Wolves Among the Sheep in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

Multiple Michigan families accused man "living single for the Lord" of child sexual assault. He's still free.

By LINDSEY SMITH 
Michigan Radio

A drawing done by one of the young girls during a counseling session.

COURTESY ROB AND CRYSTAL BARRETT

Four years ago, Rob Barrett got a phone call from a new friend. “Hey, I want to do some snow sculpture. Could the girls do some snow sculpture with me?”

Rob’s new friend was Jamie Treadwell: A tall, slim, balding white guy. A world traveler. An artist-in-residency at The Potter’s House school in Grand Rapids. A man of faith.

In 2016, he made friends with Rob, his wife Crystal Barrett, and their two daughters. Treadwell did come over. “And next thing you know, there's this, this Moses in our front yard.”

“It's not just a snowman. It's a sculpture of Moses holding his hand up in the air, pointing into the heavens and all this. And it is astounding,” said Rob. “The whole neighborhood was totally impressed,” Crystal said.

Jamie Treadwell builds a snow sculpture of Moses.

CREDIT ROB BARRETT

Jamie Treadwell is like a big kid. That’s how the Barretts’ daughters would later describe him to police. When it warmed up that spring, Treadwell washed his car at their house, and started a water fight with the girls.

“They were — really, really, really liked him,” said Crystal. “I mean, like, really liked him.”

In 2015, Jamie Treadwell had just moved back to Michigan from Europe. He co-founded and ran a program for at-risk youth in Northern Ireland. He was new in town. So he asked to join Rob Barrett and his family at their Grand Rapids church.

A photo from a 2016 Servants of the Word newsletter shows Treadwell with some of the children from the program he co-founded and ran in Northern Ireland.

CREDIT SERVANTS OF THE WORD

Treadwell was part of a Christian brotherhood called The Servants of The Word.

About 60 celibate men make up The Servants of the Word — “living single for the Lord,” as they put it. They live communally, sharing money and possessions. The home base is near Chelsea, Michigan but the group has houses all over the world, including Grand Rapids. Treadwell transferred to that house in 2015.

A few months into their friendship, Treadwell was at the Barretts’ house at least a couple times a week. Sometimes he just popped by.

"I really felt honored that he would want to spend time with us. This amazing guy with all this stuff going on has taken an interest in us."

When it was planned, Treadwell showed up super early. Rob wouldn’t be home from work yet. Crystal noticed Treadwell always disappeared with her girls into areas of the house or backyard she couldn’t see.

“They were almost always playing some kind of a game that involved a lot of physical contact. Which is not really what we do in our house,” Crystal said.

“That's part of the attraction,” Rob added, “He was so different. They were having so much fun playing tickle games with him in ways that we didn't do.”

One night, in May 2016, the Barrett family and Treadwell were sitting around the kitchen table.

In front of the girls, Treadwell turned to Crystal and said, “'Hey Crystal, do you remember when we talked about how fun it would be for me to stay the night sometime?' In my head I thought, ‘Uh, no, we've never talked about how fun it would be for you to stay the night. I don't arrange sleepovers with adult men.’”

It wasn’t unusual for the Barretts to have overnight guests. They lived overseas, so they have friends all over the world and family across the country who come stay in their guest room. But at that time, Treadwell only lived a mile and a half away from the Barretts' house.

“My girls started saying, ‘Oh, that would be really fun! We can play these board games, we can do this, we can do that,’” Crystal said. “And then he said, ‘And you know, it's my birthday on Saturday and it would just be so much nicer to spend the time with you all than by myself. The brothers are out of town.’”

Crystal went from feeling frustrated and confused to planning to make Treadwell homemade cinnamon rolls for his birthday. She couldn’t put her finger on what she was anxious about.

The night Treadwell stayed over, Crystal sat up in bed, and told Rob: “Please go sleep in the girls’ room.”

“I was literally laying awake at night for hours on end thinking, this really seems like this guy is setting us up, like, to molest my kids. Like, this is what this feels like. And then the next thing in my head would be, ‘But what if you're wrong? What if this isn't that? And your kids love him and he loves them and he loves being part of your family and what if you're wrong?’

"There's part of me now that's just like, ‘Oh good grief, what if there was even a 20% chance this is what this was about. These are your girls.’ But I, I felt like if I wasn't 100% sure I couldn't say anything to anybody.”

Rob slept in the girls’ room that night. Nothing bad happened. Still, Crystal was on high alert.

Then, one Sunday in September 2016, something did happen that confirmed Crystal’s worst fears about Jamie Treadwell. He popped by after church — unannounced. Crystal was in the kitchen making lunch. Rob, the girls, and Treadwell were in the living room.

“Rob (came) into the kitchen to start setting the table 'cause it's getting close to lunch being ready. And I looked up at him and I said, ‘Rob, I'll take care of all this. I'll make the lunch and I'll set the table, please don't leave him in the room alone with the girls,’” Crystal said.

Not even for a minute, Crystal told her husband. Watch him.

It turned out her discernment was right on. For the rest of this disturbing story please link to Michigan Radio.

Parents Livid and Distraught No Arrest Is Coming in D.C. Synagogue Sexual-Abuse Case

..

In private emails obtained by The Daily Beast, family members of the alleged victims couldn’t contain their displeasure with the U.S. attorney who handled the matter

Emily Shugerman, Gender Reporter

Sam Stein, Politics Editor

Daily Beast

Washington Hebrew Congregation

A high-profile case of alleged child sex abuse at a prominent Washington, D.C., synagogue is closing with no apparent charges, leaving the children’s families furious and pushing for further investigation.

Emails obtained by The Daily Beast show prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia reached out to families this week to say they are closing the case of Jordan Silverman, a former teacher at the venerated Washington Hebrew Congregation's preschool who was accused of sexually abusing more than a dozen children in his care.

