Teachers, Carers, Parents, Bishop, Too Many Responsible People on Today's USA PnP List

Substitute teacher in St. Charles, Ill, gets

112 years for child sex abuse

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — A former suburban Chicago substitute teacher has been sentenced to 112 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a student.

The Daily Herald reports a Kane County judge sentenced 64-year-old Carlos A. Bedoya of Lake in the Hills on Friday.

Bedoya was charged in 2017 with sexually assaulting the victim multiple times in 2015 and 2016. The victim was under 13 at the time and was Bedoya’s student at Golfview Elementary School in Carpentersville.

After Bedoya was charged 11 other students came forward to report Bedoya also had abused them.

A jury convicted Bedoya in August of eight counts of predatory criminal sexual assault. In a letter read in court Friday by a Spanish interpreter, the victim’s mother said her son is depressed and “will never be the same.”

Charges are still pending in the other abuse cases.

Man wanted for child sex abuse at Southeast, DC,

community center

Author: Kyley Schultz, WUSA9

WASHINGTON — D.C. police are looking for a man who they believe sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl in Southeast on Saturday, Oct.12.

According to police, the victim was in the 1300 block of Alabama Avenue, SE around 12:13 p.m. when she was assaulted. The incident happened near Malcolm X Opportunity Center. 

Authorities have released (poor quality) surveillance video showing the man they believe committed the assault.

The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5’2” in height in his 30's-40's. He has a dark complexion, light brown eyes, and patchy beard. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie with bleach spots on it, blue or black jeans, and peach in color Foamposite sneakers. 

Anyone who can identify this individual or who has information regarding this case should call police at 202-727 9099. Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411.

Tennessee sports broadcaster charged with

sexual abuse of minor

Julia Ewoldt, WBBJ7

HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A local sports broadcaster and writer has been charged with sexual abuse of a child.

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office charged Kerry Mallard with continuous sexual abuse of a minor Thursday. “In my 27 years, this is the first time I’ve actually seen it used,” said Henderson County Sheriff Brian Duke.

Mallard is known for calling Lexington High School football games for local radio stations and writing for the newspaper.

According to court documents, between April 2018 and August 2019, Mallard engaged in “multiple incidents of sexual abuse to a minor child.”

“I believe a family member of the victim notified them. Then, Lexington realized this was outside the city limits of Lexington, which fell outside their jurisdiction,” Duke said.

Court documents say the alleged incidents happened at Mallard’s Wildersville home, where Duke says Mallard’s wife babysits children.

“From my understanding, yes, it was as a result of the daycare,” Duke said.

Daycares where men are frequently present are not a safe place for your children! Way too many stories like this on this blog!

Court documents say the child told investigators the incidents happened every day over the course of more than a year, and Mallard told the child to keep it a secret.

Mallard admitted to one incident in August to investigators, according to court documents.

“The fact of the age of our victim and everything, we’re going to hold details back,” Duke said.

Mallard was released from the Henderson County Correctional Facility on $75,000 bond. The conditions of his release include no contact with the victim or any minors, and Mallard is banned from Henderson County schools.

Duke says they are continuing to investigate the charges.

Texas mother speaks out about 5 y/o daughter's

alleged sexual assault

By T.J. Parker

CONROE, Texas (KTRK) -- A Montgomery County woman is speaking out about a landscaper accused of sexually assaulting her daughter.

The allegations against Adalberto Galvez Agustin, also known as Jorge Galvez, first came to light in Nov. 2018. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Agustin was accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.

After an investigation for several months, authorities identified Agustin, tracked him down and arrested him. He was taken into custody in 18800 block of Rabon Chapel Road on Oct. 9.

The mother of the alleged victim said, "She said she did not want Jorge coming over anymore and I was like 'Why baby?' and she said that he had been touching her. It was pretty much the worst day of my life," said the mother.

That's a pretty courageous girl, finding a way to tell her mother!

Detectives say Agustin confessed to more than one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Anyone who may have hired Agustin as a landscaper is encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Authorities believe there is a potential for additional young victims. Anyone with information is asked to call 936-760-5800.

