Kentucky governor pardons man in extraordinary
child sexual abuse case
By Associated Press |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has pardoned a man serving life in prison for sexually abusing his 6-year-old stepdaughter.
I'm guessing it was the pedophile's step daughter, not Bevin's.
News outlets report Bevin issued the pardon Friday, saying that Paul Donel Hurt was wrongly convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and sodomy in Louisville in 2001. Hurt’s accuser recanted her testimony at a hearing in 2015, but the conviction stood.
Circuit Court Judge Audra Jean Eckerle ruled the recantation was inconsistent. She also expressed concern because the trial judge in the case had communicated with Hurt and the victim after retiring from the bench. Eckerle says the trial judge “altered” the victim’s memory and testimony “by using judicial coercion and intimidation.”
According to court documents, “Judge Mershon became convinced that Hurt was innocent in this matter” and, in “an effort to obtain Hurt’s release,” he “contacted the victim and assisted her in writing a letter to Governor Steven Beshear seeking a pardon or commutation for Hurt” in 2015.
The victim steadfastly maintained her version of events for 15 years, before she was approached by Mershon.
“It was only brought about by the highly unusual circumstance” of Mershon “confronting her directly and privately,” Eckerle said. “Even with his involvement, it took quite some time” to secure a full recantation, she wrote.
An appellate court later upheld that ruling.
Hurt was released from the Kentucky State Reformatory on Friday.
Mershon picked up Hurt from prison and delivered him to his mother’s house. - Huff Post
Former Lincoln Co., Ida., sheriff working on possible appeal of child sex abuse conviction
JULIE A. FERRARO jferraro@magicvalley.com
HAILEY — A former Lincoln County sheriff is taking steps toward appealing his child sex abuse conviction, but has not decided yet if he will.
Blaine County Deputy Public Defender Cheri Hicks filed paperwork with the Fifth Judicial District Court on Monday requesting preparation of the transcript from Rene Rodriguez's jury trial. The "transcript is necessary for the appeal of the above named Defendant," the document reads, in part.
Rodriguez was convicted of six charges by a jury on Friday.
The legal team has not decided yet if they will appeal, but they will use the transcript to evaluate the case and decide with Rodriguez, Hicks told the Times-News. "We'll use it to analyze any appeal issues," Hicks said.
Rodriguez was convicted of one count of child sexual abuse of a minor under 16 years of age, four counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16, and one count of rape by a jury of seven men and six women after a four-day trial.
He faces up to life in prison.
The transcript will be prepared at taxpayer's expense, with Rodriguez listed in the document as indigent. He currently cannot afford to pay for the transcript," the request says.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20.
Lincoln Co., Ida
Man wanted on child sex abuse warrant is arrested entering Texas from Mexico
Traffic entering the U.S. from Reynosa, Mexico, backs up on the U.S. side at the Hidalgo Port of Entry on the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge in 2016. (File Photo/Nathan Lambrecht)
By Tom Steele
A White Settlement man who is accused of sexually abusing a child was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border Sunday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers who were working at the Hidalgo International Bridge discovered that the man entering Texas might be linked to an outstanding warrant, the agency said.
Fingerprints confirmed he was Patricio Luevano, 77, who is wanted on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to Customs and Border Protection. The agency said he is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
Luevano was booked into the Hidalgo County jail and is awaiting transfer to Tarrant County.
“Apprehensions like these, when CBP officers identify and verify travelers with an outstanding felony warrant for sexual abuse of a child, reinforce the importance of our border security mission and help keep our community safe,” Port Director Carlos Rodriguez said in a written statement.
White Settlement police have not released any information about the allegations against Luevano. He has no apparent previous criminal history.
Tulsa Mother Speaks Out After Good Friend Charged With Sexually Abusing Her Daughter
'Can you keep a secret'; 'No'; Idiot exposes himself to her anyway
By: Taylor Newcomb
TULSA, Oklahoma - A Tulsa man is charged with child sexual abuse, and the mother of one of his alleged victims spoke exclusively to News On 6.
The mother requested to remain anonymous to protect her 13-year-old daughter. She said she would've been heartbroken if anyone violated her daughter, but said she's known Lawrence Morey for more than 20 years. That's why she said she was so shocked when her daughter told her Morey had exposed himself to her.
"If something like this happened to my daughter, he's the one I would go to about it," the woman said.
She said her daughter was at Morey's house with a friend when he texted her and asked if she could keep a secret. Her daughter responded, "No."
Later that same evening, she said her daughter woke up to see Morey standing near her, exposing himself. The girl immediately told her mother, who reported it to police.
"My first initial reaction was like no, this can't be, this can't be true," the mom said. "I mean, I believed her, I knew she wasn't lying."
Morey is now in the Tulsa County Jail for child sexual abuse for a different case involving a different little girl the woman also knows.
"I wish bad things on him, but then I feel bad for feeling that way," the mom said. "Because I loved him for so long."
