Sex allegations lead to child bride investigation
at Philly mosque
By Chad Pradelli
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police are now investigating whether child weddings are being conducted at a Philadelphia mosque after a sexual assault victim comes forward to Action News.
In a Facebook video posted two weeks ago, one of the alleged victims describes her ordeal. She's 17 now but says she first became a child bride at 14.
"At the time I was a virgin. It was going to be my first marriage of course," said the teen.
She says it didn't last. And in 2016, she says she was married off to Rajmann Sanders, a man more than twice her age who then allegedly began sexually assaulting her and her 10-year-old sister.
"The 10-year-old was not handled correctly and everything was swept under the rug. Not only was it wrong, it was wrong to me because at the time I was still his wife," she said.
Sanders is charged with more than a dozen sexual offenses against the girls, including rape, indecent assault, and forcible compulsion. The criminal complaint reveals Sanders threatened to shoot the older victim during one sexual assault.
Police are now investigating whether child weddings are being conducted at the Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo mosque on the 4800 block of Paschall.
One of the victims says her unofficial marriage took place there.
Last Friday, police conducted search warrants at the mosque and the home of a mosque leader.
The alleged victim says she's coming forward to warn others.
"This is not healthy for me or my kids. No one should want their kids around this, especially with the pedophilia, that should be enough to say no I don't want my kids around this," she said.
The victims are now in the protective custody of the Department Human Services. Sanders remains behind bars. Attempts to reach his public defender have been unsuccessful. The investigation is ongoing.
Rhode Islands teachers’ unions oppose bill to make sex with students a crime
FILE PHOTO © Pixabay / jerrykimbrell
Representatives from the Rhode Island chapters of the United Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association registered their objection to a bill that would make sex between school employees and students a crime, closing a loophole that fails to protect students over the age of 16, who are legally old enough to consent, but still under the care of school employees.
UFT representative James Parisi actually testified against the measure during the hearing, complaining that the proposed law unfairly singles out school employees and expressing concern that other random adults – such as store managers and legislators – aren’t included, GoodSchoolHunting reported.
Is he really saying that it's not fair that other people can have sex with people they are responsible for but teachers can't?
Parisi also claimed that teachers getting busy with students “isn’t really a problem” in Rhode Island, adding that teachers caught in flagrante (??) were punished enough with the loss of their job and state teaching license.
However, Rhode Island received a near-failing grade in a USA Today investigation of states’ background check practices, thanks to poor mandatory reporting laws and weak rules regarding sharing information on teacher misconduct with other states – meaning a teacher booted from their position for having sex with a student could simply cross state lines and start teaching again with a clean slate, depending on that state’s own background check procedures.
Rhode Island is one of the few US states that have no “in loco parentis” exceptions to their statutory rape laws that protect minors above the age of consent from abuse by adults in positions of power over them – whether they’re teachers, scout leaders, clergy, or other authority figures.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, a fifth-grade teacher and softball coach at an elementary school in Warwick, Rhode Island was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography.
Warwick teacher, coach charged with
possession of child pornography
By Brian Amaral possession of child pornography
Journal Staff Writer
WARWICK, R.I. — A fifth-grade teacher and high-school softball coach was charged Tuesday with possession of child pornography, according to the Rhode Island State Police.
He is a teacher at Hoxsie Elementary School in Warwick, according to the school’s website and the state police. State police said he is also an assistant softball coach at Pilgrim High School, and an umpire for local sports. He has taught at Hoxsie for 21 years, according to the state police.
Conti has been suspended pending an investigation, and he “has no contact with students in the Warwick School Department,” said Philip Thornton, the superintendent of Warwick Public Schools.
“There will be employee and student assistance for anyone who may need support” on Wednesday at Hoxsie, Thornton said in a news release.
A judge set bail at $2,500 with surety, which means someone can post the full amount in cash or 10 percent in property. A bond was posted Tuesday, court records show.