The U.S. Attorney’s office declined to comment, but the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the 16-month investigation was ending.

“After exhausting all investigative avenues, the universal determination of the investigative team was that there was insufficient probable cause to establish that an offense occurred or to make an arrest,” the department said in a statement on Thursday morning. 

Silverman’s attorneys have maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. In a statement on Thursday, they claimed vindication in response to the MPD’s announcement. 

“For 19 months Jordan Silverman has been forced to endure the nightmare of being accused of and investigated for crimes he did not commit,” attorneys Sarah Fink and Jon Jeffress said in a statement. “To prove his innocence Mr. Silverman took two independent polygraph tests conducted by former FBI agents. He passed both of those tests with flying colors. We look forward to restoring Mr. Silverman’s reputation and good name.”

But the decision not to bring charges against Silverman has infuriated parents, who feel the U.S. Attorney’s office showed deference to the accused and failed to take into consideration the special circumstances surrounding crimes against minors. 

Emails to U.S. Attorney Mark O’Brien obtained by The Daily Beast show parents criticizing him for not reaching out to them directly before coming to a conclusion. Other parents said they were told their child would have to take the stand at a criminal trial, or were criticized for enrolling their child in therapy. A number of families are now advocating for a special prosecutor to be appointed in the case, which has garnered national attention.

“Fifteen children are not going to see justice for this,” a mother of one child, whom The Daily Beast is not naming to protect their identity, told The Daily Beast. “This guy is going to go without any charges ever being brought against him. It’s unfathomable to me that we live in a time and a place where he could do this to our children.” 

Of O’Brien, she added, “I have no words for this person. He is supposed to be the person in charge of protecting us.”

O’Brien, in his email responses to several parents, defended his decision to inform the families’ civil counsel about the outcome instead of contacting them directly. He subsequently attempted to schedule meetings with them this week and, by Wednesday, had told one parent that his timeline for telling Silverman the results of the investigation was “still fluid.” 

The investigation into Silverman began in August 2018, when the Washington Hebrew Congregation's preschool told D.C. police that a preschooler claimed to have been abused by a teacher. As word of the allegations spread, the parents of more children—boys and girls, ages two to four— also came forward to say their children had been abused.

“It’s unfathomable to me that we live in a time and a place

where he could do this to our children.”

Mother of a child at the Washington Hebrew Congregation preschool

A lawsuit was launched last year against Silverman and the pre-school. (3rd story on link)

Please go to The Daily Beast for the rest of this story

Many Muslims are still in denial about sexual abuse

Amina Lone

The Times

Britain's Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in religious organisations and settings has sensibly widened its scope to include most forms of religious practice in the UK. Islam is the country’s second-largest religion, with more than three million adherents, nearly 40 per cent of them under 25 years old.

The problem is that discussion of sexual acts is taboo within a majority of Islamic culture and practice. Sex education is frowned upon in schools; open discussions about male and female body parts, sex outside marriage and birth control are discouraged.

Islam places great importance on the need to have children, and to raise them in a moral and protective environment. Family life is seen as the foundation of faith. The 18th chapter of the Koran states: “Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord’s sight for reward and better in respect of hope.”

To understand Islam one needs to understand the reverence for family structure and duty. It is widely considered a Muslim parent’s duty to teach their children about Islam and, to fulfil this, many send their children to mosque to learn to read and recite the Koran. A famous hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad — “Paradise lies at the feet of your mother” — shows the respect that children are expected to show their parents; children should obey and honour their parents, for they know best. The toxic mix of religious power, coercion and taboos make ripe ground for sexual predators. Questioning is discouraged and, for some, can be seen akin to blasphemy.

The recent reporting of sexual assaults in madrassas in Pakistan is typical. None of the sexual-abuse cases on which I have advised had been reported to the authorities. One perpetrator fled abroad, one was taken back in and another shunned by their community.

Mohammed Haji Saddique, the Cardiff-based cleric convicted of 14 sexual offences in 2017, based on the testimonies of four courageous victims, was given a full Islamic funeral service in the mosque where the crimes took place. The survivors were vilified and shunned by their communities. This case exemplifies the denial surrounding sexual abuse within Muslim communities. With no central religious authority, power is localised. Is it any wonder that survivors rarely come forward?

We need a reformist human rights and child-centred approach to reinterpreting Islamic texts. Change is possible. Muslims are encouraged to follow the Prophet’s example. Islamic institutions could come together and explicitly contextualise the Prophet’s marriage to Aisha — widely believed to be a child under 16 — as culturally acceptable in the 7th century, but it is not to be encouraged in the 21st century.

Aisha was 6 when Mohammed married her, and 9 when the marriage was consummated. 

Instead, a 2016 Unicef report, co-authored with Al-Azhar University in Cairo, states: “In the absence of familial care, youth and adolescents, whether on purpose or not, could slide into the wasteland of sexual images and films, magazines and websites that circulate shameful pictures. This could lead to the sexual abuse of children. Islam encourages youth and adolescents to fill their free time with beneficial activities that protect them from deviant behaviour.”

There is another hadith attributed to the Prophet: “Whosoever of you sees evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” That is the Islamic example I grew up with, social justice being the essence of my Islam.

The damage done to victims from abusers in religious settings is life-changing in its impact.

The blurring of boundaries, the abuse of trust under the guise of God, is the ultimate sin. For if Allah cannot protect you, who will?

Interesting piece, but it leaves out the attitude many Muslims have about non-Muslims. Search this blog for Pakistan and you will find dozens of stories, each one more horrifying than the other. Many involve children who are Muslim, many are Hindu or Christian. The brutality is often astonishing. Pakistan is arguably, the most Muslim country in the world.

