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Missouri attorney general charges Circle of Hope Girls Ranch owners with abuse, child molestation, statutory rape
Gregory J. Holman
Springfield News-Leader
Boyd and Stephanie Householder, owners of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School in Cedar County, are shown in a May 2011 News-Leader photo.
Boyd and Stephanie Householder, founders and owners of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Cedar County, were charged with more than 100 felonies this week in connection with a sex abuse investigation recently undertaken by the office of Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who assisted a local prosecutor.
Schmitt called it one of the most "widespread" investigations into allegations of this kind in state history in a news conference in Jefferson City on Wednesday, saying that 16 victims had been identified so far, all "young girls and young women."
He said "there are no words" to describe the "mix of sadness and disgust" that he felt upon learning of the allegations of wrongdoing, which he called "extensive and horrific" in a prepared statement issued shortly after the press conference.
Charges filed against Boyd Householder on Tuesday in Cedar County court include one misdemeanor child molestation charge and 79 felonies: nine counts of statutory sodomy, six counts of statutory rape, six counts of sexual contact with a student, 56 counts of abuse or neglect of a child and two counts of endangering a child in a ritual or ceremony — 80 charges in all. The accusations of wrongdoing date back to 2016.
His wife, Stephanie Householder, faces 22 felony charges including 12 counts of abuse or neglect of a child and 10 counts of endangering a child in a ritual or ceremony, accusations dating back to 2018.
'Extensive and horrific' allegations
A news release from Schmitt's office detailed some aspects of the allegations, citing felony information documents that collected "forensic interviews, statements and extensive documentation seized from the (Circle of Hope) property" during the course of its investigation.
The documents cited by the attorney general in Boyd Householder's case allege repeated incidents in which the man is accused of having oral sex and intercourse with a victim under the age of 17, as well as "several" incidents in which Boyd Householder placed one or more of his fingers in the victim’s vagina.
Physical abuse accusations in the felony charging documents included allegations about restraints that involved Boyd Householder pushing his knee into the backs of several victims, applying pressure to them via "certain pressure points," handcuffing or restraining victims’ hands and feet and forcing victims to hold the "push-up position."
The attorney general's office also said Boyd Householder was criminally charged in relation to allegations that he slammed victims’ heads or bodies against walls; slapped or hit victims with his hands or belt or other instrument; shoved a victim’s face into horse manure; and poured hot sauce down a victim’s throat.
One count related to an allegation that Boyd Householder forced a victim to drink at least 220 ounces of water, then run a mile until she vomited, then forced her to run again. Another count details an alleged incident in which Boyd Householder instructed several victims on the best way cut their wrists in order to kill themselves.
According to Missouri court records, warrants were issued late Tuesday. The Householders were taken into custody Tuesday night in Vernon County where they currently reside, said a spokesperson for the attorney general's office. Court records early Wednesday showed no bond arrangements and listed no attorneys representing the Householders.
The News-Leader left a message for a Springfield-based attorney representing the Householders in separate civil lawsuits brought by former Circle of Hope residents but did not immediately receive a response.
Householders' daughter shares her reaction
The charges come after years of activism spearheaded by the Householders' estranged daughter, Amanda Householder, and former residents of the Christian girls' home.
On a call from her current home in California on Wednesday morning, Amanda Householder said she has been working to build public awareness of accusations of abuse at Circle of Hope since 2015, primarily through a social media campaign over TikTok, YouTube and other platforms that news media began covering last summer.
Amanda Householder, who went public in 2020 with abuse allegations against her parents' Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School in Cedar County, Missouri, is shown in a "Dateline NBC" publicity still photo provided Feb. 10, 2021.
There is more to this article at the Springfield News-Leader.
Decatur man sentenced to 27 years in prison on child porn charges
Tony Reid
Decatur Herold Review
DECATUR — Christopher L. Bailey was sentenced to 27 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography from his Decatur home.
Bailey had first been arrested by Decatur police in June of 2020 after detectives had been tipped off by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, acting on information relayed by Google and Snapchat.
Detective Todd Koester in a sworn affidavit said Bailey viewed and swapped with other paedophiles images of girls as young as 4 and 7 performing sex acts on and being raped by adults.
The case was later taken over by federal prosecutors and U.S. Marshals had taken Bailey into custody in July 2020.
Decatur police reports said this is not the first time Bailey has been punished for sex crimes against children. He had been convicted in California in June of 2008 of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving children aged 5 and 6 and sentenced to five years in prison.
He had also been ordered to register as a sex offender for life and, in October of 2019, was arrested in Decatur and later sentenced to 24 months probation for violating sex offender reporting rules by failing to register a change of address.
The federal prosecution of Bailey was brought as part of “Project Safe Childhood”. This is described by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois as a nationwide effort to “combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.”
Ex-Sherwood High School teacher convicted of child sex crimes
by: Kaitlin Flanigan
Posted: Mar 10, 2021 / 05:01 PM PST
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former Sherwood High School teacher has been convicted of sex crimes involving a child in Multnomah County.
He faces 11 months in jail for the conviction, and will have to register as a sex offender and surrender his teacher’s license; he had been a history teacher at Sherwood High School.