According to the state police, members of the the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force launched an investigation into allegations that a person was using the internet connection at 61 Norfolk Rd. to access child pornography.
Task force members executed a search warrant there Tuesday, and identified Conti as the “alleged owner of digital media used to possess the child pornography,” the state police said.
He was also ordered not to have contact with children younger than 18, and to limit his internet use, according to court records.
The Pilgrim softball team, which has high hopes for this season, didn’t seem too fazed by Conti’s absence Tuesday afternoon. “Let’s go” said the team’s energetic head coach, Paul Kennedy, after he announced the batting order during the first inning.
Idaho Sheriff facing charges of child rape & sexual abuse
BENITO BAEZATWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX)-Online jail records show the sheriff of Lincoln County has been booked into the Blaine County Detention on three charges, including rape.
The Blaine County Sheriff's Office website shows Rene Rodriguez, 40, was booked into the Blaine county Detention Center on charges of rape, lewd conduct with a minor child and sexual abuse of a child under 16. The arresting agency listed is Idaho State Police, Rodriquez was booked on Friday afternoon.In February Lincoln County officials confirmed to KMVT news that the sheriff was placed on paid administrative leave and a substitute sheriff was appointed, but would not say much more. At the time the TV station reached out to the county prosecutor and the Idaho Office of Attorney General who were not able to comment on their inquiry.
Rodriquez served as the police chief of Shoshone before being elected in 2016 as Lincoln County Sheriff. More information will posted as it becomes available.
Lincoln Co., ID
TSA AGENT ARRESTED AT DENVER AIRPORT ON
CHARGES OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 3 GIRLS
by TINA MOADCHARGES OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 3 GIRLS
DENVER, CO — A Transportation Security Administration agent has been arrested at Denver International Airport on charges of sexual assault on a child.
No listed phone number could be found for Barnett. Online jail records didn’t indicate whether he has a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
The TSA fired Barnett after his arrest.
CBS4
Barnett, 33, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault on a child, three counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, two counts of sexual assault on a child as a pattern of abuse and four counts of committing an aggravated sex offense, which is a sentence enhancer.
Thornton police arrested Barnett at DIA on Friday where he works as a TSA agent. Investigators say the alleged assaults did not happen at the airport.
Long Island correction officer arrested on gun,
sex abuse charges
sex abuse charges
SOUTHAMPTON, Long Island (WABC) -- A correction officer in Suffolk County was arrested Friday and is facing a string of disturbing charges.
At the time of his arrest, Southampton Town Police found three illegal handguns in Weis' home, along with 32 rifles and 50,000 rounds of ammunition and a stolen bulletproof vest.
He is facing charges of sexual contact against a child, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property and official misconduct.
"This is an individual who routinely abused his position of power, in both his official capacity as a correction officer and as an adult who was an authority figure for children," District Attorney Timothy Sini said. "He violated the trust placed in him by those close to him, both professionally and personally. At this time, we are investigating other possible instances of abuse by this defendant and believe there could be more victims."
Although some victims may be beyond the statute of limitations to prosecute, authorities are asking that any additional victims come forward.
"There are still parts of this investigation that need to be examined, such as his motive in stockpiling a large amount of armament, but most concerning to us is the possibility of other victims," Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said. "Because of his history, including other allegations of sexual abuse, and the fact that he had access to so many vulnerable people, it certainly gives rise to concern that this victim might not be his only victim."
Weis worked as a correction officer in Suffolk County since 1995. He is the adoptive parent of five males and has been a foster parent for approximately 15 years.
He was arrested in South Carolina in 2016 for allegedly sexually abusing a minor. Those charges are currently pending.
He is being held on $3 million bond.
Anyone who was victimized or has information regarding any alleged abuse is asked to call the Southampton Town Police Department's Detective Division at 631-702-2230.