In Britain, thousands of British girls have been, and, are being, sexually abused, gang-raped, threatened and even murdered by almost entirely Pakistani men. It's not because they left their faith behind in Pakistan, but because they take the Quran literally when it quotes Mohammed as giving permission to any Muslim to do as he likes with any non-Muslim girl under his power, regardless of age. It appears they interpret 'in your right hand' or 'under your power' as meaning anyone who gets into your car, enters a room with you, drinks your alcohol, or uses your drugs, as being under their power. Consequently, thousands, and possibly tens of thousands of young, white, British girls have been horribly abused, and Muslims don't see this as any obstacle to getting to Heaven, in fact, they see it as their duty in the furtherance of Islam, and for their eternal benefit.

UK, NL, NZ, Maldives, India-3 Lead Today's Global Pervs and Paedos List

UK police forces ‘failing to record

sexual and violent crimes’

Rosa Ellis | John Simpson, Crime Correspondent, The Times

Just over five million crimes were recorded but the inspection figures suggest that the true figure should be 5.5 million

MARCIN ROGOZINSKI/ALAMY

Criminals are evading justice as forces fail to record more than 1,200 crimes a day, including assault, rape and child sexual abuse, a Times analysis of data from the police watchdog shows.

The failure to process the cases means that victims are denied access to support services, dangerous offenders are not jailed and the public are not properly informed of the crime rate.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services scrutinised logs of incidents reported and assessed whether they were handled correctly. It estimated that 460,700 crimes a year are unrecorded, based on assessments of 39 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

The latest official data show that just over five million crimes were recorded but the inspection figures suggest that the true figure should be 5.5 million.

Of the crimes not recorded each day, on average 433 were violent and 23 were sexual offences, including rape.

In the West Midlands a woman called police to report being pressured into having sex with a relative. A crime of rape should have been recorded and investigated but was not and no safeguarding measures were put in place.

The inspectorate audited a sample of reports from each force to estimate the number of crimes not recorded. They were given one of four overall ratings. Five police forces were rated outstanding, 14 good, 13 requiring improvement and seven were inadequate.

In some cases officers failed to recognise an incident as a crime, did not believe a victim or witness or a victim decided they did not want to pursue the case. Yet according to Home Office guidance such incidents should still be recorded as crimes.

Officers in Lincolnshire said they had felt under pressure to keep recorded crime down despite the seriousness of some offences that went undocumented. “Locally there was some pressure on officers not to record crimes due to an inability to effectively investigate and manage crimes,” the report read.

There were also vast disparities in the effectiveness of recording offences. Derbyshire constabulary had the worst rate, failing to record an estimated 35 per cent of crimes reported, equating to more than 30,000 per year. It did not record 43 per cent of all violent crimes and 22 per cent of sexual offences, according to the audit last year.

The report for the force stated that “most [officers and staff] confirmed they didn’t experience pressure not to record crime accurately”.

In the Thames Valley area a woman reported being subjected to a forced marriage, with relatives controlling all aspects of her life. Thames Valley police did not record a crime of coercive and controlling behaviour and no investigation was carried out. The force was found to be inadequate when audited in 2017 and 2018.

The inspectorate said the figures had been affected by improvements in logging incidents and that some crime types had risen overall, leading to increases in recorded and unrecorded incidents.

Damaging effect on victims

The repeated failure by police forces to give an accurate picture of the crimes they deal with has been the subject of intense scrutiny over the past five years (John Simpson writes).

The distinction between “reported” and “recorded” crime might seem arbitrary, but it is a boon for criminals and damages the police in the eyes of witnesses and victims who have had the courage to come forward. When police fail to recognise a reported offence as a crime — particularly one as serious as child sexual abuse or rape — there is a high risk that those responsible will continue to offend.

Recorded crime figures date back to the 19th century and are one of two key methods used to measure crime in England and Wales. The second is the crime survey for England and Wales, which first reported in 1981.

In 2013 it emerged that senior officers had put pressure on subordinates not to record offences to make it seem as if they were meeting crime reduction targets.

The practice of not recording — or misrecording — crimes was rife and compounded by poor practice and mistakes in record keeping.

The UK Statistics Authority stripped the police of its gold-standard “national statistics” label while a review was conducted.

The move undermined claims by the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government that crime had fallen 10 per cent and prompted better recording, showing that crime has increased year-on-year under the Conservatives.

The fact that forces fail to record crimes on such a scale will be of concern, particularly as Boris Johnson sets out to resurrect the Tories’ reputation as the party of law and order.

Limburg, NL, doctor suspected of sexual abuse,

OM on appeal

By NU, Google translated from Dutch

The doctor who was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of sexual abuse of two patients who reported at the end of last year has been released. The examining magistrate saw insufficient serious objections to hold the man for longer.

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) announces that an appeal has been made. If this is justified, the man can be locked again. He remains a suspect in the case.

There is also a case against him about a third declaration, made halfway through last year. Even then the doctor was arrested, but he was released during the pre-trial trial.

The man was also acquitted of the abuse of one of his patients. In 2018, a year and a half was demanded against the man for touching a woman's breasts and for penetrating her body.

Error in indictment

Although he admitted that he had invaded the woman, he was acquitted because a mistake had been made in the indictment. For example, two separate facts were discussed. In fact one, the man was charged with having invaded the woman while she was diminished in consciousness at the time. The second fact was that the man committed sexual abuse by touching the breasts of his patient.

The court saw insufficient evidence for the reduced consciousness of the woman, and acquittal followed for the first offense. Also touching her breasts was probably with medical necessity. But since the sexual intrusion was then not added to the second fact that was being treated, the man was ultimately not convicted for anything. An appeal against this decision is still pending.

Suspended by disciplinary court

Earlier this month the man was suspended by the disciplinary court for twelve months, six of which were conditional . This is the case that was brought to court in 2018.

"The defendant cannot explain the cross-border behavior other than as a result of work pressure. From this point of reference, he has taken measures to prevent a recurrence," according to the ruling.

