Vermont Gov't Finds Home for Vulnerable Children
Unable to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
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Under state pressure, Kurn Hattin gives up license
By Anne Galloway, VTDigger
A sign outside Westminster’s Kurn Hattin Homes for Children notes its founding in 1894.
Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger
After a yearlong investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and assault involving more than a dozen children at Kurn Hattin Homes for Children, the state has come to the conclusion that the residential program in Westminster is unable to change a “pervasive” culture of abuse.
The Department for Children and Families asked Kurn Hattin to surrender its license to operate as a residential treatment program in August. The school, which serves vulnerable 6- to 15-year-old children with behavioral, psychological and socioeconomic problems, relinquished its DCF certification last Thursday.
An investigative report from DCF from 2019 describes a “touching club,” in which at least nine boys who were residents of Kurn Hattin “had been engaging in sexualized activity with each other.”
Most of the sexualized behavior involved viewing and touching each others’ penises. Some of the boys, however, “described more extensive sexualized contact, including over the clothes ‘humping,’ oral-genital contact, and skin-to-skin contact in which one youth described that his penis touched another youth’s bottom,” according to documents from DCF obtained by VTDigger.
In addition to “the club,” DCF describes a series of incidents involving a girl who repeatedly assaulted two other girls at Kurn Hattin in 2018 and 2019 with a toothbrush in dorm showers, and another perpetrator who penetrated other girls’ vaginas with her fingers as part of what was described as “hazing.”
Another girl in April 2019 was forced by a male classmate to have sex in a stairwell of the auditorium, state documents show.
Kurn Hattin failed to report the sexual abuse within 24 hours as mandated by law to DCF investigators. In some instances, the institution took months to notify authorities.
Caregivers and administrators appear to have done little to stop the abuse, according to records from DCF investigations.
DCF issued a damning report in December and required Kurn Hattin to take corrective action in an effort to bring the program into compliance.
By the end of June, DCF determined that Kurn Hattin had made little progress and began negotiating with the residential school to surrender its license to operate as a residential treatment program.
Last Thursday, officials from Kurn Hattin agreed to voluntarily relinquish that license.
DCF Commissioner Sean Brown said Tuesday that the department was committed to working with Kurn Hattin, but ultimately “came to the conclusion that they weren’t making changes we wanted to see.”
Reached by phone on Tuesday, Harrison declined to comment on the DCF records and said Kurn Hattin followed DCF’s advice to relinquish the license. Kurn Hattin didn’t have a difficult time meeting DCF compliance requirements, he said. As for allegations from 2019, he said in an interview on Sept. 4 that Kurn Hattin “followed all of the policies of DCF. That would be the extent of my comment.”
The decision comes on the heels of a pending lawsuit announced in July and a VTDigger request for records regarding allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the facility, which provides year-round educational and treatment services for disadvantaged children.
Documents, social media posts and interviews with victims detail how more than 60 children who came from disadvantaged homes were allegedly assaulted from the 1940s through 2019. Eerily similar patterns of sexual, physical and psychological abuse were covered up for decades, victims say.
Children as young as 7 years old have said they were molested by Kurn Hattin caregivers, administrators or peers.
In the past three years, more than 15 children molested each other at the Westminster campus, according to reports released by DCF on Monday.
In interviews with VTDigger, six of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit who were residents of Kurn Hattin over a 70-year period have detailed physical, psychological and sexual abuse perpetrated by adults and peers at the school. A dozen former students on the Kurn Hattin alumni Facebook page have also confirmed a culture of molestation and psychological torment over a period of decades.
Ted Fisher, the director of communications for the Agency of Education, said the DCF action will prompt a review of Kurn Hattin’s approval status as an independent residential school by the State Board of Education next month.
A hillside view from the 280-acre campus of Kurn Hattin Homes for Children in Westminster.
Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger
Kim Dougherty, lead attorney for the Andrus Wagstaff firm, representing the plaintiffs in the Kurn Hattin case, says the misconduct was egregious and involved teachers and administrators dating back to the 1940s. Hundreds of children, from the ages of 6 to 14, who were orphans or from troubled homes, cycled through the school during that period. Fifteen plaintiffs have joined the class action lawsuit, and Dougherty anticipates more plaintiffs are likely to come forward. A complaint has not yet been filed.
Hamilton, Tx police chief out, facing felony child abuse charge
Stephenville Empire-Tribune
By Mark Wilson
Two officials with the city of Hamilton told the Glen Rose Reporter on Monday that the town’s chief of police, Tony Yocham was relieved of his duties following his arrest on a first-degree felony charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child.