Former Texas GOP County leader arrested
for aggravated sexual assault of a child
for aggravated sexual assault of a child
Author: Britny Eubank
HAYS COUNTY, Texas — A former Hays County Republican Party leader has been arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Bo Michael Dresner, 40, was arrested by a Hays County Sheriff's Office deputy on Wednesday on a warrant for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
According to the San Marcos Record, Dresner is a precinct chair and former sergeant-at-arms for the Hays County Republican Party.
According to an affidavit obtained by KVUE from the Hays County District Clerk, a Hays County Sheriff's Office detective called for the warrant because they believed Dresner did "intentionally or knowingly" touch the genitals of a victim who was younger than 14 years old at the time of the offense.
According to the affidavit, on March 26, the detective was put on a case after a sergeant received a referral that indicated the victim had contacted a family member who lives outside of Texas and told them Dresner "is doing it again and is using drugs and manipulation to do it." The family member felt that "doing it again" referred to sexual abuse since there were previous reports involving that same victim dating back to 2012.
According to the affidavit, the victim said Dresner gave her a Melatonin pill, as well as an unidentified medicine to "help her sleep." She said they slept alone together on a bed and she woke up to find all her clothes removed and Dresner touching her inappropriately. She said she couldn't move or speak due to the amount of sedatives she had been given. She is uncertain what made him eventually stop.
She also said she went with Dresner to a town near Corpus Christi with "King" in the name, where they stayed in a motel and shared a bed. While she was laying down, she said Dresner touched her inappropriately. She got up, went to the restroom and locked the door, but eventually came back out and was able to go to bed.
Dresner is being held in the Hays County Jail. His bond has been set at $250,000.
Hays Co., TX
Pennsylvania man arrested on child sex abuse charges
By: Emma Catalano
ALEXANDRIA, HUNTINGDON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) -- A Huntingdon County man is facing child sex abuse charges.
Alexander Park, 29, was arrested today after police searched an Alexandria Borough home and found child pornography.
Park is facing 30 Felony charges of Sexual Abuse of Children.
A judge set his bail for $500,000.
Huntingdon Co., PA
Florida man admits to distributing child sex abuse photos
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 51-year-old Jacksonville man who pleaded guilty to distributing images of child sexual abuse over the internet will spend at least five years in prison.
Marc Lionel Lewis admitted to the federal charge and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, and up to 20 years in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release.
He must also register as a sex offender.
A sentencing date has not been set.
According to court documents, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation to identify individuals who were using a particular file-sharing network to access and distribute child pornography over the internet.
Agents confirmed that a host computer located in Jacksonville was offering files depicting child pornography for sharing over the internet and were able to download images of young children being sexually abused from this host computer.
Further investigation revealed that these files were being shared over the internet by Lewis at his Jacksonville residence.
On July 17, 2017, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant at Lewis’ residence and seized several computer devices. Forensic analysis of the computer media revealed approximately 37 images of child pornography and 142 images of child erotica.
Lewis had attempted to delete these files using anti-forensic software, but the contraband images, as well as evidence of the file-sharing program, remained and were recovered.
By accessing and downloading child pornography through the file-sharing program, Lewis knowingly made it available for sharing and distribution to other users over the internet.
Kansas man sentenced to 10 years in sex abuse case
The Garden City Telegram
By Brett Riggs
A Garden City man who was convicted in February on two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child has been sentenced to 10 years and two months in prison.
Edgar Hugh Eakin, 68, appeared Friday in Finney County District Court, where District Court Judge Michael Quint ruled that Eakin will serve consecutive, 61-month prison terms, the sentence that had been recommended by Deputy Finney County Attorney William Votypka. Eakin was given credit for 41 days served in jail.
Eakin also will have to register as a sex offender and be under post-release supervision for the rest of his life.
As part of a plea agreement, Eakin pleaded no contest on Feb. 11 to amended charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. By pleading no contest, he neither admitted to nor disputed the charges, but it had the same effect as a guilty plea and Quint subsequently convicted him.