Montgomery Co., Tx

St. George, Ut, man sentenced to mental health treatment ahead of jail in child sex abuse case

Kaitlyn Bancroft, St. George Spectrum & Daily News

A man charged with aggravated sex abuse of a child was sentenced on Tuesday in Fifth District Court to six years to life in prison, following mental health treatment in the Utah State Hospital.

Kraig Atkin Powell, 26, pleaded guilty in April to one count of aggravated sex abuse of a child, a first-degree felony, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second-degree felonies, according to court documents.

The first-degree felony carries a minimum mandatory of five years in prison with a maximum of life, while the second-degree felonies each carry a minimum of a year in prison and a maximum of 15 years, court documents show. Judge Michael Westfall ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.

In addition to the aggravated sex abuse of a child charge, Powell was initially charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of enticing a minor by internet or text, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty to all counts in February, but in April 2019 entered into a plea agreement which resulted in nine of the 12 total charges being dismissed.

During Tuesday's sentencing, Westfall found that Powell is mentally ill and poses an immediate danger to himself or others. Due to this finding, he passed judgment based on the Utah Code of Criminal Procedure, statute 77-16a-202, which gives the court two options when sentencing an offender with mental illness:

One, order that the offender be admitted to the Utah State Hospital for treatment until the hospital determines they are stable enough to be transferred to the Utah Department of Corrections; or two, send the offender to the Utah State Hospital for treatment for up to 18 months, at which time the court will re-sentence the offender.

San Antonio, Tx, man arrested, charged with continuous sexual abuse of child

Author: Cameron Songer, KENS5

SAN ANTONIO — A 39 year old man is jailed, facing multiple counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child. San Antonio Police said when they questioned Regino Quinones about allegations made by a number of young girls, he confessed to the abuse.

According to an affidavit, the oldest of three girls came forward to staff at school and said Quinones had been inappropriately touching her. She said the abuse lasted for about six years, with the last incident happening two years ago. She also said he tried to touch her about two weeks ago, but she told him to stop. Child Protective Services talked to the three children, ages 14 to 17, and they all said the abuse had been going on for years.

Police said Quinones turned himself in and wanted to speak with a detective.

He told detectives he knew what he did was wrong and that he had been abusing the girls for years. His bonds total $225,000.

At least he knew what he did was wrong and didn't blame the girls. He also confessed. There's hope for that man. Too bad he didn't have the character to make himself stop doing what he knew was wrong. He put his own lusts ahead of the welfare of the girls.

Trial date set for former Iowa U. Hillel director

charged with sex abuse

Hillary Ojeda, Iowa City Press-Citizen

The trial date for the former Iowa Hillel executive director charged with sex abuse of a child in Iowa City earlier this year is scheduled for January 28. 

Police charged David Weltman, 29, of Skokie, Ill., in September after a child told officers he was groped by the former executive director at the Hillel House.

After posting a $100,000 surety bond in September, he pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree sex abuse earlier this month, according to online court records.

While he awaits trial, he is permitted to reside in Illinois and was approved to travel to Florida from Oct. 11 to Oct. 23. 

According to an Iowa City Police complaint, Weltman was teaching a child Hebrew sometime between February and March at the Hillel House, located at 122 E. Market St.

The child told officers that Weltman picked him up and took him to a room and groped him. 

During the investigation, an ex-acquaintance of Weltman's told officers that Weltman admitted to being sexually attracted to children between the ages of seven and 12-years-old, according to the report.

And, so, did the ex-acquaintance tell anyone?

Matthew E. Berger, vice president of communications for Hillel International, said the organization took immediate action when it was informed of the charges. He said Weltman as placed on leave initially and is now no longer working for Hillel House.

Iowa Hillel is located blocks from the University of Iowa and works closely with it and its students, however, it is not a university organization, said Jeneane Beck, UI assistant vice president for external relations. 

Hillel Int'l is a Jewish organization that works with students in hundreds of universities around the world.

"Although the case does not involve university students or staff, we will provide support for any member of our campus community who may wish to speak with someone," said Beck.

Fla. ‘Pedophile’s sex with Boxer dog’ revealed after he left phone laying out during overdose

Jimmy McCloskey

A suspected pedophile’s sex abuse of a Boxer dog was exposed when his phone was checked after he overdosed on drugs. 