In response to an information request from the newspaper, the Somervell County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement on Monday:
“On Tuesday September 8th, 2020, the Somervell County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding the possible sexual assault of a child which had occurred in Somervell County. Upon preliminary investigation, Anthony (Tony) Wayne Yocham was identified as a person of interest in which probable cause was found to support the commission of a criminal offense.
“The Texas Rangers were contacted to review the information gathered. A warrant of arrest was secured by the Rangers from a District Judge who set the bond of $500,000. Mr. Yocham was arrested on the charge of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child and transported to the Johnson County Jail. Mr. Yocham posted bond and was subsequently released. This is an on-going investigation being conducted by the Texas Rangers.”
The Glen Rose Reporter also submitted Open Records requests to both the Johnson/Somervell County District Attorney’s Office and to the Texas Rangers/DPS information officer for this area, seeking the probable cause affidavit for more information on the allegation.
The email response from an assistant attorney with Dale Hanna’s D.A. office in Cleburne was: “Our office has no documents or specific information about this arrest.” The email response from the DPS sergeant was: “At the request of the Somervell County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Rangers were asked to investigate a sexual abuse allegation in Somervell County. As a result of the investigation, Tony Yocham was arrested and booked into the Johnson County jail on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is currently available.
Hamilton Mayor Jim McInnis said Monday that City Administrator Ryan Polster removed Yocham as the chief of police over the weekend, after they were notified of the criminal charge being filed.
Yocham, 56, is a Somervell County resident who graduated from Glen Rose High School in 1982.
“Tony is no longer our city police chief,” McInnis said. “His status is still to be determined. He was removed as chief of police. He reports to the city (administrator), and they are working on the details. We are making sure we do that right thing.
“We were told Saturday that Tony had been arrested and bailed out. We discussed putting somebody else in charge, because obviously Tony couldn’t be in charge.”
McInnis said that one of Hamilton’s veteran patrol officers, Rene Silva, is “now in charge” of the police staff, which includes eight officers in all.
Monday afternoon, the city of Hamilton posted on its own Facebook page the following message: “Anthony Yocham is on unpaid administrative leave pending the grand jury determination regarding indictment or further information. Rene Silva is in charge of day to day operations.”
Polster had previously confirmed that Silva has been placed “in charge of the day-to-day operations” of the Hamilton Police Department. Polster said that Silva has not been named as “interim” chief of police, and the long-term status of that position has yet to be decided.
In Texas, conviction on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child (a first-degree felony) carries a minimum prison term of 25 years, and a maximum of 99 years to life, with the possibility of a maximum fine of $10,000.
Registered sex offender allegedly found with more than
7,000 child sex abuse images
Journal Times staff
BURLINGTON — A registered sex offender was reportedly found with more than 7,000 images of child pornography on multiple hard drives and a USB drive, prosecutors contend.
Court records indicate that Klein has previously been convicted of possessing child pornography on July 18, 2002 and July 17 of this year.
According to a criminal complaint:
Last October, an investigator from the Burlington Police Department became involved in an investigation into registered sex offender Klein's possession of electronic items in violation of his sex offender rules. The investigator was present at Klein's residence on Chestnut Street in Burlington on Oct. 22 when the state Department of Corrections agents seized two laptops, nine portable storage devices, a PlayStation 4 and a slider phone. The investigator later took possession of the seized items, drafted a warrant for their analysis and submitted the items to the Division of Criminal Investigation for forensic analysis.
The investigator reported on April 19 that images of child pornography were located on one laptop and one USB. Three portable storage devices and one laptop were encrypted to such a degree that they could not be analyzed.
The forensic analyst determined the laptop had three hard drives which contained 3,008 category 1 child abuse materials, 2,215 category 2 child exploitative images, one CGI/animation image and 127,778 uncategorized images. The following search terms were found on the laptop: loli (the sexual portrayal of young girls), pedo, 8-year-old and 10-year-old.
The forensic analyst determined the USB had 621 category 1 child abuse materials, 1,491 category two child exploitative images and 325,311 uncategorized images.
Klein was given a $100,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit court on Tuesday with the condition that he is not allowed to use the internet.
And, of course, he will obey that condition! Pfft! This, IMHO, is demonic obsession! I don't know how it could be anything else.
A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 24 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records indicate. He remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon at the Racine County Jail.
Ottumwa, Iowa man charged with repeated child sex abuse
By KYLE OCKER Group Editor
Ottumwa Courier
OTTUMWA — The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office charged an Ottumwa man Monday with five counts of felony sexual abuse of a child.
David Robert Johnson, 49, of Ottumwa, was arrested at 8:11 p.m. Monday at his residence in rural Ottumwa and charged with five counts of second-degree sexual abuse, each a Class B felony.
In court documents, a deputy from the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office wrote that the office began an investigation into repeated and ongoing sexual abuse on Sept. 9.