Limburg Province, NL

134 cases of violence against children lodged in

Dec 2019: Maldives Gender Ministry

Nafaahath Ibrahim

Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services revealed that the ministry received and looked into a total of 283 cases in December 2019, of which 134 were about violence against children.

According to statistics publicised by the ministry last Tuesday, cases of violence against children included 66 cases of negligence, 27 cases of sexual abuse, 15 cases of physical abuse and 14 cases of emotional abuse.

Furthermore, 17 cases of child rights violations were reported and attended to. Among these were seven cases of refusal to vaccinate children, six cases of refusal of access to education, two cases of denial of birth registration, one case of violating right to health care and medication, and one case of forced child marriage.

Gender Ministry also revealed that within this period, 30 cases of family issues were brought to their notice, of which 20 cases regarded custody, nine cases were concerning parenting issues and a single case regarding child maintenance.

Meanwhile, a total of nine cases of children in conflict with the law were attended, with the nature of the cases involving disobedience, drug use, vandalism and damage to properties.

Additionally, the ministry received and attended to 13 cases of behavioural problems of children, of which seven were cases of children running away.

According to the ministry, 44 cases of gender based violence and domestic violence were reported last month. The most frequent cases were forms of physical abuse, of which 18 cases were reported. Other cases from this category involve 11 cases of emotional or verbal abuse, six cases of intimidation, two cases of negligence, two cases of rape, one case of sexual abuse, one case of stalking, one case of sexual harassment, one case of withholding or damage to property, and one case of controlling behaviour.

Moreover, the ministry received and looked into 33 cases of care and support for elderly people and persons with disabilities. Reports include 27 cases regarding care and support to persons with disabilities and six cases related to care and support to the elderly.

Among the suicidal behaviour and thoughts category, three cases were reported and attended to in December.

The Gender Ministry recently came under fire as news of a toddler being sexually abused (8th story on link) by members of her family spread across the country. As a slew of child sexual abuse cases came to light in the wake of the first case, members of the public heavily criticised the administration and questioned the competency of the ministry with regards to ensuring the safety and welfare of children.

Wellington, N.Z., sex offender has prison sentence replaced with home detention

Tommy Livingston, Stuff

A High Court judge has allowed a man convicted of having child sex-abuse images to serve his sentence at home, instead of prison.

A Wellington man caught possessing child sex-abuse images after someone fixing his cellphone came across the material has had his sentence of imprisonment replaced with home detention. 

The man, who has name suppression, pled guilty last year to one representative charge of distributing child sexual exploitation images,  one representative charge of possessing bestiality and child sexual exploitation material  and one representative charge of making child exploitation images. 

A technician fixing his found phone came across the deleted images and contacted police who conducted further searches. 

A total of 1550 objectionable media items were found on the cell phone, including two of his 4-year-old daughter. Most of the material was of children posing in a sexualised manner with various degrees of nudity. The majority of the videos were of sexual activity between adults and children.

The man was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment. 

He launched an appeal shortly after claiming the sentence was excessive and that his chances of rehabilitation and reintegration were given insufficient weight. The man's lawyer, Marty Robinson, argued in front of Justice Susan Thomas that his client should have received a greater discount for his good character, remorse and co-operation with police.

In her decision, Justice Thomas agreed that more weight could have been placed on the man's ability to rehabilitate, and slashed his sentence to 12 months of home detention. 

She stated that such a short prison sentence would be counter-productive given he would lose his job.
"Given he is a first offender in respect of this type of offending, with no criminal record to speak of, it is likely that he would have been paroled either at, or close to, his first eligibility date," the decision read. "The prospects of any rehabilitation during such a short period of imprisonment are slim at best." 

Robinson provided the court with character references for the man - which included one from a woman who claimed the offender had helped her deal with her own sexual abuse.

Given that he had also engaged in therapy, Justice Thomas believed he had a good understanding of his offending. "A sentence of imprisonment will see the appellant lose a good job, his home and future prospects. Given the length of sentence, rehabilitative treatment in prison is unlikely.

"The appellant's employment prospects on release will inevitably be severely impacted."

Justice Thomas said a sentence in the community would enable the man to remain in employment, provide for his family and take steps to rehabilitate.

"It will enable him to continue to be a contributing member of society while at the same time the safety of the community will be protected through a sentence of home detention and the placement of the appellant's name on the Child Sex Offender Register."

How is the community protected by home detention. I realize he is less likely to have access to children, although by keeping his name suppressed, it doesn't stop children from coming to his house. Furthermore, his crime is viewing child sexual abuse images, which he can most certainly continue from his house.

I empathize with the guy's family and agree with the steps Justice Thomas has taken, but I would have slapped him with a significant period of parole which would be revoked immediately on condition he is found with more child sex abuse images. 

Chennai man used 500 IP addresses for watching child sexual abuse material

TNM Staff  @thenewsminute

A 24-year-old man from Chennai has been arrested by the police for possessing and watching child sexual abuse material in the city. According to reports, the man had been indulging in the illegal activity over a period of two years. The arrest came following a tip from the National Crime Records Bureau regarding a phone that had been downloading illegal material.

According to the Times of India, S Harish from Ambattur was identified after his phone number matched with the record of the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Harish, who was finally nabbed on Tuesday, had used 500 IP addresses. The unemployed science graduate had reportedly watched the content at browsing centres.

According to The New Indian Express, Harish soon began downloading the child sexual abuse material onto his phone and watching it. The Ambattur All Women's police station booked Harish under Section 67(B) of the Information Technology Act (Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) and Section 14(1) (Punishment for using child for pornographic purposes) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

In December last year, the Crime against Women and Children Wing in Tamil Nadu launched a crackdown on those illegally downloading child sexual abuse material on to their phones and computers.

In December, a 42-year-old air conditioner mechanic was arrested for allegedly possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The man had allegedly used multiple Facebook profiles to share the material, simply creating another ID even if the social media site suspended one account.