Ronnie Lee Ely, 23, reportedly admitted having sex with the boxer at a house in St Mary’s, Florida, in 2014 after police and paramedics seized his phone during the July 2019 overdose. It was forensically examined to try and establish what may have caused Ely’s overdose – but investigators were instead stunned to find child sex abuse clips. 

Those videos are said to have been recorded off a screen, with Ely subsequently admitting he’d had sex with a dog, and kept animal pornography on his phone. It is unclear whether those clips depicted him with the boxer, or someone else.

News4Jax reported that Ely told cops how he would send and receive pornographic videos using the KIK instant messaging app. He would upload photos to the app, then join group chats and share his snaps in exchange for child sex abuse images, it is claimed.

It is also unclear whether the photos Ely offered to trade were ones he had taken, and whether he had abused any children himself. 

Camden County Sheriff’s Office have since charged him with three counts of child sexual exploitation, bestiality and child molestation. He is being held in Camden County Jail without bond.

Sheriff’s deputies have appealed for anyone who may have information on possible further victims to come forward.

Utah Latter-Day Saint bishop charged with possessing child pornography

By Pat Reavy, KSL 

KAYSVILLE — A bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was charged Monday with possession of child pornography.

Timothy James Hallows, 61, of Kaysville, is charged in 2nd District Court with eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.

A judge on Monday also ordered that Hallows be held without bail in the Davis County Jail due to him posing “a substantial danger to other persons or to the community or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail.”

Charging documents state: “On Oct. 16, 2019, defendant possessed at least eight of images of child pornography.”

Hallows was arrested Wednesday following at least two weeks of investigation by members of the Internet Crimes against Children task force, FBI Child Exploitation task force and the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived at Hallows’ house on Wednesday with a search warrant.

While talking to Hallows, he “admitted to distributing child sexual abuse material during online communications while using Skype. Hallows admitted to owning an unknown amount of images of child sexual abuse, but estimated the numbers over 100,” according to a police affidavit.

“Hallows refused to take a polygraph examination with questions regarding hands-on sexual contact with young children. He further stated that he has done nothing regarding sexual contact with children long term,” the affidavit states.

Hmmm. What about short-term?

Hallows, however, talked about camping trips with children during which he took pictures, and told investigators “that this could lead to a failed polygraph. He did these camping trips while acting his role as a bishop for the LDS Church,” according to the report.

When police told Hallows they believed that he had had sexual contact with children, “he stated, ‘Uh huh’, and shook his head in affirmation,” the affidavit says.

“Hallows made several concerning statements that led investigators to believe he has had sexual contact with children. Hallows has conducted this behavior in other states, while he travels, which is done frequently. Hallows also admitted to engaging in this conduct with international suspects. Investigators need time to conduct follow-up on forensics and potential children interviews. Hallows also has a high net worth,” according to the affidavit.

Hallows has served as bishop of the Wellington Ward in the Kaysville Utah Stake.

Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, called the allegations serious and deeply troubling.

“When local leaders learned of these allegations, this individual was immediately removed from any position that would place him in close contact with youth or children. This is done to ensure the safety of others and to allow this individual to address these serious allegations,” he said in a prepared statement Thursday.

Hawkins said the church has no tolerance for abuse of any kind, including child pornography, and teaches its members and leaders that such behavior is offensive to God and to his church.

Hallows’ initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Farmington.

Volunteer of the Year in Her Florida Town Grooms Boyfriend's Son for Sex

A Florida mom who became a pillar in her small town after winning 'Volunteer of the Year' and raising money for victims of child abuse has been accused of grooming her boyfriend's teenage son and having a sexual relationship with him over a 15-month period.

Valerie Esposito, 37, was charged with three counts of sexual battery on a child under her custody, and one count of lewd computer solicitation of a child, following her arrest in Vero Beach last Tuesday.

She is being held on $325,000 bond.

Esposito, who is the mother of a 12-year-old boy, is accused of grooming the 16-year-old to be her lover whenever his father wasn't around and sending him sexual videos though text message. 

In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, the father of the boy has accused his ex of being 'a predator' and believes she suffers from an addiction to sex. 

An addiction to sex is code for absolutely no self control!

