Texas judge tells jury God wants not-guilty verdict
in child trafficking trial
Is it any wonder non-Christians don't take Christians seriously
when this kind of lunacy happens?
A Texas state district judge reportedly told a jury that God asked him to direct them to a not-guilty verdict in a child trafficking case they were deliberating on.
Judge Jack Robison interrupted jurors’ deliberations to say God had been in touch, and told him that they should not convict 32-year-old Gloria Elizabeth Romero Perez, who was accused of continuously trafficking her teenage niece from the US to Honduras to an older man.
Robison apologised to the jury for interrupting but told them: “When God tells me to do something, I gotta do it,” before recusing himself from the remainder of the proceedings, reports the Herald-Zeitung in New Braunfels.
It appears the panel of seven men and five women were less obedient to God, as they convicted Perez anyway, sending her to prison for 25 years for trafficking her child. They acquitted her on the second charge of selling a child.
Perez’s defence lawyer Sylvia Cavazo told AP she would be seeking a re-trial. Cavazo said she spoke about the incident with Judge Robison in his chambers afterward and confirmed that he thinks God has spoken to him and reaffirmed that he felt he did the right thing.
Robison has been reprimanded by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct before. The commission found Robison “exceeded the scope of his authority and failed to comply with the law” for jailing a man for contempt of court after he called him a “fool” during a child custody case, according to the Statesman.
Robison is scheduled to return to the bench on January 31.
I think he should consider retiring and if he doesn't, the State should retire him. Who knows how many criminals he has let off because 'God told him to'?
Comal Co., TX
Karate instructor accused of sexually
assaulting children
By Stephanie Pagones and Emily Saul
A Bronx karate instructor has been busted for allegedly sexually assaulting at least two children, including one as young as 6, a police source said Sunday.
Anthony Gonzalez of USA Martial Arts Fitness Academy was arrested last week for the assaults, which had been occurring since September 2016 in the school’s bathroom, the source said.
The alleged long-term abuse of the two girls was discovered when one of them accused Gonzalez of assaulting her in the facility Jan. 17, the source said.
The girl said she went to get a drink of water, and Gonzalez followed her. When the pair were alone, he allegedly yanked down her pants and fondled her, News 12 reported.
The child told her parents, who called the cops, the police source told The Post. Gonzalez was arrested Jan. 18 and charged with sex abuse, forcible touching and acting in a manner injurious to a child, according to court documents.
Cops are investigating the possibility that the 37-year-old may have more victims, according to the same source.
Officials at the karate school issued a statement Sunday on Facebook saying they were aware of the disturbing claims.
It was unclear if the girls were Gonzalez’s students. The school offers classes for both students and adults.
Gonzalez remains jailed on $350,000 bail after his Thursday arrest.
The sweatsuit-clad instructor was walked out of the Bronx Child Advocacy Center in handcuffs later in the evening, eyes downcast.
Gonzalez is expected to return to court Wednesday. If convicted, he faces up to seven years behind bars on the top count.
The school was shuttered Sunday, and a person who identified themselves as a member of the owner’s family declined to answer questions. “There is a lot our family is dealing with right now,” the woman said. “I have nothing else to say at this time.”
Former Oregon school custodian charged
with child sex abuse
By Jack Heffernan The Daily Astorian
SEASIDE — A Seaside man was arrested Thursday for allegedly molesting a child on several occasions.
The allegations are based on several incidents from 2007 to 2011 when the child was between the ages of 5- and 9-years-old. Seaside police arrested Keith Davis, 46, who has been charged with five counts of first-degree sexual abuse and five counts of first-degree sodomy.
Davis is a former custodian at Seaside Heights Elementary School. Police say they do not believe he was using his position with the school to gain access to the victim in this case.
Davis is being held at the Clatsop County Jail on $500,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for later this month if indicted.
“If anyone does believe any similar incidents did occur based on his employment at the school, they are encouraged to come forward,” Deputy District Attorney Dawn Buzzard said.
Those with further information are advised to call Seaside Police Detective Bill Barnes at 503-738-6311.
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