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Reverend found with hundreds of indecent images of children on devices
walesonline
A clergyman caught with hundreds of indecent images of children told police he looked at "younger boys".
The Reverend Canon Nigel Cahill, the rector of Aberavon and the parish priest at St Agnes Church in Port Talbot, was cautioned on June 25 last year when police officers, assisted by the digital forensic cyber crime unit, executed a warrant at his home address in Forge Road, Port Talbot. It came after police were informed that an image of a child had been uploaded from an internet source at The Rectory.
The 61-year-old told officers: "I was online talking to someone and we were looking at pictures of older men and there was younger ones. I'm not denying I look at younger boys. There is no point denying it."
Swansea Magistrates' Court heard prosecutor Julie Sullivan explain that police recovered a number of digital devices belonging to Cahill and he provided them with details on how to access each device. He also told them that the names used on devices were aliases. The devices were digitally examined and were found to have 216 category C indecent images of children and three category B images. He was subsequently arrested.
Police investigations led them to another address in Cardiff that Cahill had access to and a search there also found another device with indecent images and a sexualised chat.
When he was first interviewed by police Cahill said in a prepared statement that he accepted he had used the digital devices to access improper images and that what he accessed was improper and wrong. He admitted he had a problem and would accept any help on offer to him before adding he did not wish to make any further comment due to his "high emotional state". Cahill was again interviewed by police on February 1 and he gave a largely no comment interview.
The court heard how there were internet searches on Cahill's devices which indicated his sexual interest in children.
Appearing in court on Wednesday Cahill pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent photographs of a child – 216 in category C between July 22, 2016, and June 26, 2020, and a further three in category B between February 2, 2016, and June 26, 2020.
Mitigating on Cahill's behalf Jon Tarrant said: "These are predominantly category C images and just three category B. By pro rata that is only 1% in the higher category. Whilst the length of time is over four years the volume of images is quite low over that period of time.
"There are no previous convictions and he has immediately shown remorse at the police station during his first interview. His remorse is evident from the word go."
Cahill will now be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on March 29.
In a statement issued after the hearing the Church in Wales said it was "deeply saddened and shocked that one of its clerics has committed such a serious offence".
The statement added: "We hold all victims of child abuse in our prayers. Following his sentencing Mr Cahill will be referred to the disciplinary tribunal of the Church in Wales, which will meet as soon as possible to consider the charge of conduct giving just cause for scandal or offence.
"In the meantime he remains suspended from all duties."
The statement said the offences had been "committed despite our stringent safeguarding policies and procedures".
The church's statement went on: "Mr Cahill exploited the trust and respect put in him as a cleric by the Church in Wales and by his parishioners and that will have long-term implications. We have cooperated fully with the authorities throughout the inquiry and we are grateful to the police for the sensitive and thorough nature of their investigations.
"There is no place for any form of abuse in the Church in Wales. We give the highest priority to the care and protection of children and vulnerable people in the community. To this end we regularly review our safeguarding procedures and provide comprehensive training."
Former head of Jewish ultra-orthodox school detained
over child sex abuse charges
Malka Leifer is facing 74 charges of sexual abuse including rape,
indecent assault and sexual penetration
Namita Singh
Independent
The former principal of a Jewish ultra-orthodox school, accused of sexually abusing her students, was produced before a court in Australia and will remain in custody ahead of her pre-trial hearing.
Malka Leifer, a dual Israeli-Australian national, appeared before the Melbourne magistrate court via a video link on Friday, almost six weeks after she was extradited from Israel.
Faced with 74 charges of sexually abusing children, including multiple counts of rape, indecent assault and sexual penetration, Ms Leifer had fled Australia for Israel after the allegations surfaced in 2008.
Making her second appearance before the court since being extradited from Israel, Ms Leifer appeared by video link from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a women’s prison, wearing a blue jumper, a white shirt and a white head covering.
She spoke only once, to confirm that she could hear the proceedings and did not move an application for bail.
Set to commence on 13 September, her five-day committal hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence against Ms Leifer to stand trial. The court was informed that ten witnesses would be called to test the evidence against her.
