Child Sex Abuse in the USA > Maryland changes the rules re: CSA compensation; Bus Driver leads to arrest of prolific CSA predator; NJ big increase in CSAM arrests; Small step forward for PA CSA laws

 

Just as the real-life horror story of institutional child sex abuse goes viral, Maryland dramatically drops the limit of state responsibility. 

Maryland legislators consider reducing state’s financial responsibility for child sex abuse

Christopher Gunty

Mar 27, 2025

ANNAPOLIS – Wayne Jackson traveled two hours by public transportation from Baltimore to the State House in Annapolis March 26, determined to attend a hearing on a bill that could limit his rights as a victim of child sexual abuse in the state juvenile detention system.

Jackson, who was abused as a juvenile in state detention, arrived carrying a sign with a stark message in all capital letters: “STOP JUVENILE DETENTION SEX ABUSE.”

Although he did not testify at the hearing, he spoke with the Catholic Review, emphasizing his demand for accountability.

“I just want them to admit their responsibility and be accountable,” he said. Once placed in the juvenile justice system, he explained, he became a ward of the state. “The state became responsible for how they treated us.”

Jackson criticized what he saw as an imbalance in justice.

The Child Victims Act “allowed a reach back for the Catholic Church, but when it comes to the state’s wrongdoing, they want to put a cap on it," Jackson said. "That’s not fair.”

He questioned why the law should create different standards for victims. “Everyone here has been affected. … The trauma changed your life.”

Before the hearing — delayed for more than two hours as delegates debated the state budget — dozens of victim-survivors filled the room. Many, including Jackson, stayed despite the wait. Alongside others, he sat on the floor outside the hearing room, unwilling to leave. As the hearing finally prepared to convene, Jackson reflected on the significance of being present. It was his first time witnessing and participating in the state’s legislative process.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, as he explained why he stayed. “I want to know the ultimate end and justification for it.”

When the hearing began, Del. C.T. Wilson, sponsor of the Child Victims Act that was passed by the Maryland Legislature in 2023, said he wants to ensure that the names of all perpetrators of child sexual abuse in the state Department of Juvenile Justice are made public.

“I want everybody that was an abuser – I want their name. I want that to be public record. If we as a state pay anything out, you as taxpayers need to know why we paid that out and if that person is still out there, they need to be held accountable,” Wilson told reporters March 26 outside a State House Judiciary Committee hearing room.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has published a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse since 2002, with frequent updates to the list. It was one of the first dioceses in the country to do so after the U.S. Bishops approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and its accompanying norms.

The other Maryland dioceses – the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Wilmington, Del. – post similar lists.

The state and public school systems do not publish any such list.

The CVA removed any statute of limitations for civil claims child sexual abuse in the state and set limits for payouts from private institutions, including churches and private schools, at $1.5 million. It capped civil claims for anyone abused in a public institution at $890,000 per incident. “Incident” was not defined in the law.

Now, Wilson (D, Charles County) is introducing House Bill 1378 to amend the Child Victims Act in this legislative session. It would lower the limit for state institutions to $400,000, the same as Maryland’s current cap for other torts against the state. It also changes the wording from per incident to per claimant, so that someone who was abused as a minor multiple times would have only one claim. This change would apply only to claims against the state, not to claims involving private institutions such as schools and churches. It is unclear if public school systems are considered county or state for the purpose of this law.

Anyone who has filed a claim against the state prior to Sept. 30, 2025, would be eligible for up to $890,000, but those who file after that date will be limited to $400,000.

Wilson, who chairs the House Economic Matters Committee, said he introduced the amendments to the CVA because of concerns that the 2023 law would cost the state billions of dollars. An attorney for the state’s county boards of education estimated in 2023 testimony that it could cost public school districts more than $3 billion.

Since the CVA became law, some 4,500 claims have already been filed for abuse of minors in the state Department of Juvenile Justice, and there may be another 1,500 cases in the wings. At the limit in the CVA, that could expose the state to $4 billion to $5.3 billion, when the state is running a $3 billion deficit this year.

Wilson, who was abused as a child, said he has fought for 10 years “for justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.”

“That fight, I’ve always said, was never about the money. … It was about the truth and justice and restoring the dignity of those who have had it stolen from them,” he testified at the March 26 hearing of the Judiciary Committee.

It might not be about money to him, although this bill would make it seem that it is. Still, most victims cannot afford the years of counselling needed to get past the effects of abuse. A few hundred thousand dollars will not make up for the potential salaries lost because of CSA's damage to education, character development, and work ethics.

There is much more on this article, please continue reading on the Catholic Standard:

He said he represents the voice of the victims

Norfolk FBI praises bus driver for uncovering child sex crime involving sailor from Virginia Beach

FBI says there were 13 identifiable victims across multiple states

NORFOLK, Va. — The FBI is speaking exclusively to the WTKR News 3 Investigative Team about a child sex crime case that spanned from Virginia to New York to Alaska, resulting in a 40-year prison sentence for a Navy sailor.