The mother said it was her daughter's experience that encouraged this girl and her family to come forward. "He's a predator, and he needs to be locked away where he can't hurt anyone ever again," she said.
The mom said Morey has denied all the allegations against him, and of course, he's innocent unless proven guilty. His next court date is in December.
Nine arrested in Idaho child sexual abuse investigation; Five face state charges
by Rachel Bjornestad
2 Idaho News
Mug shots for the five men facing state charges. The other four face federal charges - photos unavailable. (Photos Courtesy of the Ada County Jail)
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Nine people were booked into the Ada County Jail over the weekend after several agencies came together to investigate child sexual abuse crimes in the Treasure Valley.
Four of them have been referred for federal charges.
The operations took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Eden Roberts announced the results Monday morning.
They say the project was a cooperative effort between federal, state and local agencies. HSI organized and supervised the operation. The lead agencies were the Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, Idaho State Police, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office and the Meridian Police Department.
The Ada County Sheriff’s Office, United States Postal Inspection Service, Rupert Police Department and Jerome County Sheriff’s Office also participated.
On Friday, three people were arrested. 23-year-old Jesse A. Kelley-Castillo and 23-year-old Maxwell G. Hennerley, both of Boise, are each facing a federal charge of coercion and enticement. 25-year-old Trevor M. Byram, also of Boise, is facing a state charge of enticing a child through use of the internet or other communication device.
Three more were arrested on Saturday. 33-year-old Joshua Schmitz, 27-year-old Shawn M. Reber, and 29-year-old Seth M. Holden are each facing a state charge of enticing a child through use of the internet or other communication device. Schmitz and Holden are from Garden City. Reber is from Fruitland.
On Sunday, three people were arrested. 55-year-old Vern L. Moore of Kuna, and 32-year-old Jordan M. Drake of Boise are each facing a federal charge of coercion and enticement. Patrick P. Telleria, 35, of Boise, faces a state charge of enticing a child through use of the internet or other communication device.
“It’s an honor for the ICAC Unit to participate in this type of operation,” said Attorney General Lawrence Wasden in a Monday press release. “To plan and coordinate such a project takes significant time and energy. But when you see the outcome and know Idaho children are now safer as a result, it’s very satisfying.”
“This operation took nine dangerous child predators off the streets,” said Eben Roberts, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle. “This operation’s success, and those like it, is a direct result of the strong partnership shared between HSI and local, state and federal law enforcement. HSI is committed to protecting children from those seeking to take advantage of their innocence.”
Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children should contact local police. They can also contact the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
Pembroke, N.H., man charged with possessing
child sexual abuse images
WMUR By Duncan Shaw
PEMBROKE, N.H. —
The Pembroke Police Department arrested a man accused of possessing child sexual abuse images.
Erik Bjork, 37, was charged with five class-A felonies.
According to a press release, police along with members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a search warrant in Kimball Street.
Several computers and electronic equipment were seized, where child sexual abuse material was found.
Bjork was held without bail and has an arraignment scheduled for November 25 in Merrimack County Superior Court.
Anyone with information on this case or others should call the Pembroke Police Department at 603-485-9173, or the Concord Regional Crime Line at 603-226-3100.
Alabama man headed to jail for 30 years
in child sex abuse / incest case
Gadsden Times
By Donna Thornton / Times Staff Writer
A 52-year-old man pleaded guilty Thursday in Etowah County Circuit Court to multiple sexual offenses against children.
Kenneth Scott Ingram’s plea agreement will send him to prison for 30 years, with no possibility of early release or parole, according to District Attorney Jody Willoughby.
Ingram entered the plea on three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a child under 12, three counts of incest and one count of sodomy of a child under 12.
Under Alabama law, a person convicted of any sexual offense against a child less than 12 years of age is not eligible for probation, parole or incentive good time within the prison system. The terms of the plea agreement were agreed to and signed off on by both the district attorney’s Office and the victims in this case. The plea hearing was held in Judge William Ogletree’s courtroom.
Ingram’s arrest and guilty plea followed an investigation by the Southside Police Department into allegations arising from the sexual abuse of three children, Willoughby said in a press release.
Ingram was arrested in January on the charges.
Children just 4 years old
The abuse took place over a duration of years beginning when the children were as young as 4 years old. Willoughby commended the James M. Barrie Center for Children and Southside Police Department Investigators Jay Freeman and Phillip Roberson for their efforts in this case.
He also expressed appreciation for the victims who came forward with the allegations. Deputy District Attorney Brynn Crain, who prosecuted the case, also expressed his appreciation for the victims and everyone involved in the investigation.
“We want to thank the Southside Police Department, the James M. Barrie Center for Children and everyone else that assisted in the investigation of this case.” Crain said. “These young victims showed a tremendous amount of courage by coming forward with these allegations.
“It is because of their bravery that we were able to take a sexual predator off the streets, and this community owes them a debt of gratitude.” he said. “I hope these victims and their family will now be able to achieve a measure of peace and closure as they try to heal.”
I hope they get the counselling they need to heal. If they don't, their chances are greatly reduced.
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