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Police say Des Moines man sexually abused minor for 7 years
KCCI Updated: 10:10 PM CDT Oct 24, 2020
DES MOINES, Iowa —
A man has been arrested on multiple sexual assault charges after police say he sexually abused a child between 2011 and 2018.
Joseph Charles Pray, 63, was arrested on Friday afternoon. Court documents state that Pray sexually abused a child between the ages of 5 and 12.
A police report shows that Pray also had sexually exploited a minor by possessing a photograph of a child being sexually abused.
The Des Moines Police Department has charged him with five counts of second-degree sex abuse, third-degree sex abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor.
He's being held at the Polk County Jail on a $155,000 cash bond. A no-contact order has been issued for the victim.
Disgusting Details of Baltimore Prison Guard’s
Child Sexual Assault Case Revealed
BY SHORE NEWS NETWORK
OCTOBER 24, 2020
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Thomas Michael Mannion, Jr., age 46, of Parkville, Maryland, to 400 months in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for two counts of production of child pornography. Mannion previously admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with two minor victims. Judge Gallagher also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Mannion must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
“Thomas Mannion is a predator and our children and communities are safer because he will now serve more than 33 years in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We are grateful for the collaboration of our law enforcement partners to remove this sexual predator from the community so he can no longer victimize our children.”
“When the most vulnerable of our citizens – our children – are victimized we will do everything in our power to protect them and get predators such as this off the street,” said Jennifer C. Boone, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “This case started with one person who was concerned with what they witnessed. Their willingness to step forward was critical to our ability to protect additional children from this predator. I would ask anyone with such information in the future to contact the nearest FBI office or submit tips online at https://tips.fbi.gov. ”
“Mannion preyed upon and exploited children, documenting his crimes to contribute to the horrific child exploitation material industry,” said John Eisert, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations’ Baltimore field office. “Homeland Security Investigations, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, is committed to investigating and seeking prosecution of predators in our community.”
According to his guilty plea, Mannion, who was a Baltimore County Correctional Officer at the time, rented the basement apartment of a townhome in Parkville, Maryland, where he lived alone. On May 6, 2019, Baltimore County Police were called to a residence after a neighbor had seen Mannion in bed naked with Minor Victim 1, who was also unclothed. When police arrived, they located the minor victim, who was 13 years old at the time, in the basement bedroom area.
Investigation revealed that Mannion had met the victim a few months before on a social networking application. Mannion had initially met Minor Victim 1 on March 9, 2019, and brought him to his apartment, where they engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mannion took photos and videos of Minor Victim 1 during the sexual encounter. Mannion admitted that on March 12, 2019 and March 17, 2019, as well as on additional occasions, he distributed the sexually explicit images of Minor Victim 1 to others. Mannion took additional sexually explicit photographs of Minor Victim 1 on May 6, 2019. A forensic analysis of Mannion’s cellphone revealed 21 images and two videos depicting Minor Victim 1 engaged in sexually explicit activity on March 9, 2019, and an additional eight images of Minor Victim 1 documenting the sexual activity on May 6, 2019.
As detailed in the plea agreement, Mannion also communicated with Minor Victim 2, a 14-year-old male, through the social networking application. Mannion admitted that on April 17, 2019, Mannion went to the home of Minor Victim 2, where he engaged in sexual activity with the victim and took photographs and videos documenting the sexual contact. Mannion distributed the child pornography images of Minor Victim 2 to multiple other users of the social networking application. The forensic analysis of Mannion’s cellphone recovered 18 images and two videos documenting the sexual activity with Minor Victim 2.
According to the plea agreement, Mannion attempted to meet with several other minors with whom he communicated on the social networking application, even after the minors advised Mannion of their ages. Mannion also discussed his sexual interest in other children that he knew or had contact with during sexually explicit chats with users of the application. In addition, a review of Mannion’s laptop computer revealed multiple images of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Baltimore SWAT officer charged with child sex abuse
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) — A Baltimore Police SWAT team officer was charged with child sex abuse in Harford County, according to court records.
