Officials in small Ohio town accused of sex trafficking underage girls
James Pilcher, and Liz Dufour, Cincinnati Enquirer
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – A one-way bus ticket and the promise of a modeling contract. It was the escape Linda Mills had long sought from a life she said was filled with physical and sexual abuse.
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| Linda Mills - Grade 1 |
Instead, Mills said she was trafficked at age 15, sent to be a prostitute in Chicago by a member of local law enforcement.
“I trusted Phil Malone. I trusted him,” said Mills. “Not once did I ever think he would steer me wrong. But it was a betrayal at 15. You’re law enforcement. You’re supposed to serve and protect, and there was no serve and protect.”
Mills is one of four women to accuse Malone or his brother, Mark Malone, of inappropriate sexual conduct or exchanging sexual favors for light treatment from the Portsmouth City Probation Department, where they both worked.
Two of those women, including Mills, said Phil Malone had sex with them when they were underage and either trafficked them or tried to send them away for sex.
Phillip Malone, 64, was fired from the Portsmouth City Probation department in 2011 for just cause. Before becoming a probation office, he was with the Scioto County Sheriff's department. Heather Hren, who was 24 in 2006, has said Malone asked to take photos of her 'tits' when she was brought over to the probation department by her attorney, Michael Mearan. Malone denies all allegations.
Michael Mearan, prominent Portsmouth attorney, is part of an 80-page affidavit created by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2015 to obtain permission to wiretap several phone, including Mearan's. It alleges he is part of a sex trafficking network.
Phillip Malone, 64, was fired from the Portsmouth City Probation department in 2011 for just cause. Before becoming a probation office, he was with the Scioto County Sheriff's department. Heather Hren, who was 24 in 2006, has said Malone asked to take photos of her 'tits' when she was brought over to the probation department by her attorney, Michael Mearan. Malone denies all allegations. Michael Mearan, prominent Portsmouth attorney, is part of an 80-page affidavit created by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2015 to obtain permission to wiretap several phone, including Mearan's. It alleges he is part of a sex trafficking network.
The Enquirer spent the last two months investigating the claims against the Malone brothers after publishing the results of a yearlong investigation in March into allegations of sex trafficking here against former Portsmouth Councilman Michael Mearan and others.
The initial Enquirer report detailed accusations by 10 different women against Mearan, a well-known defense lawyer in town, as well as the contents of a federal law enforcement affidavit outlining Mearan's part in an alleged sex trafficking operation.
Now, the accusations of four women show the activity may have been more widespread.
“Phil Malone was a pervert,” said Kayla Artressia, who says Malone tried to send her to Chicago when she was 16, but that she refused.
Another woman said she had sexual contact with Mark Malone while serving community service at the office when he was in charge.
Mary Lawhon, 29, alleges when she was 18 and on probation from a conviction of driving under the influence, she engaged in sexual contact with Mark Malone, 58, who was her probation officer. He would also give her money. She also says she had sex in 2014-15 with Phil Malone, who was a probation officer at the time. Both men deny these allegations. Lawhon is currently in an Ohio prison serving a three-year sentence for theft from an elderly person. Rumors have long circulated in the small city of Portsmouth about men in power taking advantage of vulnerable women. Michael Mearan, prominent Portsmouth attorney, is part of an 80-page affidavit created by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2015 to obtain permission to wiretap several phone, including Mearan's. It alleges he is part of a sex trafficking network.
Mary Lawhon, 29, alleges when she was 18 and on probation from a conviction of driving under the influence, she engaged in sexual contact with Malone.
Mark Malone, the former city probation director, is on administrative leave for possible illegal activity. His brother and former city probation officer Phil Malone was recently charged with a felony.
Phil Malone, 64, has been charged with forgery charges in a case also involving Artressia. He did not respond to questions when asked to comment after his recent arraignment.
His lawyer, Richard Nash, declined to comment after the hearing, but said in an email that “the allegations against Mr. Malone are not true."
Portsmouth Municipal Court Judge Russell Kegley last month placed Mark Malone, 58, on paid administrative leave, making note in a letter announcing the move of "a possible investigation" into "alleged illegal acts.”
The younger Malone did not return several messages left for him at his home and office.
There is much more on this story at the Cincinnatti Enquirer.
Nashville vocal coach Buzzy Orange facing rape charges of girl 5-11 yrs old
Mariah Timms, Nashville Tennessean
Multiple child sex abuse charges against a longtime Nashville vocal coach were included in an indictment that led to his Saturday arrest, according to Nashville police.
Laurence "Buzzy" Orange, 73, was indicted on 10 counts of rape of a child and 11 counts of aggravated sexual battery. Orange is the owner of Buzzy Orange Studio of Voice on 18th Avenue South.
Orange was charged in connection with the repeated sexual abuse of a "female minor acquaintance" for six years, when she was between the ages of 5 and 11, according to MNPD.
The girl is now 15 years old, police reported.
