Fort Worth pastor ignored his flock’s safety in sex abuse cases, judge, others say
Terry Kizer, the pastor of Alliance Baptist Church, found the witness stand had turned hot seat in a Tarrant County courtroom.
Kizer was testifying in the sentencing hearing of his church’s former youth pastor, John Cordero, in August. Cordero had pleaded guilty months earlier to having sex with a 16-year-old girl from the congregation.
But it was Kizer’s actions after he learned Cordero was under investigation that caused even State District Judge Scott Wisch to express disbelief.
Kizer had never told his congregation about the allegations against Cordero. And though he removed Cordero as youth pastor, Kizer let Cordero return to the church two months later, before the case was resolved.
“You didn’t take a fraction of the efforts that I would call traditional and appropriate and, in hindsight, not compassionate,” Wisch told Kizer from his bench. “... When there are minors involved and it’s clearly a crime, sometimes you have to quarantine part of the flock until you find out if it’s rabies or something weird and go from there.”
The Star-Telegram sought transcripts of the hearing after being contacted by someone who had attended the church who said Kizer had a history of mishandling sex abuse complaints.
Some former church members contacted by the Star-Telegram say Kizer has shown a pattern of putting the church’s reputation over the safety of his congregation regarding instances of sexual misconduct.
They say Kizer appointed Cordero as youth pastor even though a 17-year-old church member had told the pastor six years earlier that Cordero made inappropriate sexual contact with her. He also withheld information or gave misleading or inaccurate information regarding the latest allegations against Cordero and about two other sex offenders who attended the church, they say.
A police detective said she told Kizer about the Cordero investigation in October 2017 “so that he could take appropriate actions to safeguard other children in his congregation.” But she learned in April 2018 that Cordero was still active in the church and in direct contact with children.
The woman who alleges Cordero sexually assaulted her when she was 17 recently told the Star-Telegram that Kizer just wants to protect himself, his income and his church’s reputation.
“He tells everybody that he loves them, that he’ll be there for them,” she said. “Then he just protects the people that he shouldn’t.”
Kizer disputes how he has been characterized by the former members but admits he has some regrets with how things were handled.
Kizer said he didn’t tell the entire congregation about Cordero based on legal advice. He said he believed he couldn’t legally tell the congregation until after Cordero had gone to trial but would do things differently in the future.
“We had three men incarcerated in one year that were associated with our church,” Kizer said. “I don’t know of anyone, anywhere ever, that has ever dealt with anything like that. I hate that our church is being attacked over it.”
Astonishing! 3 men incarcerated in one year indicates something systemic wrong in the leadership of your church. Why blame those who point that out? Blame yourself and determine why you hired these men in the first place.
The behavior exhibited by Kizer is remarkably similar to a pattern revealed in a Star-Telegram investigation published in December that focused on independent fundamental Baptist churches across the country. Many of those churches, the Star-Telegram found, have a history of covering up sexual abuse allegations and allowing abusers to continue their work.
Alliance Baptist Church once operated as part of the independent fundamental Baptist movement but is now affiliated with the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention, which partners with the Southern Baptist Convention.
There is much more on this story which can be found on the Star-Telegram page.
Judge still deciding whether Christian school founder will stand trial in child sex abuse case
BY ALANA LAFLORE
OLATHE, Kan. -- The founder of Oaklawn Christian School in Johnson County will have to wait to learn his fate.
Dennis Creason is charged with nine counts of taking indecent liberties with children at his Shawnee school. His preliminary hearing spanned three days and concluded Friday afternoon.
The courtroom expected to learn at that time if there was enough evidence for Creason's case to be sent to trial, but the judge is still considering his decision.
The judge said he needs to review court transcripts when it comes to one of the charges. He's going to review the testimony and make a decision on that count on Feb. 19.
But the judge said in court Friday that he does anticipate the case will go to trial. He's waiting on the count in question so Creason can be arraigned for all the charges at the same time.
On Friday, the court heard from social workers and child welfare advocates and watched the video testimony of one of his alleged victims. That girl was in kindergarten and attended Oaklawn Christian School. She told a child welfare advocate from Sunflower House that Creason took her to the school's basement and touched her inappropriately.
Over the three days of testimony, alleged victims said that Creason exposed himself, made them touch him and made them lie on top of him. A social worker testified that an older sister of one of the alleged victims told her that she'd seen Creason take girls to the school's basement.