The case stems from the sexual abuse of two girls. Before pleading no contest to the indecent liberties charges, Eakin also was facing four counts of rape with a victim younger than 14 and one count of attempted rape, but those charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Neither of the victims chose to make victim impact statements in court on Friday. When asked by Quint if he wanted to make a statement, Eakin said no.
In August 2018, the Kansas Court of Appeals reversed a ruling by Quint to suppress statements Eakin made to Garden City police on Oct. 11, 2016, and remanded the case back to Finney County for a hearing to determine whether statements Eakin made to police were voluntary.
In Quint’s ruling, he said police’s Oct. 11, 2016, interview with Eakin was “custodial,” and that Eakin was never read his Miranda rights before the interview. Quint also established that police continued to question Eakin after he asked for an attorney.
In a December 2018 hearing on whether Eakin’s statements to police were voluntary and therefore admissible, Quint ruled they were and set a Feb. 11 court date for the case, at which time Eakin entered his plea and was convicted.
18-y/o Pennsylvania woman faces additional
charges for child sex abuse
charges for child sex abuse
By PAMELA LEHMAN
| THE MORNING CALL |
An 18-year-old Easton woman who is already facing federal charges that she sexually abused two children and shared the videos has been charged with similar crimes in Northampton County.
Alize Mercedes Ramos-Colon is charged locally with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a child under age 13, corruption of minors and sexual intercourse with an animal.
Last month, federal authorities also charged Ramos-Colon of the 500 block of Line Street with producing child pornography, distributing child pornography and receiving child pornography.
State police say the crimes occurred on Oct. 24.
According to court records:
Authorities received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about the potential abuse of a child.
On Dec. 3, police say they traced pornographic images to a home where Ramos-Colon was living. After analyzing the images, police say they served a search warrant at the home on Feb. 22.
As investigators were at the home, they analyzed Ramos-Colon’s cellphone and found pornographic images involving two young children. Police say she also had a photo showing sexual activity with her dog.
Ramos-Colon remains in Lehigh County Jail, according to federal court records.
Illinois man pleads guilty to repeatedly raping girl,
faces up to 10 years in prison in sweetheart plea deal
TONY REID tony.reid@lee.net
DECATUR — Antwain J. Ward is facing the prospect of spending up to the next 10 years of his life in prison for the repeated rape and sexual assault of a Decatur girl younger than 13.
Ward, 35, appeared in Macon County Circuit Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony.
That's unconscionable! Kurtz, and her boss should be fired for agreeing to that! Good grief!
A sworn affidavit filed with the case from Decatur police officer Martin St. Pierre had described a pattern of repeated rapes and assaults dating back to when the child was in first grade and continuing for several years. The offenses came to light in 2017 when the girl’s mother learned of them and took the child to Decatur Memorial Hospital for a physical examination.
A police investigation later backed up the child’s story of assaults with a forensic examination of her underwear.
In addition to whatever prison sentence he receives, Ward was told by Griffith that he will have to register “for the balance of your natural life” as a sex offender.
Bond reduced to $150K for Illinois man
facing 11 child sexual assault charges
TONY REID tony.reid@lee.net Dated story - 23 Jan 2019
DECATUR — Mark A. Marquis, a 67-year-old Decatur man who has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault against two children younger than 13, had his bond lowered Wednesday, but not by as much as he wanted.
Judge Thomas Griffith agreed his $200,000 bond was too high, but opted to reduce it to $150,000 instead, which means Marquis must post $15,000 to get out of the Macon County Jail.
Marquis has been held there since November when the Decatur man, who has been living in Florida since 2012, was arrested on a warrant. He faces five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for offenses that allegedly occurred in Decatur.
Senger had argued that Marquis, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, needs better medical care than he can receive in jail. She said he has suffered a series of strokes since his first one at the age of 45 and now is unable to walk far. Senger said he has relatives in Decatur who are willing to look after him, and he has no prior criminal record.
“He is older in age, he is not in great health, and he would be better cared for outside of the jail where he can continue seeing doctors of his choosing and get back on his regular medication,” Senger added.