Three sisters -- Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper -- had publicly identified themselves as her victims, alleging she abused them when they were students at the Adass Israel School.
According to court documents, out of 74 counts of sexual abuse, 11 counts consist of rape, 47 of indecent assault, 13 of committing an indecent act with a child and three of sexually penetrating a minor, reported the Guardian.
Most of the charges are linked to the period she served as principal of the Adass Israel School, with the earliest charge dating back to 1 January 2004 and final charges to March 2008.
She was brought to the country in late January from Israel, where she had fled in March 2008. The authorities filed charges against her in 2012 and requested her extradition in 2014.
It was after more than 70 extradition hearings over a course of six years that the authorities managed to successfully bring her back to the country.
Earlier extradition attempts had failed after an Israeli court found her to be mentally unfit to stand trial. It was when private investigators filmed her going about her daily life that Israel authorities started investigating whether she was feigning mental illness.
The court rejected her appeal in December and found her fit to be extradited to Australia.
Female Rabbi First to Crack Open the Can of Child Sex Abuse Worms
in American Judaism
Rabbi Diana Gerson, associate executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, recalled that, as a newly ordained rabbi, she counseled a woman even though she did not belong to Rabbi Gerson’s synagogue. “As a rabbi, I had a sacred obligation to help,” but “I had never heard about these issues in the classroom.”
“People were shocked. How could I talk about this? How could I talk about this on this most sacred day?” she said.
“For me it was about the forgiveness of self — finding a pathway toward healing,” Rabbi Gerson added. “I decided religion was never going to be a roadblock for those who needed our help.”
Following that sermon, “my congregation was shifted. My calendar was full,” Rabbi Gerson said.
Three years ago, she received an email from a man who had heard that 2002 sermon. “It was this sermon that changed his life. He finally had come to terms with the clergy sexual abuse he had endured in his youth. He sought out the help that he needed. He connected to other resources and survivors,” Rabbi Gerson said.
“He shared his story, he sent me photos of his life: ‘I would not be here today, I would not have this full and rich life if you had not had the courage to go on the pulpit and give this sermon that was so controversial.'”
G_d bless you, Rabbi Gerson!
Siler City, NC pastor arrested, charged with more than
30 counts of child sex abuse
Posted Tuesday, April 13, 2021 5:54 pm
BY D. LARS DOLDER, News + Record Staff
SILER CITY — A Siler City pastor was arrested Saturday and charged with more than 30 counts of child sex abuse.
Oscar Vera Jimenez, 53, of Siler City was detained by Siler City Police following a complaint to the department that he was sexually assaulting a juvenile. Upon further investigation, police discovered Jimenez had abused the child on several occasions.
The Siler City Police Dept. declined to identify which church Jimenez served, but the Secretary of State lists an Oscar Vera Jimenez as the sole registered agent of Siler City’s Iglesia Pentecostes Espirito Santo. Lieutenant Jason Boyd of the SCPD told the News + Record that police expect more victims to come forward as investigation continues.
“What we’re doing now,” Boyd said, “is we’re following up with anybody, any children, that he may have had contact with. We do anticipate further charges.”
Jimenez is charged with 10 counts of first-degree kidnapping, 10 counts of indecent liberties with a child, nine counts of sexual battery and five counts of statutory sex offense with a child. All of his known crimes, Boyd said, occurred within a single month.
“We know 30 from December,” he said. “That’s what we know of right now, that we are for sure of. It’s distinctly possible that it has been going on for a while with others.”
Jimenez “had access to other juveniles and possible victims,” SCPD said in a release, based on a position of trust in the community that he leveraged to isolate victims.
“It’s just a mess,” Siler City Police Chief Mike Wagner told the News + Record. “And unfortunately we think there will be more (victims). It’s going to be a long, very challenging process.”
Jimenez is being held in the Chatham County Detention Center in lieu of a $250,000 secured bond. The investigation into his crimes is ongoing; Siler City Police request anyone with information about Jimenez or possible victims contact the department.
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