Buzzy Orange, of the bluegrass band Hands of Time, performs with the band during the Bootlegger's Bash in 2011. (Photo: Sanford Myers, The Tennessean/FILE)
She and a parent came forward in May to report the abuse to police, a release from the department indicated. In interviews related to the investigation, police say Orange implicated himself in the sexual abuse of the child.
Police said Orange did not meet the girl through his business, but added that the possibility of other victims remains.
Anyone with concerns about his behavior with clients or other minors is asked to contact the MNPD’s Youth Services Division at 615-862-7417.
Orange was charged with a sealed indictment returned Friday by a grand jury. He was arrested Saturday afternoon and remained jailed in Davidson County on Monday in lieu of a $200,000 bond.
It was not immediately clear if Orange retained legal representation. An arraignment has been set for Sept.
Sex offender who promised not to return to US
caught at border in Texas
BY DAWSON WHITEMiami Herald
A previously deported sex offender was captured after a clash with border patrol agents in Texas on Friday, officials say.
Patrol officers chased the two cars, and seven people ultimately got out and tried to run away, federal officials said. Officers were able to catch six of them.
During processing, officers learned Rivas-Marquez was a felon and had been deported once before, according to the news release.
Rivas-Marquez was charged with “multiple sex offenses” against a 13-year-old, the release said, and in 2013, he was convicted in Virginia on five counts of indecent liberties, court records show.
For these crimes, Rivas-Marquez was sentenced to 50 years in prison, but granted a 48-year suspended sentence under the condition that he never return to the United States, the release said. Upon return, he’d be required to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
Rivas-Marquez is now in custody on the criminal charge of re-entering the country after being previously removed, the release said. Other criminal proceedings are pending.
Prison is probably the best place for someone that dumb.
NC leader charged with child sex crimes;
police say victims tried to report abuse for years
by: WBTVCHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chair of the Citizens Review Board Henry Thomas Black Jr. was arrested in Myrtle Beach on sexual assault charges involving children, police said Thursday morning. The victims have been trying to report the abuse for 22 years, police say, and finally got information into the right hands.
In a press conference Thursday morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the victims previously told others they were sexually assaulted and those people did “nothing.” Some of the people were legally required to report the crimes.
“Twenty-two years they have been telling people this,” Deputy Chief Gerald Smith said. “It’s completely inexcusable.”
Smith said there would have been no miscommunication, as the victims’ description clearly depicted abuse. “They were clear about what was happening to them for 22 years,” Smith said. “It just baffles the mind (that) nobody actually picked up the phone and dialed those three numbers; 9-1-1.″
Detectives obtained warrants for Black’s arrest following the report. He has been charged with multiple counts of statutory rape, statutory sex offense, indecent liberties with children, child abuse-sexual act, and incest.
Black was initially appointed to the Citizens Review Board on a partial term in November 2014. He was appointed to his first full term on the board in August 2015 and is currently in his second full term on the board.
According to the attorney for the Citizens Review Board, Black has been suspended as CRB chairman until this matter has been resolved. Vice Chairman Tonya Jameson will assume duties as chairman. The attorney says a background check was done on Black before he got on the board and it came back clean.
Black is also the co-founder of Genesis Project, a Family Wellness and Advocacy agency. According to the website for the Genesis Project, Black completed a six-year term on Charlotte’s Community Relation Committee, as well their Police sub-committee.
His agency reportedly served on the Executive Board of the Mecklenburg Provider Council and is also a premium level member of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.
He is a graduate of West Charlotte Senior High School, Black World Barber College, and UNC Charlotte. Black reportedly has over 19 years of experience working with youth and families in both community and residential settings.
The Citizens Review Board was established June 9, 1997. The Board reviews appeals by citizens who file complaints on dispositions imposed by the Chief of Police or his designee relating to allegations of misconduct against a sworn police officer. The Board also serves in an advisory role to the Chief of Police, the City Manager, and the City Council.
Black was booked early Thursday morning in Myrtle Beach and will be extradited back to Mecklenburg County to face the charges.
Smith asks any other potential victims to come forward. “I encourage you to please step up and give us a call.” Potential victims are asked to call detectives at 704-336-4466.
“Knowing these survivors have pushed and pushed and pushed, that’s superhuman,” Smith said. “They finally got this into the hands of law enforcement.”
Anyone with additional information may call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Oregon man convicted on 18 charges for
child sex abuse
FOX 12 StaffHILLSBORO, OR (KPTV) - A man was convicted on 18 charges for child sex abuse.
In 2016 one of the victims reported Mendoza-Valencia’s sexual abuse to a family member.
Two of the victims were referred to CARES Northwest where they made detailed disclosures of abuse. A third victim came forward to report additional abuse once she learned of Mendoza-Valencia’s arrest.
According to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, the CARES Northwest forensic interviews revealed that two of the victims were first subjected to sexual abuse when they were young children. The abuse spanned a number of years and often took place in the presence of another victim. The third victim disclosed sexual abuse that predated that of the other two victims.
She reported that Mendoza-Valencia’s abuse resumed once he no longer had access to the other two victims. All of the victims described intimidation tactics made by Mendoza-Valencia in which he threatened violence against the victims or their family members if they ever disclosed the abuse.