On January 4, a 23-year-old man from Assam who worked in a tiles factory in Pollachi was arrested for possessing child sexual abuse material. A day later, a bus conductor from Avinashi in Tirupur district was arrested under the POCSO Act.

Man from Assam held in Coimbatore for sharing child sexual abuse material on Facebook

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: The Rural Police on Wednesday arrested a 19-year-old man from Assam for sharing child sexual abuse material on his Facebook page.

The arrested person was identified as Rafiq-ul-Islam from Assam. He was working at a factory near Kottur.

According to sources, the arrested allegedly began uploading obscene content of children in his Facebook posts recently. Upon finding his posts, the Kottur police detained him on Wednesday.

After an investigation, he was booked under sections of POCSO Act and IT Act. He was produced before the district Mahila court and later remanded under judicial custody.

Schools ‘rarely report’ child sexual abuse to avoid stigma, says Mumbai court

On February 11, 2016, the six-year-old student had returned from school in a distraught state. She told her mother that she had been sexually abused by the van driver. The next day when she was again abused by the driver, her mother went to the school with the child who identified the man.

Written by Sadaf Modak | Mumbai | indian express news

OBSERVING THAT schools rarely report offences of child sexual abuse on students to avoid stigma and disrepute, a special court has sentenced a school van driver to 10 years in jail for raping a six-year-old student of a school in the city’s western suburbs in 2016.

The accused had earlier claimed innocence on a ground that the complaint in the case had been filed two days after the incident. “The parents of the victim (in the 2006 case) first wrote to the school authorities seeking their help. Before lodging any complaint, they (the school authorities) tried to verify facts, and on verifying they lodged the FIR… Many a times school authorities are reluctant, like in this matter. They have been giving assurance of taking steps, but not taking steps, may be considering the reputation of their school,” the court said in its order last week.

On February 11, 2016, the six-year-old student had returned from school in a distraught state. She told her mother that she had been sexually abused by the van driver. The next day when she was again abused by the driver, her mother went to the school with the child who identified the man. Her mother also noted the details of his van number. The man managed to run away thereafter.

The victim’s mother told court that she had tried to find his contact number and had also emailed the school as well as messaged other parents. Two days later, they approached the school again and discussed the issue with its management along with other parents and then decided to file an FIR.

Not being Indian, there may be cultural things here I don't understand, by why did the mother let the child on the bus again the next day? That is completely beyond my ability to comprehend. And why did the parents approach the school, not the police, right away? Good grief!

Wolves Among the Sheep - Willow Creek Church

Willow Creek Community Church founder Bill Hybels (R) and his mentor Gilbert Bilezikian. |

Facebook/Ann Lindberg

By Leonardo Blair, Christian Post Reporter| 

Six months after closing the chapter on their embattled founder Bill Hybels (5th story on link) with a call for him to “repent” as needed for his role in a sexual misconduct scandal, Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago is now apologizing for allowing Hybels' mentor, Gilbert Bilezikian, to keep teaching at the church despite abuse allegations against him.

“Over the weekend, a longtime Willow Creek congregant made her personal story of abuse public. This story involves Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian (widely known as ‘Dr. B’), a mentor to Bill Hybels. We are heartbroken for what this congregant experienced and are deeply sorry for the pain this has caused her and her family,” Willow Creek elders began in an update Tuesday.

In addition to being Hybels’ mentor, Bilezikian, who is a retired Wheaton College professor, is also credited with helping him start Willow Creek.

The church’s statement on Tuesday came after longtime Willow Creek member Ann Lindberg disclosed in an extended post on Facebook Saturday how Bilezikian victimized her for years and suggested he would have had sex with her had she allowed it during a relationship that lasted from October 1984 to 1988.

“It began with subtle flirtations after weekend services, and grew to include hand holding, emotional sharing and intimacy, kissing and fondling, and pressure to have sex. Dr. Bilezikian confided about his unhappy marriage, his lack of joy, and desire for a better partnership. He told me I was the type of woman he wished he had married instead of his wife Maria. I was young in my faith, new to church, and hungry for someone to invest spiritually in me. He made me feel special, and he was a spiritual authority in a large church, and I did not feel like I could say no to him, even when my gut was telling me this was not appropriate,” Lindberg wrote.

Willow Creek Community Church founder Bill Hybels (R) and his mentor Gilbert Bilezikian. | Photo: Facebook/Ann Lindberg

“I was too naïve to figure out there was no way God wanted that for me, no way to maintain the ‘friendship’ in a godly way, and that that had never been Dr. Bilezikian’s intent. I believe we would have had sex if I had allowed it, but I think he was very good at reading people and knew just how far he could push me before I would stop having anything to do with him,” she recalled.

“One night, as we were walking to my car, he turned around in a hallway, pushed me hard against a wall, grabbed a breast and stuck his tongue down my throat. I pushed back, in complete disbelief, but he began skipping down the stairs like a child. Other times, we would meet during the day time and take walks down the Wheaton prairie paths or around Wheaton’s small downtown streets. He would warn me that no one could see us together, that it would ruin his reputation, yet in the next moment, he would shove me into the doorway of a storefront or behind a truck and begin wildly kissing me. I would push him away. When we walked down the prairie paths, he would reach for my hand, my waist, and other places,” she said.

Lindberg said Bilezikian told her how much their relation gave him “energy and hope” as he walked through a depression he said only she could help him through.

She said he rejected the idea of marital counseling, joining a men’s group or even sharing his struggles with Hybels.

“I would ask him to attend marital counseling, he would tell me it was too late; he was trapped and would never be able to divorce Maria and still preach. I would ask him to get into a men’s group. He said he didn’t like men. I would suggest he get individual counseling. He would refuse; it was too late; he was too old. I would ask him to talk with Bill Hybels. He said Bill would never understand. He told me I was the only one in the world he could really talk to, that everyone else had an agenda. He knew how to manipulate my weaknesses, and I honestly believed that I was the only one who could help him,” she said.