"She described in detail her belief of why nothing had happened to her in terms of, that it only happens to shy girls and that she is not shy," said Katie Olivas, a social worker with the Kansas Department of Children and Families. "As well as that it happens to younger girls that she estimated to be about seven or younger, which she of course is older then seven."
Judge Sutherland lowered Creason's bond from $500,000 to $100,000 at his attorney's request. His attorney says $70,000 will be paid to the court in cash, and the rest will be paid through a bail bondsman.
If Creason makes bond, he will have to wear a GPS ankle monitor. He will be confined to house arrest, unless he is meeting with his attorney. He will only be able to use a computer or the internet at his attorney's office.
Creason will not be allowed to have contact with anyone under 18 years old, except for his own daughter. The judge ordered that his wife must be present when he is around his daughter.
Pennsylvania man arrested on more than 850 charges
of sexually abusing a child
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Pennysylvania man was arrested on more than 850 charges of sexually abusing a child, WCTV reports.
Garrick Landon Bloom, 46, of Pennsylvania, was caught by U.S. Marshals in Tallahassee, Florida, on Thursday.
He is charged with 216 counts of rape of a child, 216 counts of deviate sexual intercourse with a child, 216 counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child, 216 counts of statutory sexual assault and a single count of endangering the welfare of a child.
Officials believe the victim was a 5-year-old boy that Bloom may have “groomed” for several years.
Bloom was wanted on warrants signed on Jan. 16 out of Shippenville, Pennsylvania.
U.S Marshals tracked him to Tallahassee after receiving a tip, WCTV reports. The suspect had been staying at a homeless shelter for two days before he was found.
From WFTV9:
Pennsylvania law states that 648 of the charges against Bloom are first-degree felonies, for which he faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. He faces up to 10 years for each count of statutory sexual assault and up to seven years for endangering the welfare of a child.
Bloom faces more than 15,000 years in prison if convicted.
Jury convicts Upstate NY man of child sex abuse;
facing 7-year prison sentence
By MATT LEADER
MATT@LIVINGSTONNEWS.COM
A Dansville man who served as a foster parent and coached Little League in Dansville was convicted of child sex abuse charges Thursday after a four-day jury trial in Livingston County Court.
Kenneth Mountzouros, 60, was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse, a class D felony, second-degree sex abuse, a class A misdemeanor, and two counts of forcible touching, also an A misdemeanor. He faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.
The charges stem from instances of sexual abuse Mountzouros committed in 2012 and 2013 in the village of Dansville, according to the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office.
Mountzouros was arrested by Dansville police in Jan. 2018. At the time, Dansville Police Chief Charlie Perkins said Mountzouros’ charges were the result of a joint investigation with the Livingston County Department of Social Services
The charges against Mountzouros after his January arrest were all misdemeanors. In June, a Livingston County Grand Jury indicted him on the felony level first-degree sexual abuse charge.
Sexual abuse is a type of sex crime that involves subjecting another person to sexual contact without that person’s consent. The charge does not require penetration.
Since news of his arrest first came to light, Mountzouros has proclaimed his innocence in emails with the County News, through his lawyer and in online fundraisers he started to help pay legal fees.
In one fundraising campaign through FundedJustice.com, Moutzouros claimed he was a victim of “parental alienation” at the hands of his ex-wife and mother of his children.
Mountzouros wrote that, after an “ugly divorce,” his ex-wife accused him of molesting two of their children.
Neither of Mountzouros’ fundraising campaigns raised any money.
Mountzouros coached Dansville Little League as recently as 2010, according to articles previously published by the Livingston County News. In the past he’s also been involved in Dansville Rotary Club’s Sunshine Softball game for children with intellectual disabilities, serving as a coach in 2016 and 2017, according to old County News articles.
In a statement Friday, Assistant District Attorney Justin Hill, who prosecuted the case against Mountzouros, described the 60-year-old as “a dangerous predator who preyed upon his victim and took away his childhood.”
“This conviction was made possible by the courage and bravery of the victim in coming forward and facing this predator,” Hill continued. “There is no greater crime than sexually abusing a child. This verdict sends a strong message to this community that this disgusting conduct will not be tolerated. Justice has been served.”
After the verdict, Mountzouros was taken into custody and is being held without bail. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2.
Idaho pedophile shot dead by Flagstaff officer
had been released from prison in December
Mike Cruz, Arizona Republic
An Idaho man who was fatally shot by a Flagstaff police officer last Sunday was convicted in 2005 of sexually abusing a child and had been released from an Idaho prison in December, according to Coconino County sheriff's officials.