Donald P. Hildebrandt, 50, was charged this week with four counts, including sex abuse of a minor, third-degree sex offense and second-degree assault, The Baltimore Sun reported Friday. The offense date is listed as Oct. 16 and charges were filed on Oct. 21, but additional details of the allegations were not immediately available.
Court records show Hildebrandt was released on $30,000 unsecured personal bond. It’s not known if he has an attorney, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 19.
The Baltimore Police Department said in a statement that it is aware of the investigation in Harford County and that Hildebrandt has been suspended without pay. He has been a police officer since 2006, according to the department.
Sex Offender Registry for Angelina County, Texas
Updated Oct 24, 2020
Lufkin Daily News
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s sex offender registry is free to access by anyone online. There, mugshots of those registered, their address, threat level and charges are among the information that can be gathered. Those outside of city limits have the nearest city included in their address.
Additionally, DPS has an interactive map that pinpoints approximately where those on the registry are located, according to the listed address.
The following list includes those who were on the registry as of Oct. 21, listed in alphabetical order by last name. Also included is each individual’s age, location, charge and registration end date, if applicable.
Those who wish to view the registry or to search for nearby offenders may visit the DPS Sex Offender Registry website at records.Highwaydps.state.Highway.us/SexOffenderRegistry/Search.
■ Roosevelt Tracy Adams Jr., 64, 1111 Mitchell Ave., Lufkin, sexual assault, lifetime
■ Eugene William Adams, 47, 1278 FM 326, Lufkin, sexual assault, lifetime
■ Craig Winnel Agent, 62, 1802 Kurth Drive, Lufkin, incest, lifetime
There are many more names on this list. Please visit Lufkin Daily News for the complete list, or the link above for the full registry.
Two lawsuits filed against Longview, Tx doctor charged with child sex assault
By Courtney Stern cstern@news-journal.com
Updated Oct 24, 2020
A second civil lawsuit has been filed against a Longview doctor accused of sexually assaulting boys during counseling sessions.
The suit was filed Wednesday by the Longview law firm Sorey, Gilliland & Hull on behalf of a child and his mother, who are referred to in the lawsuit as John Doe and Jane Doe to protect their identities.
Hipke and his Adolescent Care Team medical practice, which has closed, are named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks damages of $1 million for medical expenses, physical pain, suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, physical impairment and/or disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life and quality of life and loss of earning capacity in the future. The lawsuit requests a trial by jury.
According to the lawsuit, the child began seeing Hipke as a patient in March 2018 when the boy was 9 years old and was under Hipke’s care until July 2020.
“Hipke never allowed John Doe’s mother to be present during the ‘examinations,’ instead insisting on every occasion that Plaintiff Jane Doe remain in the waiting room while Defendant Hipke ‘counseled’ John Doe in private,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit alleges that “on many occasions from March 2018 to July 2020, instead of counseling John Doe, Defendant Hipke sexually assaulted, molested and/or sexually abused John Doe, each time telling John Doe not to tell anyone about their discussion or ‘examinations.’ “
The first lawsuit was filed Oct. 2 in Gregg County Court at Law No. 2 by a parent on behalf of a child who accuses Hipke of assaulting him during his time as a patient. Attorney Ross Leonoudakis of Nix Patterson in Austin is representing the family. That lawsuit also seeks damages of $1 million.
Both lawsuits accuse Hipke of assault and battery, continuous abuse of a young child or children, negligence and gross negligence and states the doctor was negligent for reasons including “operating a medical clinic exclusively for minor patients when Matt Hipke knew or had reason to know he was a pedophile.”
The lawsuits also accuse the Adolescent Care Team medical practice of being grossly negligent for not reporting Hipke as “a known pedophile” to authorities. Hipke opened Adolescent Care Team in 2000, treating “teens and tweens” on health and wellness counseling.
The medical board suspended Hipke’s license Aug. 10 after he was accused of inappropriately touching three patients younger than 17 during examinations at his office.