Andrew Fernandez, 33, a married U.S. Navy Machinist’s Mate of Virginia Beach, contacted one of the victims by private message on TikTok and later continued to engage with her by text messages, according to prosecutors.

The victim told Fernandez that she was 10 years old and Fernandez told her that he was under 13 years old, that his name was Levi, and that he previously attended her school before he moved to another state. The victims ranged in ages but one girl was 9 years old.

They said the conversations quickly turned sexual, with Fernandez sending graphic images of himself and requesting pictures from the victims.

An FBI agent assumed the victim’s identity and continued to engage with Fernandez, who continued to send sexually explicit images, which he directed the victim to delete, according to prosecutors.

Fernandez attempted to persuade a victim to produce child sexual abuse material depicting herself by telling her that the images would lead to a lucrative modeling audition.

The FBI says there were 13 identifiable victims across multiple states, with the crimes dating back to 2023.

The investigation was sparked after a bus driver in New York overheard the girls talking about the inappropriate pictures.

"If the bus driver never spoke up and never reported it, instead of talking about 13 identified victims, we might've eventually found out about it, we'd be talking about dozens or 100 victims," said Michael Feinberg, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk FBI.

The Department of Justice reports that one in five children per year receives an unwanted sexual solicitation online, and there is an estimated 50,000 predators actively seeking out children on the internet.

New Jersey’s increased investment into investigating child sex abuse material tips has led to record arrests

CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said he’s increased the number of people and resources available to pursue tips authorities receive about child sex abuse materials and human trafficking.

“This is in order to address the uptick in reports that were received so that we can hold these perpetrators accountable,” said Platkin.

The increased manpower and resources have led to direct results, like the recent arrest of Charles Campbell IV of Mount Ephraim, New Jersey. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said the 44-year-old was arrested after authorities got a tip he had images stored on a Google account.

Platkin’s office has reported a 75% increase in arrests for child sex abuse materials and human trafficking since 2020. That year, the total number of arrests was 232. Last year, it was over 400.

“We’re sending a message that if you harm our children, harm our vulnerable people, if you seek to take advantage of them for profit and use them for sex, you’re going to be held accountable and you’re going to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Platkin.

He went on to ask for parents to be more mindful about what they’re doing on their phones.

“It’s critical to warn children about the perils of sharing too much information online,” said Platkin

One of the keys he said is to go through the privacy settings on every app to make sure sensitive information isn’t publicly available.

'It's not done yet': Family speaks out, advocates for new law following ex-cop's sexual abuse

Aimee Ambrose

York Dispatch

Grace McGhee and her father, Chris, spoke from the booth of a local diner — exhausted but relieved, coming down from a busy day lobbying for changes to state law they hope will protect young people from predatory authority figures.

Until recently, Grace didn't speak publicly about her ordeal with former York City Juvenile Engagement Officer Joseph Palmer Jr. In 2023, Palmer avoided prison time through a plea deal where he admitted to a misdemeanor count of corruption of minors. He later served five months for violating the probation handed down as part of the sex abuse case.

“Seeing him walk free was not a good feeling — just because of his badge,” said Grace, now 19 and ready to speak out.

On Tuesday afternoon, father and daughter had just overcome a key hurdle in their quest to change state law, to put a little more legal muscle in cases of authority figures accused of child sexual abuse.

The pair drove up to Harrisburg that morning to attend a Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee's hearing on a bill partially inspired by Grace's ordeal from a York City Police officer seducing and molesting her three years ago.

Incensed by the outcome, feeling outraged and helpless, the McGhees found themselves turning into activists.

Chris began reaching out to state lawmakers to seek change, and to prevent more plea agreements like the one that let Palmer walk free.

Eventually, Grace joined him in connecting with other sexual abuse survivors and activists.

The work at the state level took a couple years, plus one failed prior attempt at a bill, to get to Tuesday's vote on a bill that adds language only to Pennsylvania's statute on the corruption of minors offense.

A relatively small change, but the unanimous approval by the committee was a big win relief for the family.

Now they have to prepare to continue championing the measure as it next heads to the full Pennsylvania House.

“I feel good about it,” Grace said. “I’m worried that there’s still potential that it won’t get passed.”

Chris shared his daughter’s anxiety but also said he felt excited and optimistic for the next step after seeing the support the bill got Tuesday.

“It is gratifying to know that lawmakers see that this is just common sense,” Chris said. “This is not villainizing police officers or educators, people in positions of authority. It is simply holding bad people accountable.”

House Bill 355 calls for updating one charge in the state’s criminal statute, corruption of minors.

The count would increase from a third-degree to a second-degree felony for people identified as mandated reporters who are accused of sexual corruption. Moral corruption by mandated reporters would jump from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, according to the bill’s language.

There is more on this story on the York Dispatch at:

The proposal originally focused on police officers