Authorities said the investigation started when someone who knows Trostel found images of a 14-year-old girl inside her bedroom while she was “in a state of nudity.” Officials said the teen victim and her family used to live in Trostel’s neighborhood.
Investigators eventually determined Trostel took the photos of the girl while he was hiding behind a fence surrounded by trees and other plants, according to the district attorney’s office.
In her impact statement to the court, the victim said, in part, “What happened to me shouldn’t have, and I wish so strongly that it hadn’t. But it did. And it makes me disgusted; it makes me angry, and it makes me really sad. … I don’t want to think about what he did. It’s easier to think about doing whatever I can do to keep others from experiencing it.”
Trostel was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 18, 2020, when the Sherwood School District learned about the investigation, according to KOIN 6 News media partner Portland Tribune. He resigned from his position on March 2, according to a district spokesperson.
He’s due in court for sentencing on May 25.
Man faces 110 years in prison for trying to solicit child porn
on motherhood blogs
12 Mar, 2021 19:07
A Florida man has been convicted of not only possessing child pornography, but also trying to solicit more through motherhood blogs, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced.
A Jacksonville jury convicted 42-year-old Patrick Moran Jr. of trying to “entice minors to produce images and videos depicting child sexual abuse” and being in possession of “materials depicting the sexual exploitation of children,” the DOJ said in a statement on Thursday.
Moran is facing a minimum of 15 years for his crimes, but officials say he could face as much as 110 years. He could also be placed on a lifetime of supervised release, should he ever be released from custody.
Moran reportedly signed up on various motherhood blogs designed for parents to exchange childcare tips and product reviews. There, he would directly request mothers provide him with explicit images and videos of their children. He also posted graphic comments about children. He would make these postings under the usernames ‘Emily lover’ or ‘Anonymous’.
Police executed a search warrant in 2019 and found Moran to be in possession of multiple smartphones containing more than 1,000 images and videos of children, including infants and toddlers, being sexually abused. One of these smartphones was used to access the blogs between 2016 and 2018.
In a closet, police also found firearms, and a bulletproof vest with police identification patches on it, as well as children’s underwear.
Sentencing for Moran is scheduled for July of this year.
Former Alabama doctor convicted of child porn, sex abuse
by: Associated Press
Posted: Mar 12, 2021 / 06:04 PM EST
COLUMBIANA, Ala. (AP) — A former Alabama doctor has been convicted on charges of sexually abusing children and producing child pornography.
Bryan worked as an ear, nose and throat physician in Alabaster.
He was arrested in 2016 when authorities released an image of an unidentified man who was sought by investigators after an unidentified person came forward with an old videotape that had been abandoned.
Records show evidence included a video that was made in 2002 and included someone younger than 17 engaged in sex acts.
Alabaster, Ala
Ill. man sentenced for sexual abuse, exploitation of child
by WICS/WRSP Staff
Friday, March 12th 2021
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — An Illinois man will spend nearly three decades behind bars for the sexual abuse and exploitation of a child.
On Friday, 62-year-old James L. Berry was sentenced to 28 years in prison for aggravated criminal sexual abuse (a Class 2 felony), sexual exploitation of a child under 13 (a Class 4 felony), and possession of a controlled substance, less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine (a Class 4 felony).
A jury found Berry guilty of the charges on Nov. 12, 2020.
According to Sangamon County State's Attorney Dan Wright, Berry was found guilty of committing an act of sexual conduct with a child under the age of 13.
Berry knowingly touched the victim's breasts and exposed himself to her for his sexual arousal.
Following his prison sentence, Berry will serve three years of mandatory supervised release.
He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
"Every child deserves a safe and secure environment free from abuse of any kind," Wright said. "The defendant took advantage of a child for his own sexual arousal. Such depraved conduct will not be tolerated in Sangamon County and our community is safer with him behind bars."
Sangamon County officials said Berry faced a maximum potential sentence of 30 years for the crimes, served at 50% by statute.
Salisbury man sentenced to life in child sex abuse, rape case
Rose Velazquez
Salisbury Daily Times
An Eastern Shore man will serve two consecutive life sentences after his third sex offense conviction.
A jury convicted him of those charges in November 2020, according to the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office. It was the third time Woodlin had been found guilty of sexual offenses.
Prosecutors said that in this most recent case, Woodlin sexually abused a child younger than 12 years old in Salisbury in September 2019, while he was already registered as a Tier III sex offender.
Judge D. William Simpson ordered that Woodlin's sentences be served consecutively.
“Justice was done in Mr. Woodlin’s case. The State is grateful for the jury’s consideration and verdict, Judge Simpson’s sentence and the incredible work of our Child Advocacy Center," said State's Attorney Jamie Dykes in a statement.
Davis Co., Ut. man arrested for owning child sex abuse videos
BY MCKENZIE STAUFFER, KUTV
FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH 2021
A South Weber man is facing eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after videos of child sex abuse were allegedly found in his possession. (Photo: KUTV)
(KUTV) — A South Weber man is facing eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after videos of child sex abuse were allegedly found in his possession.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a tip about a social media user that was using a platform to share and upload child pornography. The app or site was not identified in a probable cause affidavit written by police.