And you made an arrest in lass than a week. Well done!
The deputy said in the court documents that investigators interviewed Johnson on Sept. 14, where he admitted that “he awoke” on six occasions where his genitals were involved in sexual activity with a child under the age of 12 years old.
According to investigators, Johnson admitted to them that the abuse had taken place within the last year and a half, court filings said.
Johnson is being held at the Wapello County Jail on a $25,000 cash only bond.
Throop, NY man pleads not guilty to four felony child sex abuse charges
Kelly Rocheleau
Auburnpub
A Throop man entered not guilty pleas in Cayuga County Court Thursday after he was indicted on multiple charges of child sexual abuse.
William Evans III, 36, 2029 Turnpike Road, entered the plea during arraignment via the videoconference with Judge Thomas Leone. After being arrested and charged with a single count of second-degree criminal sex act in June, Evans now faces four felony charges and two misdemeanors following further investigation and a grand jury proceeding.
A Cayuga County grand jury indicted Evans on the following charges: first-degree criminal sexual act, a class B felony; third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act, both class E felonies; and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Budelmann said Evans is a "very serious flight risk," as he previously left the state in the middle of the night with a child and had a friend of his try to take two other children out of the state.
"They had (the Department of Social Services) intervene and they took the children into custody to stop it; they ultimately returned from out of state," Budelmann said.
The DA asked that Evans' bail of $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond be continued.
Joseph Sapio, Evans' attorney, said he does not yet have a copy of the indictment but noted he gave Evans a copy of the scheduling notice with the charges. Sapio waived further reading of those charges and entered not guilty pleas.
Sapio said Evans did leave the state but complied when he was asked to return. "I was instrumental with the state police and the county attorney for the surrendering of Mr. Evans upon his return and to have the children taken care of," Sapio said. "I think that in and of itself demonstrates that he is not fleeing and in fact returned once he was directed to do so."
Budelmann added that Evans' wife, Jami J. Evans, 39, is a co-defendant who "was apparently aware of the abuse and allowed it to continue." Jami was picked up on arrest warrant Wednesday, Budelmann said, and brought to the Cayuga County Centralized Arraignment Part for arraignment.
State police records show Jami was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Budelmann added that Jami attempted various ways to get Evans out of jail, including "trying to get people to change their testimony, to leave, and so on."
Cayuga County Court Judge Leone decided that Evans' bail will remain as it was, telling Evans it is imperative for him to make his court appearance on Dec. 3, which is set to be virtual, that he stay in contact with Sapio and that he "stay out of trouble" if he does get out of bail.
Suspect in Florida child sex abuse arrested in Connecticut
By Peter Yankowski
New Haven Register
BRANFORD — Connecticut and federal authorities arrested a 33-year-old man Wednesday wanted on child sex abuse charges in Florida, the U.S. Marshals said.
Lewis was wanted on an Aug. 6 arrest warrant from the Volusia County Sheriff’s office in Florida charging him with lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under 12 years old.
Marshals tracked Lewis to the Branford area. He was arrested without incident, the agency said. Connecticut State Police and New Haven police assisted in the arrest, the marshals said.
Lewis is being held by Connecticut State Police Troop G before he is extradited to Volusia County, Fla.
Colonie, NY man gets 80 years for child sexual abuse
by: Johan Sheridan
News10
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Douglas Fountain, 31, of Colonie was sentenced on Tuesday to 80 years in prison for 11 felony convictions for sexually abusing and exploiting a minor.
Fountain pleaded guilty in August 2019, admitting to creating eight videos or images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In some, Fountain participated in sex acts with the minor.
Fountain also admitted to sharing some of the images on a foreign website, as well as to possessing images of child pornography on his laptop computers, including images depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of pre-pubescent girls.
Jury convicts Mother Lode's Mona McGrady on three counts
in child sex abuse case
Giuseppe Ricapito
Union Democrat
The victim of former Mother Lode Christian School Coach Mona McGrady (4th story on link) cried as she embraced her mother outside of the South Washington Street courthouse Thursday afternoon.
"Even Satan knew His word, the word of God," Jane Doe 1 said. "Her justice is coming. There's no result here that will give her justice."
McGrady was taken into the custody of the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office to await her sentencing date.
She was acquitted on eight additional counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child.
"Not guilty sometimes means not proven to the level that it needs to be proven," said Judge Kevin Seibert.
Tuolumne County Assistant District Attorney Eric Hovatter said she faces up to four years and four months in state prison, which McGrady will serve at 50 percent time because her crime was not considered a violent felony.
How is sexual penetration by a foreign object anything other than a violent felony?
She will have to register as a sex offender.
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