The mother-of-one was arrested and charged last week and is being held on a $325,000 bond. She was busted after the father of the victim found sexual messages from Esposito on his son's phone 

An arrest report obtained by DailyMailTV details how Esposito, who volunteered for a slew of charities in addition to working as marketing specialist for an insurance company, began coming on to the victim, now 17.

The boy told police last week that, sometime in July 2018 after he turned 16, he walked passed by Esposito while she was washing dishes in the kitchen one afternoon. She allegedly 'backed into his genital area with her buttocks' and brazenly began to rub against him and told him not to tell his dad, the report states.

A few days later, the boy said, Esposito came home from work and matter-of-factly asked him if he wanted to have sex. 'I'm 16 and my stepmom is asking me if I want to have sex, I'm like, sure,' he told authorities.

In all, the boy estimated he had intercourse with Esposito at least 25 times until she broke up with his dad and moved out of their home with her 12-year-old son.

'It's a crime of opportunity,' she said. 'My son was there, and she just wanted to have sex.'

And she's completely devoid of any moral compass!

He described a rocky seven-year relationship with Esposito where plans to marry never materialized. 'We were supposed to get married in September 2018,' he said, 'but we called it off.'

The father, 47, said he and Esposito broke up a month ago after he discovered she was cheating on him with another man. 'And there was another guy before that,' he said.

When asked if he holds his son responsible as well, the father said he doesn't. 'He's a child,' he said. 'He was under the influence of a predator. She should be in prison for the maximum time allowed. I don't care how long that is.

'She is broken inside and now my son could end up like her. I'm seeking counseling for him. He needs to know that's not how people behave toward each other. That's not how you treat women, and how he should be treated.'

Meanwhile, in the bourgeois coastal town of Vero Beach, word of Esposito's arrest has spread like wildfire.

Just last week, Esposito shared photos on Facebook from a fancy fundraiser for a child abuse organization that she worked on, with politicians such as Florida State Rep. Erin Grall and law enforcement officials including Indian River County Sheriff's Office Major Eric Flowers.

In September, she posted photos of her Volunteer of The Year certificate, courtesy of the local chamber of commerce. Earlier this year, she published photos of her son's sixth grade trip to Cape Canaveral that she chaperoned. And there are countless photos of her victim's family at outings and events.

'The worst is that police are telling me she still doesn't think she did anything wrong,' the victim's dad said.

Trial against Springfield, Oh. man accused of

child sex misconduct starts today

By Parker Perry, Staff Writer
Springfield News-Sun

A jury trial against a Springfield man charged with more than 60 felonies in connection to child sex misconduct is set to begin today.

Oliver Sanders III, 25, is charged with numerous crimes including rape, gross sexual imposition and illegal use of minor in nudity, according to court records. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The jury trial could be the end of a legal road that saw Sanders first charged in Clark County Common Pleas Court with showing underage girls pornography but evolved into prosecutors accusing the man of rape.

More Sexual Abuse Cases Against Delaware Child Ed Aide

By DON RUSH •

HARRINGTON, Del. (AP) - Court documents say an early childhood education aide in Delaware already charged with sexually assaulting two girls has been accused in two more cases.

The News Journal reports the new allegations against 28-year-old Head Start aide Timothy K. McCrary are contained in an indictment handed down by a Kent County grand jury earlier this month.

McCrary remains in custody at the Howard Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington. Online records show he has a court hearing scheduled for next month. They do not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

The indictment says the victims under the age of 7 were assaulted at Telamon Head Start's Harrington program.

The facility said in a statement that it is devastated by the situation and is supporting the investigation.

Former N.C. Mountain Priest Pleads Guilty to

Child Sex Charges, Survivor Forgives

by Rex Hodge, WLOS

WAYNESVILLE, N.C.--A former mountain priest is sentenced to a dozen years in prison. 78-year-old Howard White pleaded guilty to multiple child sex abuse charges during his tenure at Waynesville’s Grace Church in the Mountains. White was rector at the church from 1984 until 2006.

“He pleaded guilty to all 15 counts that we had indicted him on for offenses,” says District Attorney Ashley Welch. “All in the 1980's except for one in 2004...3 men and one woman,” says Welch.