According to court records, Hipke has not responded to either lawsuit. An attorney for Hipke could not be located Friday.
71-y/o claiming girls were 'sexually aggressive' with him
faces 4 sex abuse counts
by Jennifer Weaver
Friday, October 23rd, 2020
KUTV — A 71-year-old Layton man is facing several felony charges of sex abuse from accusations that he fondled young girls in the 90s, who he claims were "sexually aggressive" with him.
William Craig Mitchell is facing allegations from two women who say he molested them when they were children. One of the women documented the abuse in her personal journal in 1990 and 1991 and told investigators in a police affidavit that Mitchell dry humped her stomach and genital area. She also claimed he would watch pornography naked in front of her.
The woman also indicated that Mitchell paid her money to put on a "bra and boob show" when she was approximately 10 years old. Her story was corroborated regarding a sex offense case where Mitchell was a suspect reported in 2017. In that case, the now-adult victim reported between 1998 and 2000 that Mitchell led her and other girls who were friends with his daughter into his basement to play hide-and-seek during a swimming party.
The affidavit said the girls would hide in separate rooms and he'd look for them individually. The victim reported that Mitchell took some time to find her during the game but once he did that he used an ice cube to stimulate her genital area as he rubbed up against her stomach while they were both wearing their swimming suits. She also reported to police that Mitchell would intentionally leave his bedroom door open while he changed so the girls could see him naked.
Another victim identified in the 2017 case recalled similar circumstances including the use of an ice cube put down her swimsuit, Mitchell tickling her, and moving her swimsuit around but did not recall being fondled, the affidavit stated. She did say that Mitchell's behavior was strange to her.
The woman who documented her experiences with Mitchell in her journal in the 90s was unaware of the allegations from victims between 1998 and 2000, and in the 2017 case. Police reported in the affidavit that Mitchell's behavior toward pre-pubescent girls was consistent across all of the victims' independent accounts.
The probable cause statement said that upon investigation in 2018, Mitchell admitted to playing hide-and-seek with his daughter and her friends when they were young girls but denied any allegations of sexual abuse. When he was interviewed again in Sept. 2020, "after responding to the police department of his own volition," Mitchell admitted again to playing hide-and-seek in his basement in the 90s but denied touching anyone's genitals.
What Mitchell did acknowledge was that young girls often came to his home when he was approximately 40-year-old and they would play together when nobody else was home. He also admitted that some people may perceive that as strange.
Unless they were pedophiles; in which case they would consider it opportunistic.
He also admitted to police that sometimes their bodies would rub together and that it was possible he got excited based on the friction. He also said the girls were the "sexually aggressive" ones who often touched him in "strange ways." He claimed the girls wore immodest clothing and recalled that he accidentally touched a victim's breast at one point while they were wrestling, the affidavit stated.
Mitchell was booked into the Davis County Jail on Sept. 17, 2020, on four second-felony counts of child sex abuse.
Registered sex offender arrested on charges of sexually exploiting a child
Rachel Berry
Times-News
A man was arrested after authorities say he distributed child sex abuse material.
Following the search, Evan Scott McCoy, 29, of Graham was arrested, the Sheriff's Office said.
McCoy was charged with felony second degree sexual exploitation of a minor and felony failure to report new/change online identifier as a sex offender.
He was given a $20,000 secured bond.
McCoy was a registered sex offense from crimes occurring in 2016 when he was charged with first degree sexual exploitation of a minor and second degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
At that time, McCoy allegedly told an undercover FBI agent that he raped a 3-year-old, the Times-News reported in 2016.
Illinois Supreme Court candidate faces attack ads for decision
in child abuse case
BY SARAH MANSUR FOR CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
OCTOBER 23, 2020 07:00 AM
A court decision involving an appeal from a convicted sex offender who attempted suicide before trial has surfaced in the race for the state Supreme Court’s southern Illinois district between two sitting justices on that same court.