Macon County Assistant State’s Attorney Kate Kurtz fought the bond reduction by arguing the court should not be swayed by Marquis’ medical condition and should bear in mind the severity of the charges he faces.
Kurtz said the abuse dates to after he had his first stroke, and she said his medical condition had even provided an excuse to bring children closer to him.
“His medical issues did not prevent him from sexually abusing multiple children,” she said. “In fact, one of the reasons (a named child) was over there was to help with yard work because of the defendant’s stroke.”
Kurtz also pointed out that, if convicted of the offenses that involve multiple child victims, the law called for Marquis to get a mandated sentence of natural life in prison.
Having made his bond reduction decision, Griffith scheduled the case against Marquis for a pretrial hearing Feb. 6.
Florida man jailed after woman reports
sexual abuse since she was 12
She was also trafficked and endured at least a few abortions
The Florida Times-Union
By Dan Scanlan
A 52-year-old Palm Coast man is behind bars without bail after a woman reported being sexually abused since she was 12 and forced to have sex “over 500 times,” according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation was sparked by a Feb. 24 call to the victim’s home on a report of a possible sex crime involving a 7-year-old child, the arrest report said. The child’s mother told detectives the older girl had been sexually abused by the suspect from age 12.
The victim said she became pregnant at age 13 and that Wiley would have other men come over to have sex with her, the arrest report said. When she became pregnant other times, she said Wiley would take her out of town for abortions.
After the woman reported the information to detectives, they set up a March 6 meeting between her and Wiley that was recorded by the Sheriff’s Office. During that meeting, Wiley confirmed “he had done many bad things to her in the past or words to that effect,” the report said.
The Sheriff’s Office secured a Thursday warrant for Wiley, then arrested him at the Palm Coast Wal-Mart, the Sheriff’s Office said.
And the mother appears complicit until her 7 y/o was attacked. I don't know if this is the case here, but I have posted far too many stories of moms sacrificing their little girls for the sake of keeping a 'man' in their lives. It's sick!
Iowa man pleads guilty in sex abuse case
Tara Becker-Gray tbecker@qctimes.com
A Clinton man accused of secretly recording and photographing a woman and three children while they were nude or partially nude and sexually abusing a girl has pleaded guilty to a single charge.
You can't be serious! From 160 charges to a single 3rd degree charge? That's absurd. Another DA needs to be fired.
Geerts will be sentenced April 18.
According to his plea agreement, prosecutors will dismiss the more serious charge of second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony; 39 counts of third-degree sexual abuse; and 114 counts of invasion of privacy, an aggravated misdemeanor.
Seven counts each of sexual exploitation of a minor and invasion of privacy will be dismissed “in the event of an expected federal prosecution,” according to the plea agreement.
He will receive a special lifetime sentence similar to parole and must register as a sex offender, according to the plea agreement.
Geerts was arrested in January and remained in the Clinton County Jail Monday morning.
On Dec. 27, a woman reported to the Clinton Police Department that unauthorized videos and pictures were taken while she was nude or partially nude, according to an arrest affidavit.
She had been in a relationship with Geerts until recently, the woman told police.
She removed the MicroSD card from his cell phone while they were living together and saw the videos and photographs of herself, videos of them having sex, and of him performing a sex act on her while she was asleep. She also found videos and photographs that appeared to be taken from inside the toilet in her home.
A Clinton police searched the card and found more than 100 videos and photographs of a sexual nature - including a sex act between a child and an adult - and recordings of adults and children using the toilet and the shower/bath. Others showed Geerts using his cell phone to record under the door frame of the bathroom while it was in use.
After his arrest, Geerts admitted he took the videos and photographs and performed a sex act with the woman while she was incapacitated with drugs and prescription medication. He also said he placed a camera by the toilet and in a crack in the shower wall.
There were six videos that showed seven acts of minors engaging in prohibited sexual acts with the use of the toilet camera, the shower camera and a video of Geerts recording a sexual encounter with a girl, according to the affidavit.
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