Four of his victims were in court Monday to hear White's guilty plea to second degree forcible rape, second degree child sexual abuse, and indecent liberties with a child.

Margaret Yarbrough defines herself as a survivor. “I forgave the defendant long ago,” she says, “because I had to do so in order to...it would have cost me my life had I not done it.”

“I would encourage any victim to tell someone whether you report it or not, tell someone, so that you can move forward,” she says. “I came forward because I expect my children to do the right thing and I cannot expect them to do the right thing if I do not do the right thing.”

Two years ago, White pleaded guilty to child sex charges in Massachusetts, serving a year in prison before being returned to Haywood County to face the local charges.

“The difference here is that we pursued felonies. He pled guilty to about 4 misdemeanors I believe in Massachusetts. Very similar conduct,” says Welch.

Ex-St. George’s chaplain Howard White charged with child sex abuse in N.C. (8th story on link)

Authorities are aware of other accusations against White in other states, but their statutes of limitations have run out.

“We don't have a statute of limitations in North Carolina and so we decided to proceed,” Welch says. “If there were more victims that came forward where the conduct occurred in this district, we would certainly investigate it. This plea did not hinder our ability to do that.”

White could be eligible for parole in about 6 years, but Welch says that's not a given...and if paroled, White must register as a sex offender.

For Yarbrough, White's guilty plea is a chance to move forward, and encourage other survivors to tell someone. “I don't hate him. I don't feel anything really but pity and empathy,” says Yarbrough.

Because you know he has yet to appear in a Higher Court where men who hurt children probably do not fare so well.

Report Says LAPD Failed To Investigate Nearly 4,000 Cases Of Child Abuse

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A new report by the Chronicle of Social Change says that the LAPD failed to investigate more than 4,000 alleged cases of child abuse in 2018 and 2019.

Before he was even born, then 4-year-old Noah Cuatro’s mother was accused of fracturing his baby sister’s skull in two places.

The Los Angeles Police Department conducted an investigation, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney opted to not file charges. CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Cristy Fajardo says it was only the first of many failed opportunities. In his young life, the boy was apparently the victim of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

An undated photo of 4-year-old Noah Cuatro who died on July 6, 2019. (GoFundMe)

He was removed from the abusive home on two occasions and returned. Authorities knew Noah was the victim of neglect — at one point it was revealed he hadn’t gained any weight in seven months.

Social workers last saw Noah in late June. Two weeks later, on July 6, the 4-year-old Palmdale boy was dead.

Cuatro’s death has DCFS under the microscope again, but did the LAPD miss an opportunity to save him? Did everyone?

The Chronicle of Social Change — a new site that reports on child welfare issues — is reporting this past spring just months before Noah’s murder. the county sent two allegations of sexual abuse and domestic violence in the Cuatro case to the LAPD.

“They may very well have gone but we  they haven’t said so in the affirmative so could be a situation wherein the LAPD knew or at least was alerted that there was something going and didn’t respond,” said Daniel Heimpel with the Chronicle of Social Change.

Heimpel says data he obtained from the DA’s office also shows that while overall the LAPD is improving when it comes to investigating serious child abuse allegations,  the last year-and-a-half the department still failed to look into 10 -13 percent of cases.

“These are referrals with some gravity,” Heimpel says, “These county has deemed necessary to get law enforcement’s  eyes on, so you don’t go out to one of them  it could be fatal.”

In Cuatro’s case it clearly was.

“It’s inexcusable,” says Brian Claypool. He represents Cuatro’s great grandmother who is suing the county.

“If the Los Angeles Police Department received a report of Noah Cuatro being allegedly sexually abused that should have been immediately investigated. I’m talking within a few hours and we need an answer.”

A statement from Josh Rubenstein of the LAPD did not address specifics of the Chronicle report. But said in part, “Our officers and detectives work tirelessly to investigate claims of abuse however, we cannot make a broad brush comment without looking at each individual case in context to understand the details of the investigations.”

Fajardo attended an event Sunday evening hoping to talk to LA Mayor Eric Garcetti about the report but he did not make himself available, she reported. His staff also did not return her calls requesting a comment.