An autopsy conducted Monday by the county medical examiner determined that Henry Harold Russell, of Boise, was struck twice by gunfire, once each in the right leg and the back as he was falling to the ground, according to a Coconino County sheriff's news release.
Flagstaff police officers shot and killed Russell, 47, after he threatened them with two knives, the Flagstaff Police Department said.
Police say two officers were leaving a mental-health facility at 2187 N. Vickey St. around 9:27 a.m. when Russell approached them with two knives. He raised the knives toward one of the officers, later identified as Tyler Romney, in a threatening manner, the release stated.
Romney backed away from Russell and told him to drop the knives. Russell then charged Romney with a knife in each hand, prompting the officer to shoot his service weapon, Flagstaff police said.
Russell later died at Flagstaff Medical Center.
Russell served time in an Idaho prison
During the investigation, authorities learned Russell was convicted in Idaho in 2005 of sexual abuse of a child under 16 years old and served time in prison multiple times, the release states. The conviction required Russell to register as a sex offender with local law enforcement, which he had not done.
Russell was released from the Idaho Department of Corrections on Dec. 3. Sheriff's officials say he also did not request permission to leave the state, according to Idaho Department of Corrections Parole, which is a violation of his parole conditions.
Russell was not a Guidance Center patient, detectives confirmed, and they do not know why he was there Feb. 3. He had stayed at a Flagstaff shelter on Jan. 28, but it's not known how long he had been in the area.
Officials also found that Russell was admitted to Flagstaff Medical Center as suicidal and for an overdose in January.
Sheriff's officials said Russell did not have any known family or connections in the Flagstaff area.
Romney, a 3½-year veteran of the department, is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Florida correctional officer arrested for
sexual battery on child
By: WFTS Digital Staff
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A Coleman Correctional Officer was arrested Wednesday after allegedly sexually battering a juvenile victim.
Kenneth Slanker, 41, worked at the Coleman Correctional Complex in Sumter County.
The victim disclosed years of sexual abuse by Slanker, dating as far back as to when she was 10 years old.
During his interview with detectives, Slanker confessed to about 25 instances where he sexually abused the victim. He admitted the first instance was when the victim was about nine years old, and it went on for several years, with the most recent time being just a few months ago.
"Kenneth Slanker is a textbook example of a sexual predator. He betrayed, manipulated, and victimized this innocent child," said Sheriff Prendergast. "We will work diligently with the State Attorney's Office to build a concrete case against Slanker and obtain justice for our victim. If you are the victim of a sex offense, we are here to help you. You are not alone and do not have to suffer in silence."
According to the Sheriff's Office, Slanker used grooming and intimidation techniques to target the girl. He was arrested and charged with sexual battery on a victim under 12, lewd and lascivious battery and lewd and lascivious molestation.
The investigation is ongoing and the offenses happened in multiple counties. Detectives believe there may be more victims.
If you have any information pertaining to this investigation, or if you or someone you know is a victim, please contact Sgt. Conley at (352) 249-2718 or via email at sconley@sheriffcitrus.org.
Former Montana athletic trainer accused in massive sex abuse case to admit to federal coercion charges
MTN News
BILLINGS – A former Miles City High School athletic trainer accused of sexually abusing at least 32 teenage boys (10th story on link) intends to plead guilty to federal charges.
An attorney for James Jensen filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Billings Thursday.
The federal charges against Jensen were handed down in December 2018, accusing the former trainer of enticing minors to engage in sexual activity over the internet.
U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said Jensen used means of interstate commerce, including the Internet, to “entice and coerce an individual who he believed was a minor to engage in sexual activity.”
In October, authorities discovered child pornography when they were investigating accusations from 31 former Miles City student-athletes who said Jensen had touched them inappropriately from the 1970s to the 1990s as a trainer. Another former student later joined the suit.
The former students made their allegations in a civil suit. Jensen has not been charged with any state crimes in relation to those allegations.
Victims’ attorneys have said the total number of victims could be much higher.
Upon hearing the news that Jensen intends plead guilty to the federal charges, attorneys for the victims found some assurance in the action.
“One thing that we could not promise our clients when they approached us was that we could put Jensen in jail for what he did to them. It is a testament to our clients’ courage and decision to speak up, and their civil action was able to shed light on other crimes that Jensen is now being criminally punished for,” said Attorney Bryant Martin.
Martin also said that with Jensen off the streets, his client and children in the community are safer.
A second victims’ attorney, Dan Rice, said the guilty plea is a step in the right direction. “I am glad to see that not only is ‘Doc’ Jensen being held accountable for his crimes against children, but also that he has decided to take responsibility and accountability for what he has done,” said Rice.
