32 y/o church youth leader arrested for child sex abuse - Iowa
22 y/o charged with sex abuse of 5 y/o and 12 y/o - Oklahoma
41 y/o vet plea deals for 3 years of CSA of 7-10 y/o - Washington
Man wanted for CSA in Germany arrested for child porn - Florida
25 y/o sentenced to 14 years for sex abuse of 8 & 9 y/o's - Alaska
Former church youth leader accused of
fondling multiple children
Stephen Gruber-Miller , Press Citizen
A former Iowa City church youth leader and North Liberty private school teacher inappropriately touched multiple children over the course of several years, police say.
Between 2006 and 2013, Benjamin C. Tweedt, 32, of North Liberty, fondled or had inappropriate sexual interactions with at least four children between the ages of 11 and 13, police say. He was arrested Wednesday. Among the charges he faces are one count of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of lascivious acts with a child - fondle or touch, which are both class C felonies.
Tweedt was a youth leader and mentor at Parkview Church in Iowa City since 2004, according to his LinkedIn page. The church, which reported the allegations to police in February, says Tweedt was a volunteer but was never an employee.
"In early February we were made aware of incidents that occurred involving a volunteer in the junior high ministries prior to 2012 and immediately contacted local authorities," the church said in a statement.
Tweedt also taught at Heritage Christian School in North Liberty from 2009 to 2013, according to that school's administrator.
In his role at the church, Tweedt had multiple one-on-one visits with children, during which time most of the abuse occurred, according to police. When Parkview found out about the allegations of abuse, Tweedt was immediately removed from further student ministry participation, police said.
North Liberty Police Chief Diane Venenga said the abuse happened in homes and church retreat locations in North Liberty and Coralville.
Tweedt did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
In addition to the felony charges, Tweedt is charged with three counts of indecent contact with a child, an aggravated misdemeanor; and two counts of lascivious conduct with a minor, a serious misdemeanor.
If convicted on all counts, Tweedt could face up to 38 years in prison. He was booked into the Johnson County Jail on Wednesday and posted a $3,800 cash bond and was discharged Thursday morning, online court records show.
The North Liberty Police Department was assisted by the Coralville Police Department and Johnson County Attorney's Office in the investigation.
Tulsa man charged with child sexual abuse
by Jessica Remer
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) -- A Tulsa man is facing charges of child sexual abuse.
Christopher Baxter, 22, is charged with sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 and child sexual abuse.
According to court documents, Baxter came under investigation in November when a woman reported that her 5-year-old daughter made abuse allegations. During a forensic interview, the girl made multiple references to Baxter's penis.
Police also interviewed a 12-year-old girl who said Baxter touched her thighs and vagina on more than one occasion.
According to court documents, Baxter admitted to tickling the older girl on her inner thighs and regularly bathing with the younger girl.
Charges were filed in February and a warrant was issued for Baxter's arrest. He was taken into custody Wednesday and is now behind bars at the Tulsa County Jail where he's being held on $50,000 bond.
Former military member pleads guilty to child sex abuse
By AP/Jeremy Downing
Tacoma, Wash. - A former member of the military, with a connection to Cheyenne, has pleaded guilty to two counts related to the sexual molestation of a child.
The Department of Justice says 41-year-old Kenneth Descoteaux entered the guilty pleas for sexual abuse of a minor Thursday in Tacoma, Washington, as part of a plea agreement.
The abuse took place on military bases in Washington and Louisiana between 2011 and 2014 when the victim was ages 7-10. The Cheyenne Police Department took part in the investigation since the victim disclosed the abuse while living in Wyoming.
In addition to the sexual abuse, the victim was also repeatedly struck in the head by Descoteaux, at one point causing hearing loss. The victim’s mother was a deployed service member periodically serving overseas at the time of Descoteaux’s crimes.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, both sides will recommend a sentence of 23 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle scheduled sentencing for August 7, 2017. The judge can impose any sentence up to the maximum penalty of life in prison and Descoteaux will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Child sex abuse suspect arrested taking photos of children at splash park
by Sierra Darville
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A man wanted on child sex abuse charges overseas and for possible child pornography in Florida is now behind bars.
Detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office arrested Patrick Brogie as he sat near a splash pad in Pompano Beach watching children play and taking pictures.
Internet Crimes Against Children detectives say they began investigating Brogie last month after they received information about possible child pornography on his phone.
According to investigators, witnesses say Brogie often visited the splash pad. Deputies tried to locate him on several occasions but were unsuccessful.
On April 20, deputies located Brogie and found on his phone images and videos involving children, including photos of girls as young as 3 years old at the splash pad. Deputies say the photos show the girls in their swimsuits, focusing on their buttocks as they bent over.
ICAC detectives arrested Brogie on Tuesday while he was at the splash pad.
Investigators also say Brogie has an active warrant from Germany for a 2008 case of sexual abuse on a child.
Authorities fear he may have had inappropriate contact with children in the Pompano Beach area.
Anyone with information is asked to contact I.C.A.C. Detective Nick Masters at 954-888-5264.
Fairbanks man gets 14 years for child sex abuse
By Sam Friedman, Newsminer.com
FAIRBANKS — A 25-year-old man was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison Wednesday for the sexual abuse of two girls during the past two years.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Stephen James Payton pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree felony sexual abuse of a minor.
Payton addressed the families of the girls he abused during his sentencing Wednesday afternoon in Fairbanks.
“I would just like to apologize to the families that I’ve hurt,” he said.
The two girls were 8 and 9 years of age when the abuse began, according to the case against Payton. He had been indicted on 18 counts, including distribution of indecent materials to minors and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
Payton will have to register as a sex offender for 15 years and pay the cost of any counseling for the children requested by the families.
Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Baird said the victims’ families agreed with the way the case resolved.
Payton’s court-appointed attorney, Steven Hansen, said he believed Payton had a good chance of rehabilitation because he took responsibility for his actions and sought treatment before police arrested him.
“Although an arrest did not happen immediately to Mr. Payton, he began seeking out treatment for alcohol and sexual abuse,” Hansen said. “In my time, I have never seen that.”
And I pray he will be successful in rehabilitating himself.
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