6 Stories, 2 from Escambia Co., on Today's USA PnP List

Teenager in LAPD cadet scandal files claim

over alleged sex abuse

Cadets file past Police Chief Charlie Beck for inspection before their graduation ceremony at USC's Galen Center in June. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Richard Winton and James Queally

A 15-year-old girl who investigators say was sexually abused by a former Los Angeles police officer while she was part of the department’s cadet program filed a claim against the city Thursday, alleging the officer spent months gaining her trust before luring her into a sexual encounter, according to a court filing.

Robert Cain, 31, used his influence as a police officer and mentor to draw his teenage victim into a series of sexual encounters earlier this year, said attorney Luis Carrillo, who is representing the girl.

"He was manipulating her for his use," he said. "She needs a lot of therapy."

Cain was arrested and charged with multiple sex offenses involving an underage member of the cadet program earlier this year. The alleged sexual acts occurred June 14, according to the court filing, which does not name the girl. Cain, a 10-year veteran of the LAPD, resigned last month.

Details of the alleged abuse first surfaced in June, as the LAPD was investigating the theft of department cruisers, bulletproof vests and other equipment from the 77th Street Division. Three cadets led police on a wild chase while allegedly driving the stolen cruisers in South L.A., police have said.

The victim was among seven cadets arrested in connection with the thefts. A review of text messages between the victim and Cain, who was assigned to 77th Street Division’s equipment room, revealed evidence of unlawful sexual contact, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck.

Beck personally arrested Cain, and he was charged with committing lewd acts upon a child, oral copulation with a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse in July. Cain has yet to enter a plea on those charges, as he awaits trial on felony weapons charges in San Bernardino County.

Carrillo said the teen was so traumatized by her interactions with Cain that she did not inform police about them when she was arrested. The attorney also alleged that supervisors at 77th Street Division allowed Cain “unfettered access” to the victim, though he did not claim they knew of the sexual relationship. At the time the alleged incidents took place, LAPD policy did not forbid one-on-one interactions between officers and members of department youth programs.

Carrillo alleged that other officers at 77th Street Division knew about the improper use of LAPD vehicles by cadets, and failed to intervene. The LAPD has repeatedly said no other officers have been accused of wrongdoing in the cadet scandal.

Cain’s attorney, Bill Seki, declined to comment on the claim. Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office, said the office had not viewed the filing as of Thursday morning and could not comment further. Calls and emails to the LAPD seeking comment were not returned.

Beginning in January 2017, the officer “groomed, seduced, coerced and tricked” the victim before performing lewd acts upon her, according to the claim, which seeks monetary damages. The officer “pretended” to be the girl’s friend and took her to Six Flags Magic Mountain, “told her that he was in love with her” and sent the victim inappropriate text messages, according to the claim.

Robert Cain, 31, is charged with four sex crimes in Los Angeles

Former LAPD Officer at center of cadet scandal is charged with multiple sex crimes in Los Angeles (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Law enforcement sources previously told The Times that Cain took the victim to Six Flags Magic Mountain on the day of the sexual assaults. Beck has said Cain sexually assaulted the victim during three separate incidents that day, none of which took place on LAPD property.

After the sexual contact, the officer feared the victim might become pregnant, and suggested she take an emergency contraceptive pill, according to the claim.

The LAPD, the claim contends, knew the officer was a “problem” and had been subject to a personnel complaint while working in the Van Nuys division in 2015, before he was transferred to 77th Street Division. Beck had said Cain did not have a significant disciplinary history.

Cain’s mother, Maria, also previously told The Times that her son had expressed worry about a situation involving a young girl shortly before he was arrested. “Oh Mom, there is a problem with a girl,” Cain said, according to his mother. “I have a bad feeling about it.”

The cadet scandal led the department to change some policies governing the program, and sparked calls for an audit of all LAPD youth initiatives. The cadet program was suspended at 77th Street and Pacific Divisions after news of the thefts and the allegations against Cain became public.

The LAPD has yet to present cases for prosecution against the seven cadets accused of stealing property or leading officers on car chases, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. An LAPD spokesman said the investigation into the cadets’ activities remains ongoing.

Escambia County Sheriff, Department Sued By

Child Sex Ring Victims

By Brad Gunther

PENSACOLA, Florida (WKRG) – Two children victimized sexually at the hands of their mother and step-father, who were both Escambia County Sheriffs employees at the time, have filed a federal lawsuit against Sheriff David Morgan, The Escambia County Sheriffs office and Mark Smith.  