Owensboro, KY, man indicted on multiple
child sexual abuse charges
By James Mayse Messenger-Inquirer An Owensboro man was indicted this week on 25 charges of sexual abuse that include rape, sodomy and using of a minor in a sexual performance.
Court records say the investigation began last September when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided tips about a Tumblr account that had uploaded two images of suspected child pornography to the web. The center was able to provide the IP address that had uploaded the images, and detectives determined the address was assigned to Sally's then-address in the 1300 block of West First Street.
The images were accessed by detectives and were of young females of undetermined ages engaged in sexual acts, court records say. Additional images uploaded from the same IP address later were also obtained and showed images of girls between the ages of 10 and 12 years old engaged in sexual acts with adults, records say.
A Tumblr account was connected to the IP address. Of 25 sexually explicit images uploaded from the account, "the majority ... appear to be child exploitation" and 16 of the images "appear to have been produced by the owner of the account," reports say. The locally produced images were of a man "engaging in sexual acts with a prepubescent female," reports said.
Investigators began surveillance of Sally's home in July but learned he had moved, and information was received that he was living at the Colonel House, reports say. In July, detectives interviewed Sally, who at first denied knowing about the images. Sally's arrest citation says Sally was then shown images and confirmed they were of him.
Sally's cell phone was examined and detectives found "some of the same images contained in the cyber tips, and social media accounts ... along with additional images of the prepubescent female" being sexually abused and possibly raped, the arrest citation says.
Sally was indicted with two counts of first-degree rape (victim under age 12), which is a class A felony. He was also indicted with two counts of first-degree sodomy, which is also a class A felony; three counts of use of a minor in a sexual performance, a class B felony; 10 counts of promoting a minor in a sexual performance, a class B felony and eight counts of distribution of matter depicting a sexual performance by a minor, a class D felony.
Sally is being held in the Daviess County Detention Center on a $500,000 full cash bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Daviess Circuit Court on the charges on Sept. 20.
Springdale, Ark. Man Sentenced To 27 Years For
Sexual Exploitation Of A Child
BY 5NEWS WEB STAFFFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KFSM) — A Springdale man has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison after he admitted to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl and photographing his assaults.
According to court records, in early November of 2018, the mother of a 12-year-old female told police that Hittle had sexually molested her daughter and took pictures of the abuse.
The minor told police about multiple instances of rape by Hittle.
Investigators found a nude photo of the minor on Hittle’s phone dated to the timeline of abuse that she laid out to police.
As part of his plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining counts of possessing child pornography and sexually exploiting a child.
What about rape? Was he not charged with rape? Seriously?
He will serve 27 years in federal prison followed by 25 years of supervised release on one count of sexual child exploitation.
Idaho man sent to prison for years of child sex abuse
Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
ST ANTHONY — An Ashton man who entered an Alford plea in the sexual abuse of children is going to prison.
An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain his innocence, but admits a jury would likely find them guilty with the evidence presented.
District Judge Steven Boyce sentenced Bollinger to 12 to 24 years on each of the counts to run concurrently for the felony lewd conduct charges.
Court documents suggest drugs were involved in the sex abuse; however, prosecutors only charged Bollinger for the sex offenses.
“The evidence of him giving the minors drugs was in the pre-sentencing investigation,” according to court documents.
In addition to going to prison, Bollinger is required to register as a sex offender. Boyce ordered him to pay $2,000 in fines, $10,000 in civil penalties and to pay into the victim’s relief fund.
Bollinger is ordered to have no contact with the victims and was given credit for the 17 months he spent in jail.
Tennessee mom's boyfriend pleads guilty to
rape of 10-y/o girl who got pregnant
BY LINDSAY MCREYNOLDSHerald-Citizen
Landon Paul Powers pleaded guilty to rape of a child this week just before Powers' trial was set to begin Tuesday, according to the 13th Judicial District Attorney Bryant Dunaway.
"As the investigation progressed, it was determined that Landon Paul Powers, 33, who was the boyfriend of the victim’s mother, was the father of the baby which was delivered by the victim at the age of 11," Dunaway said.
Powers was indicted by the Putnam County Grand Jury, and a jury trial was set to begin Wednesday. "Prior to the commencement of the trial, the Defendant indicated his desire to enter a plea," Dunaway said.
Powers pleaded guilty to rape of a child. He was sentenced to serve 30 years of incarceration at 100 percent. Powers will be required to be on the sex offender registry for life and be subject to community supervision for life after his release.
"Offenders such as Powers are the worst sort," Dunaway said. "Offenders who prey on children are simply evil. The public would be shocked to know the volume of child sex abuse cases that we prosecute in this judicial district.
And every other district in the USA.
"The District Attorney General’s office has two prosecutors dedicated to the prosecution of child sex abuse crimes, Assistant District Attorneys Victor Gernt and Caroline Knight who prosecuted Powers," Dunaway continued.
"Please pray for the mental and physical well-being of the victim in this case," he said.
Amen?
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