Lindberg got married in 2006, but said she did not feel "strong enough" to tell her story until 2010 when she was ready to "confront the spiritual abuse." She also expressed concern that other women might have been harmed. After reporting her story to Willow Creek, however, she did not feel it was treated seriously.

“This is a story I take no pleasure in telling. I have waited a very long time and been in numerous private meetings with Willow leadership and others since 2010 and accomplished very little to date. It is my hope it is not too late for Willow, that the die is not yet cast with no hope for rebirth. So many truths are still concealed. My goal is for Willow leadership to finally be ready to repent, apologize specifically to the survivors from the Willow stage, and to make sweeping structural change within to prevent this from ever happening again,” Lindberg added in her Facebook post.

In their statement on Tuesday, Willow Creek apologized for how Lindberg was treated without naming her.

“While Dr. Bilezikian has never been an employee of Willow Creek, he has been active in the life of the church for decades. At the time, the church’s Elder Response Team (ERT) met at length with the woman and with Dr. Bilezikian. The team believed the woman’s claim that Dr. Bilezikian engaged in inappropriate behavior dating back to the mid-eighties, including but not limited to hand holding, hugs, kissing, inappropriate touching, and sending overly personal communication,” the statement from the elders said.

“The ERT did restrict him from serving, but the restriction was not adequately communicated, resulting in Dr. Bilezikian serving and teaching in various capacities over the years. This was wrong, and we are sorry,” they continued.

“Over the past years, behavior has been brought to light that is both harmful and unacceptable for a Christ follower. This sinful behavior that we believe was demonstrated by Dr. Bilezikian and Bill Hybels was wrong, and we hold any person entrusted with leading at Willow Creek Community Church to a higher standard. Leaders carry a mandate to shepherd the body of Christ and guard against sinful behavior (1 Peter 5:2–4),” the elders added.

Let's not forget volunteer, Robert Sobczak, guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of an 8-year-old boy, in the church in 2013. The elders say the right things, but are they actually doing them? Are they actually praying for the Lord to give them discernment in such matters? Have they repented of their inability to protect their congregation from wolves?

They then requested prayer for all involved in the situation and urged any past or present victim abuse from Willow Creek leadership to call 630-682-9797, ext. 1291. 

7 Stung; 3 Teachers; Amish; Commish; Day Care Op; Lead Today's USA Pervs n Pedos List

7 men arrested in Snohomish Co. WA,

child sex abuse sting

Seven men from various parts of Washington State were arrested in an operation identifying individuals allegedly involved in child sex exploitation

Author: KING 5 Staff

SEATTLE — Seven men were arrested in Snohomish County over the course of several days as a part of an operation that identifies people allegedly involved in sexual abuse of a child. 

The men were from different areas of Washington: two in Bellingham, one in Seattle, one in Monroe, two in Everett and one in Arlington. 

They were all arrested as a part of the "Operation Net Nanny," the 18th operation spearheaded by Washington State Patrol's Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF). 

MECTF proactively targets those involved in child abuse and child exploitation over the internet. 

The primary crimes being investigated in this operation were attempted first- and second-degree rape of a child, commercial sexual abuse of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. 

It is unclear what each suspect was arrested for.

70 law enforcement officers and agents were involved in the operation. Those agencies included officers from the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, Washington State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Everett Police Department, the FBI and the NCIS. 

Since it's original operation in 2015, MECTF has arrested a total of 294 people and rescued more than 31 children across the state. 

Anyone who may have information on these cases is asked to contact MECTF at mectf@wsp.wa.gov.

Trial underway for former Brooke Co., WVa,
teacher accused of child sexual abuse

by: WTRF Staff

BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) – The criminal trial for a former Brooke County teacher got underway Tuesday morning.

Judge Ronald Wilson listened to opening statements from both the defense and prosecution.

The prosecution provided an overview of the evidence that would be presented while defense attorney, Robert McCoid, pointed out several inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s statement.

Questioning of the witnesses by the prosecution began immediately following the opening statements.

Timothy Turner is accused of sexual abuse of a child off school property.

Brooke Co., WVa

Utah teacher’s aid arrested for investigation of

child abuse

By Pat Reavy, KSL

PARK CITY — A 33-year-old teacher’s aid in the Wasatch School District was arrested Tuesday for allegedly providing alcohol to students and encouraging them to have sexual contact with each other, according to police.

Ashley Ann Morgan, of Park City, was booked into the Summit County Jail for investigation of child abuse, witness tampering and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She posted bail by Tuesday afternoon.

On Sept. 20, Morgan had “multiple Wasatch County School District students” at her house, according to a prepared statement from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.

One 17-year-old student told investigators that Morgan, who used to be an employee with the Division of Child and Family Services, invited her and two male students to her home to drink alcohol.

“The female student said Morgan provided alcohol to her and the male students and encouraged the female student to have sexual contact with one of the males,” according to the statement.

Investigators say Morgan later texted the female student “telling her if she was interviewed by the authorities or police to tell them she was never at Morgan’s house and nothing ever happened” and “threatened to disclose personal information of the student” she obtained from being a DCFS worker if she did tell police, according to the statement.

A spokeswoman with the Wasatch School District said that Morgan has been with the district for less than a year. In a statement, the district confirmed Morgan has been placed on administrative leave.

“The district can confirm the employee, who was hired at the beginning of this year, passed the extensive background check standard for all new employees. As this is an ongoing investigation, the district cannot make any further comments. Any parents with specific concerns about this case should contact their principal or law enforcement,” the statement said.

A DCFS representative said Morgan was employed as a case social worker from 2016 until 2018, when she voluntarily resigned. She underwent an extensive background check before she was hired.

While DCFS would not comment specifically about Morgan’s case, the division said it puts a lot of trust in its case workers, and the allegations are saddening.