Smith is an Escambia County Deputy who was acquitted at trial of similar charges and is currently on administrative leave with the department.  Walter “Mike” Thomas, another Deputy not involved in this lawsuit, was previously convicted of three counts of sexual battery and sentenced to 30 years in prison on two counts and 15 years probation on the third count.

Leah Manning, the twin girls’ mother was an ECSO Nurse at the time, and their step-father, Doug Manning who was an ECSO Deputy, have both been convicted in state court on charges of Lewd and Lascivious behavior.   The twin girls say the couple invited their friends, including Thomas and Smith, to have sex with themselves and the girls beginning in the summer of 2014.  At times, the suit contends, the Deputies were on duty and in their uniforms.

The suit claims that Sheriff David Morgan was “deliberately indifferent” to the health and safety of the sisters by “deliberately failing to investigate the reports of widespread sexual promiscuity of his servants, agents, officers and/or other employees while they were on duty and actively engaged in performing law enforcement duties.”  The suit also claims that, once the sexual abuse claims were known or should have been known to Morgan,, the Sheriff failed to report the possible abuse to the Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline as required by law.

The suit also alleges that the Escambia County Sheriffs Office “engaged in a pattern and practice of allowing its servants, agents, officers, and/or other employees, including Defendant Smith and officer Thomas, to engage in sexual conduct while on duty…”

Although found not guilty in a jury trial in 2016, the suit reasserts the allegation that Mark Smith engaged in sexual activity with the girls.

Doug and Leah Manning were apprehended at a Florence, Colorado campground after two weeks on the run in March of 2015.

Escambia County, FLA

Moabite sentenced to state prison in

child sex abuse case

by Greg Knight

The Times-Independent

A Moab, Utah man will spend up to 35 years in state prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a child in Seventh District Court on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Johnathon Miller, 29, was ordered by Seventh District Court Judge Lyle Anderson to serve two consecutive terms of between one and 15 years each after accepting a plea bargain in the case. He was also sentenced consecutively to zero to five years on a probation violation stemming from a previous felony case involving the discharge of a firearm. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will ultimately determine the amount of time Miller spends in prison.

Miller pleaded guilty to the two second-degree felony charges just 30 minutes prior to the start of his trial. In making the deal, Grand County Attorney Andrew Fitzgerald dropped six other charges against Miller, including rape and sodomy of a child. According to Fitzgerald, a jury was summoned and he was prepared to begin trial when the agreement was struck with Miller’s public defender, Don Torgerson.

The deal Fitzgerald and the defense agreed to would have run Miller’s sentences concurrently. Judge Anderson declined to accept that agreement, however, and in issuing his sentence handed down consecutive terms.

Way to go judge!

Under Utah law, judges are not obligated to follow a plea agreement and may sentence a defendant as they see fit under state guidelines, which is what Judge Anderson did in Miller’s case.

“Normally, 14 days before trial, the judge cuts us off from making any plea bargains,” Fitzgerald said. “The rationale in that is that once you have brought in a lot of people to seat a prospective jury, you’ve wasted a lot of peoples’ time and … the courts pay about $18 a day, per person, so it can add up. At the last minute, the defendant decided to accept our offer, which was one we had extended during virtually the entire case … the judge didn’t go with our recommendation because he decided the facts of the case and the seriousness of the charges warranted consecutive sentences.”

Fitzgerald added that, out of deep concern for the victim in the case, he asked Judge Anderson to allow the plea bargain to go forward.

“We left that door open for [Miller] to plead to this because we had a child witness,” Fitzgerald said. “The judge allowed his rules to be relaxed because the therapist in the case came back to us saying that having her testify would be difficult for her and likely set her back in the therapy [the child] is receiving … it’s one of those situations where it made sense not to put the child witness on the stand.”

Fitzgerald said the case, which was first brought to the attention of authorities in March by staff at the Grand County School District, was delayed in its reporting and no forensic evidence of a rape or abuse was revealed. That, he said, also made an impact on his decision to seek acceptance of a late plea agreement from Judge Anderson.