A hearing has been set for Tuesday by U.S. Judge Timothy Cavan, which will take place at the federal courthouse in Billings.
Federal charges carry a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years’ supervised release.
Two Texas men - one a doctor, convicted
for child sex abuse crimes
By LouAnna Campbell, lcampbell@tylerpaper.com
Two men including an El Paso doctor have been convicted and sentenced this week in two separate cases involving child sexual abuse.
Christopher Matthew Luna, 28, of Troup pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually assaulting a child. He was convicted Thursday and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
During the trial, the victim, a family friend, testified to multiple offenses that took place over a two-week period in 2018 when the victim was 14-years-old, according to a new release from the Smith County District Attorney's Office.
Luna faced up to 20 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole once he has served half of his 17 year sentence. Luna will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In a separate case, an El Paso doctor pleaded not guilty, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for indecency with a child stemming for a 2016 incident in which he solicited a child on-line.
Jonathan Landon Krause, 38 met the then 15 year old victim online in September 2017, according to the DA's office.
The DA's office said Krause groomed the girl through continued electronic communication and drove to Smith County from El Paso on Dec. 6, 2017 to meet the victim who had just turned 16.
The parents of the child found out about the relationship and reported it to the Lindale Police Department who investigated the case, according to the DA's office.
Krause was arrested April 26, 2018, according to jail records.
The DA's office said the arrest came after investigators conducted a forensic download of the victim’s phone and an interview of her at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County.
Krause was charged with online solicitation of a minor, a third-degree felony, and indecency with a child, a second-degree felony. The two charges were tried together, according to the DA's office.
The DA's office said the jury found Krause guilty of indecency with a child and not guilty of online solicitation.
What?
Krause will be eligible for parole when he serves half of his 15 year sentence and he will have to register as a sex offender.
And his medical licence? What happens to that?
Wisconsin man faces over 40 felonies
for child porn, sexual assault
By Forum News Service
ELLSWORTH, Wis. — A Wisconsin man accused of possession of child pornography and sexual assault is facing an additional 38 felony possession of child pornography charges, with the “lifetime supervision of serious sex offenders” modifier, after an arraignment hearing Feb. 7 in Pierce County Circuit Court.
Eric L. Kurrelmeyer, 31, of Maiden Rock, initially was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of child pornography possession and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, among others, which stemmed from the FBI contacting a Pierce County sheriff’s investigator Dec. 28, 2018, about an active child porn situation at a town of El Paso home, according to a criminal complaint.
A woman came forward to authorities after news of Kurrelmeyer’s alleged child porn and child sexual assault activity to accuse him of sexually assaulted her when she was 3. That led to one count of repeated sexual assault of a child.
An amended criminal complaint reveals the latest development of 38 counts of possession of child pornography came after investigators received images Jan. 21 from a Dropbox account linked to Kurrelmeyer’s email address.
Some of the corresponding images identified as child ponography were images Kurrelmeyer allegedly sent to an undercover FBI agent, which led to his arrest.
Kurrelmeyer denied the allegations, according to the complaint, and told authorities his phone had been hacked.
During a search of the home, officers found clothing and linens matching those depicted in some of the images, the complaint states, and a family member confirmed Kurrelmeyer’s clothing and other features in images to police.
Court records show Kurrelmeyer made his first court appearance Thursday, Jan. 3, in Pierce County Circuit Court, where he was ordered to post $50,000 cash bond. He posted bond Friday, Jan. 4.
The second report came in Jan. 7 and the DA’s office filed the new charge Jan. 11; an arrest warrant was issued the same day. Kurrelmeyer was arrested Jan. 12 at his home in Maiden Rock on two warrants for failure to appear.
At the Feb. 7 hearing, his cash bond was amended to $100,000, according to court records. He remains in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.
Omaha Public School principal arrested, accused of failing to report teacher's suspected child sexual abuse
By Emily Nitcher, Joe Dejka and Rick Ruggles / World-Herald
The principal of an Omaha Public Schools elementary school was arrested Friday, accused of failing to report suspicious behavior by a teacher, authorities said.
That teacher was arrested and charged in December. He is accused of sexually assaulting six students.
Eric Nelson, 48, was arrested and booked into the Douglas County jail on Friday on suspicion of felony child abuse and neglect, police said.
Nelson is the principal of Fontenelle Elementary School, 3905 N. 52nd St.
Nelson was placed on leave in December, a week after the arrest of former first-grade teacher Gregory Sedlacek (2nd story on link).
