California police say parents shackled
their children to beds
Another story with no apparent child sex abuse, but astonishing, inhuman levels of physical, mental and emotional abuse
Police say victims ranged in age from 2 to 29, appeared
'malnourished and very dirty'
CBC News 
Local police these images of the accused, Louise Anna Turpin, 49, and David Allen Turpin, 57.
(Riverside County Sheriff's Department)
A man and a woman have been arrested in California, accused of keeping their children shackled to beds with chains and padlocks in "dark and foul-smelling surroundings."
According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, a 17-year-old escaped from the home in Perris early Sunday morning and called 911, telling emergency officials that her parents were holding her 12 siblings captive.
Police said that when officers met with the caller, she "appeared to be only 10 years old and slightly emaciated."
"Further investigation revealed several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings, but the parents were unable to immediately provide a logical reason why their children were restrained in that manner."
The children, who police say "appeared to be malnourished and very dirty" range in age between two and 29 years old.
"Deputies located what they believed to be 12 children inside the house, but were shocked to discover that seven of them were actually adults," the release said.
"The victims were provided with food and beverages after they claimed to be starving."
David Allen Turpin, 57, and Louise Anna Turpin, 49, were arrested for violating California laws around torture and child endangerment. Both were detained, with bail set at $9 million US each.
'Greatest gymnast' Simone Biles
'abused by team doctor'
WORLD-conquering American gymnast Simone Biles, who won four gold medals at the Rio Olympics, has joined the more than 100 women who have accused team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse.
Biles, 20, said the "horrific experience" would not define her, nor would it "steal my love and joy".
Nassar, 54, is already serving time in prison after being jailed in December for three charges relating to child sex images he had stored on his computer.
Nassar is to be sentenced this month over two cases in which he admitted to assaulted female gymnasts, the BBC reports.
In her statement posted on Twitter, Biles tells of being seen as a "happy, giggly and energetic girl" who felt afraid to tell her story.
"I too am one of the many survivors that was sexually abused by Larry Nassar," she said.
"It is not normal to receive any type of treatment from a trusted team physician and refer to it horrifyingly as the "special" treatment.
"This behaviour is completely unacceptable, disgusting, and abusive, especially coming from someone whom I was TOLD to trust".
She goes on to say that his alleged abuse would not stop her striving.
"I compete with all of my heart and soul every time I step into the gym," she said.
"I love this sport too much and I have never been a quitter.
"I won't let one man, and the others that enabled him, to steal my love and joy".
At Rio, Biles set the record for most gold medals ever won for women's gymnastics at a single Games.
She is widely considered the greatest gymnast of all time.
Ravenna couple indicted in child sex abuse case
RAVENNA — Two Ravenna residents are facing felony charges in Portage County Common Pleas Court related to child sexual abuse allegations first investigated by city police a decade ago.
Court records show that after 10 years of on-and-off investigative work, Deric R. Cleavenger, 48, of 125 Clinton St., was indicted recently on three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, and five counts of gross sexual imposition, all third-degree felonies.
In addition, Carol Cleavenger, also 48 and of the same address, was indicted the same day on charges including endangering children and obstructing justice, both third-degree felonies.
Deric Cleavenger pleaded not guilty in common pleas court on Friday. He posted $150,000 bond and is free but on electronically monitored house arrest. Judge Laurie Pittman also ordered he have no contact with the alleged victim, and set a trial date set in March.
Carol Cleavenger pleaded not guilty and posted $100,000 bond on Dec. 29 in Judge Becky Doherty’s courtroom. She is free on electronically monitored house arrest, with work release privileges and a no-contact order regarding the alleged victim, pending future court dates. Doherty set a February trial date.
Ravenna police could not verify the status or nature of the Cleavengers’ relationship, other than to note that they share an address, though court records appear to show they were married in Portage County in October 1991.
Deric Cleavenger’s indictment alleges that on at least eight occasions between September 1994 and September 1999, he raped and sexually abused a child victim under the age of 13. It is also alleged that during that time, Carol Cleavenger “violated a duty of care, protection or support” that resulted in physical harm to the victim, according to her indictment.
While he said he could not go into specifics due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, Ravenna police Capt. David Rarrick said the allegations against Deric Cleavenger first were brought to the department’s attention in November 2007. It was at this time that Carol Cleavenger allegedly lied to a Ravenna police detective to protect Deric Cleavenger, according to her indictment.
Detectives collected statements and interviewed witnesses — with some of those interviews done so long ago they are recorded on VHS tapes, Rarrick said. The investigation was suspended sometime in 2008, he said.
The victim again contacted Ravenna police in April 2016, and the case was reopened. Further interviews were conducted and statements taken at that time, Rarrick said.
In December the case was reopened for review by the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office and presented to a grand jury the middle of last month, Rarrick said.
“We worked on the case for quite some time,” he said.
Michigan man arrested for child sexual abuse activity
KENTWOOD, MICH. - A 40-year-old Kentwood man is in jail accused of soliciting a 12-year-old child for sex online.
Police say Jeramy Lee Vanderkodde was arrested after an investigation into his online activity.
Michigan State Police found he had arranged to meet with the child for sex in a shopping mall parking lot in January.
Police say the Vanderkodde was arrested before that meeting could take place. Vanderkodde is also charged with child sexually abusive activity and using a computer to commit a rime.
Texas man charged with 9 counts of child sex abuse was around children for 50 years
WFAA
MESQUITE -- A man in Mesquite has been arrested on nine counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Daniel Wayne Meshell, 74, of Terrell, was arrested on Dec. 28. His bond is set at $900,000.
Police say between 1991 and 1998, Meshell sexually assaulted three female victims between the ages of two and eight.
Beyond that, police say Meshell "had access" to children in a family member's home daycare starting in 1968. He was also a volunteer with two children's ministries -- St. Pius X in Dallas from 1978 to 1996 and St. John the Apostle in Terrell from 1999 to the present.
He also drove a school bus for the Terrell Independent School District between 2011 and 2012.
No victims have been identified from the churches or school district, police said.
Due to how much access he had to children for the past 50 years, police believe there may be more victims. If you have any information, call (972) 329-8303.
California youth pastor accused of sexual abuse
Son of the Senior Pastor
By STEPHEN RAMIREZ Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
A youth pastor at an Ontario church is in jail after two women accused him of assaulting them while they were minors, the Ontario police said.
Gerardo Isreal Custodio, 30, the youth pastor at Iglesia La Familia De Dios Baptist Church, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of sex abuse of a child, sexual penetration by force of a minor, lewd acts with a minor under 14, sodomy with a person under 14 and oral copulation with a person under 18, jail records show.
The suspect’s father, Gerardo Custodio Sr., is the church’s senior pastor. The church opened in 1995.
The incidents are believed to have occurred between 2012 and 2015, according to an Ontario police news release. Officers were alerted after the two victims came into the police department to report they had been victims of sexual abuse, according to the release.
The first victim told police she was 14 when the events took place, several on church property, the release said. She said she had contact with Custodio between 2012-14 when he was in his early 20s.
The second victim told police she was 15 when the incidents she is accusing Custodio of occurred, the release said. They happened between 2014-15, the victim told police.
Custodio was booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga with bail set at $3 million, according to jail records.
Police believe they may be other victims and are asking any additional victims or anyone with information about this incident to call the department at 909-986-6711, or Detective Jeff Zeen at 909-395-2744. Those wishing to report anonymously can call the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or visit www.wetip.com.
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