The user had reportedly been uploading multiple child sex abuse videos between Oct. 19 and 28, 2020.
Homeland Security Investigations pinpointed the IP address to 61-year-old Michael Clydesdale, who lives in South Weber.
A search warrant was granted by a U.S. magistrate judge on March 9 and law enforcement officers raided Clydesdale's residence two days later.
The affidavit states they found a digital storage device that contained multiple child sex abuse videos.
Clydesdale admitted to officers that he "had a problem" and that he had viewed child pornography on multiple occasions at his home. He also admitted to meeting people on the social media app and shared child sex abuse material with them, according to the affidavit.
Clyesdale was arrested and booked into the Davis County Jail.
Brooklyn Child Sex Abuser Caught After Fleeing To Israel 10 Years Ago
Gershon Kranczer, a rabbi and yeshiva principal from Midwood, is accused of sexually abusing two of his young relatives.
Anna Quinn, Patch Staff
Posted Fri, Mar 12, 2021 at 2:39 pm ET
BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn rabbi who fled to Israel to escape child sexual abuse charges has been brought back to New York, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Gershon Kranczer, 65, had eluded authorities for more than a decade after he was accused in 2010 of sexually assaulting two young relatives, prosecutors said. He was arraigned in Brooklyn on Thursday and ordered to be held without bail.
"This defendant tried to escape justice by fleeing our jurisdiction," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "Today's arraignment on these serious charges is our first step to bringing him to justice for this alleged terrible betrayal of trust. There is no place in our society for this type of predatory behavior, and I am committed to prosecuting cases such as this despite lengthy extradition proceedings."
Kranczer — who according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is a rabbi and was once principal of a local yeshiva — fled to Israel in November 2010, where he managed to hide from authorities until the country's law enforcement arrested him in 2020, the outlet reported.
He was returned to New York today by the United States Marshals Service.
The rabbi is charged with second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, second-degree criminal sexual act and second-degree sexual abuse.
Investigators say that Kranczer sexually assaulted a child from the time she was 6 years old until she was 13 years old between 1996 and 2003, and abused a second child between 2001 and 2002 when she was 11 years old.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 25.
A Klamath Co., Ore. man sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to three counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree
Posted: Mar 12, 2021 9:59 AM
Posted By: Alicia Rubin
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A Klamath County man has pleaded guilty to three counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.
According to court documents, Jerrold Hanson is accused of duplicating pictures and recordings “depicting sexually explicit conduct involving children.”
Hanson was sentenced on March 10, 2021 to 117-months in the Oregon Department of Corrections with an additional 36-months of post-prison supervision.
According to a statement released by the Klamath County Deputy District Attorney, “Hanson’s behavior was exacerbated by the facts that he is a registered sex offender and, at the time of the current offenses, was on post-prison supervision for similar charges.”
Ex-Girl Scout leader indicted on child sex abuse charges
Harold McNeil, Buffalo News
Mar 11, 2021
A former Girl Scout leader from North Tonawanda who is accused of abusing two child victims was virtually arraigned Thursday before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors said Marty M. Walton, 32, was indicted by an Erie County Grand Jury on the highest sustainable charges, including one count of predatory sexual assault against a child, one count of first-degree criminal sexual act, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Walton, who previously worked as a scout leader for Girl Scouts of Western New York, is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with two child victims between March 27 and May 9 at a location in Amherst.
No indication of what year the abuse occurred.
Walton is scheduled to return on March 17. He also has pending criminal charges in Niagara County, and remains held without bail.
If convicted on all charges, Walton faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.
Why are men being used as Girl Scout Leaders? What could possibly go wrong?
Child Sex Abuse Arrest: Multi-state investigation nets St Helens man
The Chronicle Mar 12, 2021
A St. Helens man faces multiple criminal child sex abuse charges following a two-state law enforcement investigation.
Investigators lodged Collins at Columbia County Jail on 15 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, 20 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, and one count of Solicitation for the Sexual Assault of an Animal. His bail is set at $1 million.
Collins’ arrest concludes an investigation that began with the Indiana State Police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. After it was determined that the suspect resided in the St. Helens area, the St. Helens Police Department was contacted.
Officers executed a search warrant at Collins’ residence in the 2300 block of Columbia Boulevard where multiple items of evidence were seized. After an electronic analysis by the Oregon Department of Justice, thousands of images and videos of child pornography were located.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
The St. Helens Police Department is working collaboratively with the Indiana State Police and the Oregon Department of Justice.
If you have any information related to this case, you are asked to contact the St. Helens Police Department at 503-397-1521.
St Helens, Ore
Former Deep Creek, Ore. Elementary School principal
accused of child sex abuse
by KATU Staff
Thursday, March 11th 2021
Police arrested Jeffrey Hays on Thursday at his home in North Portland after a grand jury indicted him Monday.
Hays was the principal of Deep Creek, which is in the Gresham-Barlow School District, from 2005 to 2009. He then became the executive director of City View Charter School in Hillsboro. He is now retired.
Hays faces multiple sex abuse charges.
His bail is set at $500,000.