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Friday that teachers had informed Nelson of troubling behavior by Sedlacek, but Nelson failed to report it.
“His charge stems from his not reporting,” Kleine said Friday afternoon. Another person ended up reporting Sedlacek to authorities, Kleine said.
Kleine said officials are required to inform authorities in such cases, especially when the alleged perpetrator still has access to children. “I don’t understand what his thought process was,” Kleine said of Nelson.
Kleine said school officials must report suspicious behavior immediately “and let the experts handle it” from there.
Sedlacek, 30, has been charged with six counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of third-degree sexual assault of a child.
If convicted on all counts, Sedlacek could face at least 120 years in prison. He was fired from OPS in December.
In 2011, OPS officials were criticized for their handling of suspected abuse at Nathan Hale Middle School. In that case, they were criticized for conducting their own investigation rather than contacting police to look into alleged sexual abuse of students by a teacher.
OPS officials did not report the student allegations against Nathan Hale teacher Shad M. Knutson, despite a state law that requires notification of suspected abuse.
OPS officials at the time said the multiple complaints against Knutson weren’t reported because district officials could not prove the allegations.
What are you, the District Attorney? It's not you job to prove; it's your job to report allegations.
Eventually a parent notified the state’s child welfare division about the alleged abuse, which led to an Omaha police investigation and Knutson’s conviction.
Kleine, at the time, said he considered charging OPS officials with failure to report, but he ultimately decided against it.
After Sedlacek's arrest, OPS required all staff to undergo mandatory training on reporting child abuse. All school-based staff took the training Jan. 4. Other district staff were trained in December.
The training included watching a video. It instructed teachers who suspect child abuse to report it directly to child protective services and then to inform the principal, who is to notify law enforcement.
An OPS spokeswoman said Friday that Nelson remains on leave. An email was sent to Fontenelle parents on Friday evening telling them about Nelson's arrest.
Nelson has been with the district since 1997. He has been a teacher and a principal. He has been the principal of Fontenelle since August 2011. He receives $108,000 in annual compensation.
After Nelson was put on leave, teachers and parents started an online petition called "Keep Eric Nelson at Fontenelle Elementary!" As of Friday evening, the petition had 481 supporters.
Why? What is wrong with your heads? Why don't you want a principal who actually protects your children rather than putting them at risk?
Comments left more than a month ago describe a dedicated principal who helped students and teachers flourish. "He is a true leader and his guidance and knowledge is needed at our school," one comment said.
Good grief!
PRISON SENTENCE FOR SEX ABUSE OF CHILD IN MINNESOTA
Posted By: Mike Bunge, KIMT3
ALBERT LEA, Minn. – Sexual contact with a child in Freeborn County is sending a man to prison.
Joel Callejas Cantor, 25 of Red Springs, North Carolina, was sentenced Friday to nine years behind bars, with credit for 203 days already served, followed by 10 years of conditional release.
Cantor was arrested in July 2018 and charged with 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. Authorities say Cantor had sexual contact with a female under the age of 10 in Albert Lea. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct in September 2018.
MASON CITY MAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE WITH 8 Y/O
Posted By: Mike Bunge, KIMT3
MASON CITY, Iowa – It’s at least 17 years behind bars for a North Iowa man who admitted to sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl.
Russell Neil Leverne, 61 of Mason City, was arrested in August 2018 and eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of 2nd degree sex abuse. Authorities say he committed sex acts with his victim in June and July of 2018.
Leverne has been sentenced to 25 years in prison on each count, to be served concurrently, and must also serve a minimum of 17 and ½ years before being eligible for parole. Leverne will also have to register as a sex offender.
22-year-old Texas man linked to 9 victims
in child sexual abuse case
Police are also concerned there might be more victims.
Author: WFAA Staff
A 22-year-old Plano man arrested on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child has been linked to nine victims, police said on Friday.
Dontarious Scott had been initially arrested on Jan. 9 on charges of criminal trespassing. Police continued their investigation and later obtained arrest warrants for the sexual abuse charge and also for a charge of online solicitation of a minor.
Police announced Scott's arrest on Thursday but did not provide more details about the case.
On Friday, police Sgt. Jon Felty told WFAA that investigators "have nine confirmed victims and are concerned there may be more."
Felty said Scott was active on social media, in particular on Snapchat.
Anyone who feels they might have been a victim of sexual abuse involving Scott is asked to contact police investigator Carolyn Crawford at 972-633-6778, police said.
No comments:
Post a Comment