Former Rich Co., Ut, commissioner charged with

child sexual abuse

By Amy Donaldson and Pat Reavy, KSL

LAKETOWN, Rich County — Former Rich County Commissioner Tom Weston has been charged with sexually abusing a child.

Weston, 68, of Laketown, who served as a commissioner for 18 years before retiring in 2018, was charged Monday in 1st District Court with sodomy on a child and aggravated sexual abuse of a child, both first degree felonies.

According to a police affidavit, the investigation began on Jan. 22 when the Rich County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Weston had abused a 14-year-old female relative “numerous times over about a 1 1/2- to 2-year period.”

On Jan. 24, Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey, who was the arresting officer in the case, set up a phone call between the girl and Weston that was monitored and recorded by detectives.

“Mr. Weston admitted to doing inappropriate things to the girl that would ‘probably put me in prison the rest of my life,’” the affidavit states.

Weston was arrested that same day, according to police.

Charging documents state the alleged offenses date back to 2018. The case is being prosecuted by the Cache County Attorney’s Office to avoid a conflict of interest.

During his initial appearance in court on Tuesday via video from the Rich County Jail, bail was increased to $50,000, according to court documents. Additionally, Weston was ordered, should he make bail, “not have any direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim or with the immediate family and no contact with any child under the age of 18 years,” court records state.

Additionally, Cache County Chief Deputy Attorney Tony Baird informed the court that his office is preparing to file additional charges.

Weston’s next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12.

Former Idaho teacher, coach sentenced to 15 years

in prison for sexual abuse of student

Dozens of offences, but he could be out in 4 years

BY RUTH BROWN

Idaho Statesman

An Ada County judge sentenced former Eagle High teacher and coach Jeff Ranstrom on Tuesday to 15 years in prison for the repeated sexual abuse of a student.

Ranstrom, 32, of Star, pleaded guilty in November to sexual battery by lewd and lascivious conduct of a 16- or 17-year-old child.

Fourth District Judge Jonathan Medema sentenced Ranstrom to four years fixed, meaning he could be eligible for parole after four years of the 15-year sentence are served. Ranstrom will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office previously said that Ranstrom sexually abused a 17-year-old girl and that evidence showed he had contact with her “dozens of times” between March and August of 2019.

Ranstrom was initially charged with three other felony sex crimes connected to the girl’s abuse, and two counts of burglary, but those charges were dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement.

Ada County Deputy Prosecutor John Dinger explained that Ranstrom groomed the victim in a “textbook” manner, dating back to when she was 15. Dinger said Ranstrom took advantage of her family situation and his position of authority. Prior to the sexual abuse, he became controlling, bought the victim gifts, and directed her on what she should wear and whom she should see, Dinger said.

He sent her inappropriate, sexual text messages and manipulated the victim into believing this was a “relationship” rather than abuse. Presentencing investigators said Ranstrom was narcissistic and repeatedly minimized his actions.

Ranstrom was married at the time of the abuse, and Dinger noted that Ranstrom had “the audacity to refer to this as an affair.” “His supporters seem to see this an affair,” Dinger said. “They show little regard for the victim.”

Ranstrom repeatedly abused the child, including going into her home while her parents were asleep. Dinger said there were times when he manipulated her into complying with various things that she did not want to do and made her feel guilty when she tried to end the interactions with him.

Dinger also said the suspect has repeatedly called this a “mistake” and has not taken proper accountability. Ranstrom confessed to the police only after his brothers caught him with the victim, authorities said.

The victim spoke at sentencing, telling the judge that Ranstrom was manipulative and isolating. She said she repeatedly told Ranstrom that she wanted to end the relationship.

Defense attorney Gabriel McCarthy said Ranstrom first reached out to him because he wanted to confess to a crime and he needed legal advice. McCarthy said his client cooperated with police.

“He didn’t try to keep this from law enforcement. He was motivated by doing the right thing,” McCarthy said.

By doing that, the victim did not have to testify before a jury, McCarthy said, and his client was trying to remove some of the victim’s pain.

Ranstrom said prior to sentencing that he is “haunted” by his actions. “There’s not words to describe how terrible the things are that I’ve done,” Ranstrom told the judge.

In addition to teaching, Ranstrom was the coach of the Eagle High School boys basketball team. The West Ada School District confirmed that Ranstrom resigned from his teaching and coaching positions on Sept. 23.

Medema said he considers Ranstrom a risk to the community and that his manipulative actions speak to his character.

“This young lady was not old enough or mature enough, through no fault of her own, to recognize what you were doing to her,” Medema said.

Man sentenced for child sexual abuse

in Ohio Amish community

Peter Smith

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

WARREN, Ohio — For the second time in less than a week (12th story on link), members of an Amish community sat in a courtroom where one of their own was sentenced to prison for sexually molesting a minor from their community.

Judge Andrew Logan of the Trumbull County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas sentenced Daniel Ray Kurtz to two years in prison. Kurtz had pleaded guilty in December to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for engaging a 14-year-old boy in oral sex in the summer of 2019 at his rural home in Middlefield, Ohio.

A half-dozen men and women from his Amish community, dressed in modest, dark suits and dresses, observed Tuesday’s sentencing.

Looking on from elsewhere in the courtroom were about 10 advocates for victims of child sexual abuse in Amish and related churches. They had traveled from various Ohio counties, part of a growing trend throughout the region, in which they’re showing up for court hearings in silent solidarity with victims.

Kurtz made a statement of remorse, and his attorneys noted that this was his first criminal conviction.

But Judge Logan pointed out that during the pre-sentencing investigation, Kurtz had admitted to having molested other children.

“You further acknowledged other violations with other children,” Judge Logan said. That “belies the suggestion that you’re not a potential recidivist.” The judge did not indicate when the earlier abuse occurred or whether it is under investigation.

“It is a very serious offense,” Judge Logan said. “… When you have relations with a minor child, that affects them for the rest of their lives.”

