NYPD officer charged with rape, child sex crimes previously admitted to misconduct on the job, records show
A New York City police officer arrested Wednesday night on charges including rape and sexual acts against a child previously admitted to violating department rules, including engaging in a dangerous high-speed chase and allegedly failing to activate his body camera, the district attorney's office says.
The 39-year-old officer, Joshua Acosta, was taken into custody while he was off duty around 7:46 p.m. within Brooklyn’s 61st Precinct, an Nypd spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. The precinct covers part of southern Brooklyn.
An 11-count criminal complaint alleges Acosta committed numerous sex acts against a girl when she was younger than 13 and younger than 17 years old. The alleged abuse lasted from September 2021 until June 2026, the complaint said.
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Acosta's defense attorneys, Jason Goldman and David Gelfand, told Fox News Digital that while the allegations against him are "undoubtedly serious," they are "demonstrably false."
"While it is deeply unfortunate that Officer Acosta has had his reputation smeared, we look forward to clearing his name through the proper channels once all the facts come to light," they said in a statement.
Documents from the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office — the same office that is now prosecuting Acosta — show he was the subject of multiple civilian complaints years before his arrest.
Acosta admitted fault in an incident while he was on patrol in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, the documents obtained by Fox News Digital showed.
On Jan. 4, 2019, Acosta initiated a pursuit of a suspect and topped out at 56 mph "without taking into consideration the nature of the offense, time of day, location, population density and police necessity," the documents said.
Acosta allegedly failed to activate his bodycam during the chase or during the ensuing traffic stop, the documents said.
The case was closed July 30, 2020, and Acosta's punishment was him forfeiting 15 vacation days, according to the documents.
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Libertyville teacher accused of using AI to create child sexual abuse images
LAKE COUNTY, Ill. - A longtime Libertyville middle school teacher has been ordered held pending trial after prosecutors say he secretly recorded students and used artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse material.
The backstory
A Lake County judge described the allegations as a "children’s worst nightmare" during a detention hearing for 44-year-old Marshall Sheffer of Libertyville.
Sheffer is charged with eight counts related to child sexual abuse material, including two Class X felonies and six Class 1 felonies.
According to the Libertyville Police Department and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, the investigation began after students at Highland Middle School reported to school staff that they believed their teacher had been recording them.
Investigators obtained Sheffer’s cellphone, and a forensic examination by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Cyber Lab allegedly uncovered numerous images of students that prosecutors say were altered using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images.
Authorities also searched Sheffer’s home and seized multiple electronic devices. Electronic storage detection dogs from the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office assisted investigators in locating additional digital evidence.
Libertyville Police Chief Ed Roncone called the investigation highly sensitive and complex, crediting investigators and partner agencies for their collaboration.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said protecting children from exploitation remains his office’s top priority and praised investigators for using digital forensics and specialized K-9 resources during the case.
What's next
In a letter to families and staff, Libertyville School District 70 Superintendent Rebecca Jenkins said the district notified police and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after several students reported inappropriate photos and videos allegedly taken by Sheffer in his classroom on June 3, the second-to-last day of school.
Jenkins thanked the students who came forward, saying their willingness to speak up helped protect the school community. She added the district has fully cooperated with investigators and has not been told the identities of the children involved because of the ongoing investigation and confidentiality laws protecting minors.
The investigation remains ongoing.
North Texas elementary school teacher arrested on child sexual abuse charge
Plano police arrested an elementary school teacher who faces a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to a news release from the Plano Police Department.
According to the release, detectives obtained an arrest warrant after investigating an “outcry” from a student who said that Campbell had inappropriate physical contact with the child at Brinker Elementary in the Plano Independent School District, where Campbell worked as a teacher.
Campbell is being held in the Plano City Jail.
The case is under investigation by the police department’s Special Victims Unit.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Plano police Special Victims Unit Tip line at 972-941-2044.
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