment