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Lake Co., Fla. sex offender accused of using 13-year-old in
child sex abuse video
October 31, 2021
According to court documents, Gentry was arrested on May 5, 2021, by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for violating the requirements of his sex offender registration. A subsequent search of his cellphone revealed that he had created a video recording using an internal camera security system in his home. This video depicts Gentry exposing the genitalia of a 13-year-old boy in view of a camera located in Gentry’s bedroom that is aimed at his bed. After creating the video, Gentry uploaded a copy to his cellphone. Agents with the Department of Homeland Security were subsequently able to identify the child.
A complaint is merely a charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
This is another case 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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Any person who was, or knows of someone who may have been, a possible child victim is urged to contact HSI at 1-866-DHS-2423 or the online tip form.
Angelina Co., Tx. Sex Offender Registry
Oct 30, 2021
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.
Just one county in Texas!
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. 29, 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 https://publicsite.dps.texas.gov/SexOffenderRegistry.
Or, you may see the list mentioned above at Lufkin Daily News.
Angelina Co., Tx
Senator Marsha Blackburn introduces bipartisan bill
to remove sex abuse lawsuit barriers
by: Ben Gilliam
Posted: Oct 30, 2021 / 09:00 AM EDT
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJHL) – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn has paired with Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to widen the scope of possible lawsuits against sex abusers through the new “Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims” Act.
“Finally eliminating civil child sexual abuse statutes of limitations will allow survivors to have their day in court and a moment of healing,” Durbin said. “This is commonsense, bipartisan legislation and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support.”
As it stands, victims of sex abuse have 10 years from the date the abuse occurred or the date they turned 18, according to 18 U.S. Code § 2255.
One common aspect of many sex abuse cases is delayed disclosure, where victims are unable or unwilling to report the abuse for years after the fact. Blackburn says the 10-year statute of limitations doesn’t account for this delay.
No kidding, I was abused at 3 and 4 years of age and didn't become aware of it until I was 36.
“The statute of limitations for sexual abuse offenses should never prohibit young survivors from getting the justice they deserve,” said Blackburn. “The bipartisan effort to eliminate the civil child sexual abuse statute of limitations is a critical step to guarantee survivors their day in court.”
The last expansion of federal civil statutes of limitation took place in 2018, raising to the current 28-year-old or 10-year limit.
Humboldt DA: Mark Dare sentenced to 46 years to life in prison
for child sex abuse crimes
by MICHAEL PATTERSON
Friday, October 29th 2021
Then 55-year-old Mark Dare when he was arrested for several child sexual abuse charges in Jan. of 2018.
EUREKA, Calif. — Mark Alan Dare will likely never be a free man again after the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office says he was sentenced to the maximum term for his crimes.
Humboldt County Judge Christopher Wilson reportedly sentenced the 56-year-old Dare to the maximum term of 46 years to life in prison.
The sentence comes after Dare was convicted by a jury in Oct. of 2020 for sexually abusing multiple children between 2007 and 2012, according to the district attorney's office.
In a press release from the DA, two of Dare's victims spoke during his sentencing hearing and requested the maximum sentence. The district attorney's office requested the maximum sentence as well.
MCSO volunteer arrested on child sex abuse charges
POSTED ON OCT 29, 2021
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA)- Investigators said a man who spent some time volunteering inside the Mobile County Sheriff's office found himself next door, inside Metro Jail.
Investigators said Green was a volunteer for the Mobile County Sheriff's Office and helped deputies out with administrative work.
Deputies said the volunteer work included doing clerical work, like sorting paperwork and calling people that filed reports with the sheriff's office.
Green is free on bond.
According to investigators, there could be another child sex abuse arrest involving another person within the sheriff's office, soon.
FOX10 News will keep you updated.
‘Child molesters and sexual offenders don’t have fangs,’ judge says
during sentencing of St. George man
Written by Cody Blowers
October 29, 2021
Clinton Douglas Gibson taken during sentencing hearing via video in St. George, Utah, Oct. 27, 2021
Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — A St. George man who pleaded guilty to forcible sexual abuse charges appeared in 5th District Court for a sentencing hearing, during which the judge showed frustration while delivering the ruling in the case.
On Wednesday, 44-year-old Clinton Douglas Gibson appeared before District Judge G. Michael Westfall for sentencing on two second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse.
Gibson was originally charged with three second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse and two third-degree felony counts of tampering with a witness, but one count of sexual abuse and both counts of tampering with a witness were dismissed under the terms of a plea agreement.
The charges stem from an investigation that began in April when authorities received a report accusing Gibson of sexually abusing an underaged family member, abuse that continued over the course of six months, according to charging documents filed with the courts.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned of a second youth who was also allegedly abused by the suspect, and when interviewed by detectives, the juvenile disclosed similar instances of inappropriate touching and sexual contact, abuse that police say began very recently.
When officers scheduled the interview with Gibson for the following day, April 13, the defendant was ordered to not have any contact with the youths. Within hours of the order, Gibson reportedly went to the juveniles’ home and attempted to pressure them into retracting their statements, and then spoke to them a second time after following the girls to school.
Later that same day, he turned himself into police and was transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility where he has remained since his arrest. He was subsequently charged with two counts of tampering with a witness.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Prosecutor Zachary Weiland said what made this case particularly tragic is that one of the youths was adopted out of the foster care system. After suffering abuse from the adolescent’s family of origin, she was removed from the home and placed in the home of someone who was entrusted to protect her.
The defendant chose not to do that, the prosecutor said.
Instead, Gibson preyed upon the young girl, Weiland said, and then he blamed the child for the abuse – saying it was her fault. Worse still, he said, there was a second victim who came forward and described similar abuse suffered at the hands of the defendant.
“It truly disgusts me,” he added.
The prosecutor closed by saying that as a society, the message is that no child should be preyed upon, and if it happens, then society demands a lengthy jail sentence. He then asked the court to sentence Gibson to two years in jail – one year for each child abused, to be served consecutively.
What does one year in jail have to do with "society demands a lengthy jail sentence"?
Gibson’s defense attorney, Edward Flint, also spoke during the hearing, and opened by referring to the two victim impact letters filed with the court prior to the hearing. He described the letters as being very helpful and instructive to the court, both in showing the progress of the victims as well as the defendant.
Both letters also described Gibson as a good parent, even though he has some problems, Flint said, adding that “it looks like both of them are concluding that (Gibson) shouldn’t be locked up for a long, long time.”
Flint argued that the progress his client has made is an element that makes the him a good candidate for probation – in lieu of prison. He also mentioned a doctor’s report that stated Gibson is 98.99% likely to successfully complete treatment and to never reoffend.
Yeah, right! Would you want him around your daughter?
Flint described his client as a good father, and with treatment can become the father he has always wanted to be, rather than the type of father that causes harm. The attorney also said Gibson’s progress should be the main factor in determining his appropriate sentence, which, he argued, should be probation – not prison.
With that, Flint asked the court to sentence his client to 210 days in jail and 48-months’ probation, as well as all other sentencing recommendations as set forth in the presentence report.
The defendant also addressed the court by saying he has always cared deeply for his children, and he has spent a great deal of time thinking about the lies he told himself, including that his actions would not cause anyone pain.
“But I knew better,” he said.
He said he was ashamed of his actions and that he wanted his family to know that none of what happened is their fault, and said he was committed to having a positive effect on the healing process his family is undergoing, a process he said will continue for the next several years.
Most of all, he said he wanted his family and the court to know how much he cares for his children.
Westfall opened by saying, “What most people don’t understand is that child molesters and sexual offenders don’t have fangs and walk around in trench coats.”
Instead, Westfall said, they are people who have done good things with their lives. That does not, however, excuse the type of conduct that happened here, he said.
“It absolutely does not,” the judge said. “Your background prepared you to not do this.” Westfall added that the defendant’s whole life has progressed toward not committing these crimes, but he “did it anyway.”
He also said despite the state’s recommendation of jail time, he was considering a prison sentence. “I seriously am considering it all right,” Westfall added.
When it came down to the ruling, the judge followed the guidelines set forth in the presentence report, and he suspended the prison term of 1-15 years for each charge; one for each of the victims. He then sentenced Gibson to serve one year in jail on each charge to run consecutively, for a total of two years. Gibson was also given credit for the 198 days he already served.
Upon his release, the defendant would be placed on 48 months’ probation and ordered to comply with Level 1 sex offender requirements, one of which requires the defendant to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
Michigan sex offender convicted on 5 counts of child pornography
by Mid-Michigan NOW newsroom
Friday, October 29th 2021
BAY CITY, Mich., - In Roscommon County, Scott Lantzy, 49, has been convicted on charges of possessing, receiving, and transporting child pornography, according to Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Officials say, Lantzy, a previous convicted felon with multiple prior criminal sexual conduct convictions, impersonated an EMT worker to befriend an injured high school student and even accompanied him to the hospital.