In a 28-page opinion issued in June, a three-judge panel of the 5th District Appellate Court tossed out the conviction of Jerad Peoples, who claimed he deserved a new trial because he was hospitalized from a drug overdose and suicide attempt during his first trial.
Justice David Overstreet, who is the Republican candidate, agreed with the two other appellate judges on the panel that decided to throw out Peoples’ conviction for sexually abusing a child and grant him a new trial.
Both Overstreet and his opponent, Justice Judy Cates, currently serve on the Fifth District Appellate Court, one of five appeals courts across the state that is directly below the Illinois Supreme Court.
They are running to fill the seat held by Justice Lloyd Karmeier, who is retiring in December.
Cates, this week in a news release, demanded an explanation for Overstreet’s decision “for why he released a child molester from jail as an unregistered sex offender.”
The Clean Courts Committee, a campaign committee “to elect judges free of corruption” in Illinois, also recently sponsored ads attacking Overstreet about his decision in the case, People v. Jerad Peoples.
Overstreet said, in an interview, he couldn’t comment on the details of the decision because of an Illinois Supreme Court rule that prohibits judges from speaking publicly “about a pending or impending proceeding in any court.”
“Obviously the decision speaks for itself, and I would encourage your readers to read the order themselves,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate that Justice Cates’ campaign is desperate.”
In January 2015, Peoples was charged with sexually abusing the 6-year-old daughter of his girlfriend for four years, starting in 2011.
THE TRIAL, SENTENCING
He was found guilty at trial and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Peoples asked the appellate court to decide whether his felony conviction for criminal sexual assault of a child should be vacated, or thrown out, because he was hospitalized when his trial began, and therefore was involuntarily absent from the trial.
An individual can choose to be absent from his or her trial, under Illinois law.
State law also allows for a person to be absent from his or her trial if the prosecutor proves “through substantial evidence that the defendant is willfully avoiding trial.”
When Peoples was absent for trial and could not be reached, the trial judge was told that a detective had seen Peoples in the emergency room of a local hospital at 3:30 a.m. that day, according to the opinion.
Peoples’ attorney wasn’t able to confirm this information with the hospital, due to state and federal privacy laws.
PEOPLES OVERDOSED ON SLEEPING AID
It was revealed that Peoples had overdosed on an acetaminophen-based sleeping aid, “(w)hile in an intoxicated state,” the opinion states.
Of course, you could argue that his intentional overdose means he had no intention of showing up for court. Therefore, it was his decision and the trial should stand.
“Given the information the trial court received the morning of trial, the court should have engaged in additional inquiry to ascertain whether (Peoples) was in the hospital under guard and was unable to leave the hospital to attend his trial,” the appellate court’s June 22 opinion states.
“When (Peoples) was scheduled to be present for trial, he was confined to the intensive care unit with security guards posted at his door, was receiving treatment for acetaminophen poisoning, and was not in control of his actions,” according to the opinion.
The appellate court panel — including Overstreet, John Barberis Jr. and Milton S. Wharton — decided to vacate Peoples’ conviction for sexually assaulting a child, and found he was entitled to a new trial.
RETIRED JUDGE DEFENDS DECISION
In an editorial defending the decision, retired Edwards County judge David K. Frankland wrote that the appellate court’s decision does not mean the charge against Peoples was also thrown out.
“The charge against the defendant was not dismissed. The case was sent back to the trial court for a new trial,” Frankland wrote. “A defendant in our system of justice has a constitutional right to be present at all stages of the trial including the right to confront witnesses and to assist his attorney in cross-examination of the witnesses. The constitutional right to be present at trial is fundamental to our system and can be waived only under extreme circumstances.
Peoples was released on bond in July after serving about three years of his 35-year sentence at Big Muddy River prison.
Having already convicted him, one would think that a judge would consider him a danger to society and keep him locked up pending his new trial. Where is the consideration for the child or its mother?
Derek Siegel, Peoples’ defense attorney, confirmed his client had been released from prison but declined to comment further on the case.
Peoples is set to appear in court in Marion County next month.
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