After the sentencing, Kurtz, 54, was handcuffed and led out by officers for transportation to prison. While he was being walked up the courtroom aisle, one of the women from his community briefly clutched his arm in a gesture of support. Another wiped away tears during the hearing.

Members of the group declined to comment to a reporter afterward.

Former Plaistow, NH, man sentenced to 12 to 24 years

for teen showering images, sex assault

By Jason Schreiber Union Leader

BRENTWOOD - A former Plaistow man could spend at least 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to taking photos of a teenage girl while she was showering and sexually assaulting her.

John DeRose, 40, who most recently lived in New Jersey, pleaded guilty Monday to two felony counts of manufacturing child sexual abuse images and three counts each of misdemeanor sexual assault and violation of privacy.

Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Marguerite Wageling sentenced DeRose to 12 to 24 years in state prison on one of the sexual abuse image charges, but two years of the minimum sentence could be suspended if he successfully completes a sex offender program.

He was also given another 10- to 20-year sentence, which will be suspended for 10 years from the date of his release, on the second sexual abuse image charge.

DeRose was sentenced to an additional two years on the remaining six charges, which will be served at the same time that he’s imprisoned on the other charges.

He was also ordered to pay up to $10,000 in restitution to cover counseling expenses for the victim, who is under 18, for a period of 10 years.

He’s not allowed to have contact with the victim or anyone else under 16 except for his biological son. And do you think his biological son is going to want to have anything to do with Dad?

DeRose was arrested by Plaistow police last August after an investigation that began when the teenage victim told police she saw DeRose’s cellphone over the shower curtain while she was showering.

County Attorney Patricia Conway said the victim was in agreement with the negotiated plea deal.

“It is the state’s hope that this sentence punishes the defendant for his crimes against a vulnerable child who trusted him. It is also our hope that this sentence serves as a deterrence to this defendant and to anyone else who may consider manufacturing child sexual abuse images and/or sexually assaulting a child. The defendant's actions were despicable and he deserves every day of the sentence in prison that was imposed,” she said.

Conway added that she hopes the sentences “bring about a sense of justice and closure for the young woman who, against all odds, bravely disclosed to the authorities what happened to her. I have no doubt that this intelligent young woman will go on to accomplish wonderful things in her life. The defendant's crimes will not define her.”

Moses Lake, WA, man sentenced to 50 years for

child pornography

by Connor Sarles, KXLY

SPOKANE, Wash. — A Moses Lake man has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for conspiracy to produce, production and possession of child pornography.

Ukrainian citizen and Moses Lake resident Mikhail Yuriy Ageyev pleaded guilty to the charges in October. Senior United States District Judge Wm. Fremming Nielsen sentenced Ageyev to 50 years in prison and lifetime court supervision after his release.

Law enforcement reportedly received CyberTips from Twitter and Microsoft about Ageyev’s internet activity.

CyberTips are reports filed to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), who then determine which law enforcement agency to forward the information to, based on location. The Moses Lake Police Department received CyberTips regarding Ageyev beginning on October 30, 2017, which they quickly followed up on with a series of search warrants on his online accounts.

Moses Lake Police then executed search warrants at Ageyev’s home on November 18, 2017, where he admitted to having child pornography on his phone, exchanged links, images, and other videos with others online, and had himself taken explicit photos of a child.

Ageyev was taken into custody after this, where a further investigation revealed that his girlfriend, Katrina Michelle Maradee Adams, was also involved in the production of child pornography.

Adams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce and distribution of child pornography in January 2019, and agreed to testify against Ageyev at his trial. She will be sentenced in February.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, this case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative to counter child sexual exploitation and abuse. It involves the integration of federal, state and local efforts to investigate and prosecute these cases, as well as training law enforcement agents and increasing public awareness to sexual exploitation.

Judge rules against day care sex abuser
in registration case

Don Lehman, Post-Star

QUEENSBURY — A child sex offender who sought to have his sex offender registration level lowered by claiming he didn’t force one of his victims to have sexual contact has lost his court challenge.

David L. Saladin pleaded guilty last year to three felony sexual abuse charges for having sexual contact with two young girls at a Queensbury day care facility where he worked in 2018. He was sentenced to 10 years on probation in a case that drew criticism for perceived lenience.

Warren County Judge John Hall deemed him a Level 3 sex offender, the highest risk of re-offending, but Saladin’s lawyer argued that the assessment of his client was incorrect.

Sex offender levels are set by a scoring system that gives points for factors in a case, such as use of force, abuser’s relationship to the victim, acceptance of responsibility, the offender’s criminal history, victim injuries and other factors.

Saladin’s lawyer, William Montgomery, argued that Saladin’s risk assessment wrongly gave him points for use of force and sexual contact when Saladin was accused of touching the underwear of one of the victims.

David Saladin of Fort Edward, left, sits with his eyes closed as the mother of a child he sexually abused criticizes him as she tells of how the abuse affected her and her family during Saladin's sentencing Oct. 16.

Montgomery asserted he should be a Level 2 offender. Level 3 offenders have more stringent registration requirements than lower level offenders. He will also be listed on the public sex offender registry, which catalogs Level 2 and Level 3 offenders.

The Warren County District Attorney’s Office pointed out that one victim consistently testified that Saladin took the girl’s hand and placed it on his genitalia, which amounted to force.

Hall agreed.

“Her story always remained consistent when describing the defendant’s actions and his use of force in having her touch his private area,” the judge wrote.

He also found that the contact over the child’s underwear still amounted to sexual contact.

Saladin, 49, of Cambridge, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from allegations made by 6- and 4-year-old girls at a licensed day care facility, Child Care at Willow Bend, where he had worked for about two years before he was arrested and fired.

He can appeal the ruling, but it was unclear Tuesday whether an appeal was planned. Montgomery said no appeal was planned, though.