A few months before the football game, prosecutors say Lantzy befriended another high school student who testified at the trial that while housesitting for Lantzy, the student was called him and told that he had left him a camera and condoms and that the student was urged to send pictures of what he and his friend were doing while house sitting.
When Lantzy returned to the house, the student testified that he saw pictures of child pornography on Lantzy’s personal cell phone.
Roscommon County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on Lantzy’s home.
The trial last 4-daays and took jurors only 45-minutes to deliberate in which ultimately Lantzy was found guilty of two counts of possession/ access with intent to view child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography.
Lantzy is facing a maximum sentence of 40 years in a federal prison and will learn of his sentence, February 3, 2022.
Salinas man found guilty of 19 counts of child molestation
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A jury found Luis Cejas Nunez, 44, guilty of molesting two victims on 19 counts. All the counts are considered violent felonies and "strikes" under California's Three Strike law.
An expert in the psychological effects of child sexual abuse testified that it's common for victims to not say anything for many years after the crime was committed because of several factors. Among them are power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim, threats to not say anything, fear, and even affection for the perpetrator if they're a close family member, friend, or authority figure.
Nunez will be sentenced on Dec. 1 and will be facing up to 258 years to life in state prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Darnell-Cookman Teacher of the Year arrested
and charged with abusing student
Emily Bloch
Florida Times-Union
A Duval Schools English teacher who was just named Teacher of the Year at Darnell-Cookman Middle/High has been charged with a count of child abuse against a student at the school.
Caroline Melanie Lee, 60, was arrested Friday.
The arrest came after a student said Lee called her into her classroom to speak privately and allegedly struck her on the face causing a bloody nose, according to a Duval Schools Police report.
Lee, the student — who is a minor and is not named in the report — and other witnesses told the responding police officer that the incident began with a conversation about an Instagram post earlier this week.
On Wednesday, the Duval County Public Schools Instagram account posted a photo of Lee, congratulating her for being named the school's Teacher of the Year. But several comments on the post questioned the win, asking if Lee was the same teacher who used the 'n' word during instruction and alleging other microaggressions committed against students, according to the police report. The original Instagram post and comments has since been deleted.
Lee responded to one of the comments and also explained to a police officer Friday that she used the 'n' word when reading the novel 'Of Mice and Men' in class. Teachings of the book have previously come under fire across the country, raising the question of how to ethically teach readings with terms and phrases that are no longer acceptable.
While the N word is completely unacceptable to use today, avoiding the use in historical literature fails to teach students how black people were humiliated for hundreds of years.
Friday, Lee asked to speak with that student privately in her classroom, despite the student not being in any of her classes this year, according to the police report.
The student told police when she got in the classroom that Lee reached across the table and struck her several times, according to the police report, causing her nose to bleed.
In the arrest report, the officer wrote that Lee acknowledged the conflict was the student's word against her own. Lee denied doing physical harm to the student. She said she wanted to talk to the student, after seeing a message on Instagram she thought was "a threat to kill her." But, she added, she was "not afraid" and "did not feel the need" to report the message to staff.
The responding officer said school surveillance footage shows Lee "walking at an aggressive pace" to her classroom before the incident and the student, about four minutes later, leaving the classroom holding her face and walking with a "low demeanor" to a guidance counselor's office, where she reported the incident.
Lee told police, according to the report, that she left her door open when the student was in her classroom. But police said another student, who was decorating Lee's classroom door that morning, said Lee asked him to leave and she closed the door behind him. The student reported hearing the teacher raise her voice as he was standing in the hallway.
Lee was arrested that morning after the officer spoke with the student victim, Lee and four witnesses — though no one else was inside the classroom with Lee and the student.
Following the arrest, the school's Principal Tyrus Lyles called students' families with the news.
"It is very disappointing, but I am compelled to share with you that one of our teachers was arrested today on campus for child abuse," he said. "Even more disappointing, the teacher arrested is our recent teacher of the year nominee."
Lyles said he is in contact with the student's family.
Duval Schools says the situation is 'beyond disturbing'
In response to the incident, Duval Schools Superintendent Diana Greene released a statement calling the situation "beyond disturbing."
"What is alleged should never occur—ever—especially in a school setting," she said. "I have no tolerance for adults who harm children, especially adults in a position of trust. We will cooperate with all investigations, and pending those results, we will take the actions necessary to stand up for and protect our students.”
Lee has been removed from the classroom and will not return, pending judicial and internal procedures, the principal said.
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