“There was no physical evidence, so in this case it came down to a 9-year-old child versus the defendant,” Fitzgerald said. “A lot can happen in court when it comes to a child victim and there is a lot of risk when it’s a ‘he said, she said’ type of situation. With all of that considered, and no forensic evidence, we were fortunate to get the change of plea from the judge rather than put this child through all of that.”

While the specific details of the allegations against Miller have not been made public, Fitzgerald said the abuse occurred over of period of time when the victim was five to six years old.

Grand County teacher, counselor broke the case

It was the diligent work of a teacher and counselor from Grand County School District that broke the criminal case against Johnathon Miller, according to Grand County Attorney Andrew Fitzgerald. That teacher, Fitzgerald said, used the “Good Touch and Bad Touch” program training in her classroom at Helen M. Knight Elementary School when the child, who was an 8-year-old at the time, reported the crimes.

“The testimony we would have heard, had this case gone to trial, was that the school district used the Good Touch and Bad Touch training when this child spoke up,” Fitzgerald said. “The reason we have a program like this is because of the actions of the Grand County Children’s Justice Center. It’s a program they started here that goes into the schools and tells about what are ‘good’ touches and ‘bad’ touches. Kids are told that it’s important to tell your teachers about these things.”

According to Fitzgerald, the victim reported the “bad” touch just one day after hearing about the program in the classroom. At that point a counselor was brought in and it was reported to law enforcement.

Having the Good Touch and Bad Touch program in Grand County schools is an important factor, Fitzgerald added, in helping to identify predators and keep children safe in the community. “I think it’s great that we have this,” Fitzgerald said. “This shows that the program is effective and empowers them to go to people they can trust and say something bad happened to them.”

Fitzgerald added that in this case Miller, who was dating the young victim’s mother, had allegedly asked the child to “keep it a secret” and that he “would go to jail” if anyone found out.

If you know of a victim of child sexual abuse, contact the Moab Police Department at 435-259-8938, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office at 435-259-8115, or call the Division of Child and Family Services at 800-678-9399.

Iowa sex offender indicted for child porn

JEFF REINITZ jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com  

GREENE – A federal grand jury has returned a child pornography indictment against a Floyd County sex offender.

On Oct. 18, a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids handed up the indictment charging 54-year-old David Paul Myers (no relation, I hope) of Greene with one count of receipt of child porn and two counts each of possession of child porn and accessing child porn. The case was unsealed on Wednesday.

Myers has prior convictions for third-degree sexual abuse involving boys in Butler and Floyd counties from 1998.

In the new charge, court records allege Myers had visual depictions of minors engaged in sexual activity between March 2005 and January 2015, which were stored on a Toshiba laptop computer and a CD labeled “Hot Young Lads Vol. 2,” and attempted to access child porn on a Samsung cell phone and an RCA tablet.

Court records show that his home was searched by authorities in January 2015.

Oklahoma man found guilty on two counts of

child sexual abuse

Jessica Lane 

     

Robert Smith, of Amber, was found guilty on two counts of child sexual abuse, according to Grady County District Attorney, Jason Hicks. 

It has been recommended that Smith serve a life sentence for each count in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Smith will be formally sentenced by the Grady County District Court at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2018, Hicks said. 

Smith's charges are the result of his actions towards two children, ages 7 and 8, Hicks said. The children's mother reported the alleged abuse to the Amber Police Department in December 2016. A request for assistance was made to Investigator Michael Francis and upon completion of his investigation, charges were filed against Smith for his actions, Hicks said. 

The Honorable Kory Kirkland presided over the trial on Oct. 26. The State of Oklahoma appeared by Kara Bacon, First Assistant District Attorney, and Missy Benedict, Assistant District Attorney. District Attorney Investigator Francis was the lead investigator and sat as the State’s case agent.  

Man accused of sex assault claims alleged

victim may be a 'sociopath'

An Escambia County man who said he took a child to the doctor because he suspected she had been sexually abused has himself been arrested for allegedly abusing that child.

Timothy Lee Cook, 27, faces one count of sexual assault of a victim under 12 for the alleged abuse, which police say happened between November 2016 and September 2017.

Cook's Escambia County Sheriff's Office arrest report doesn't mention the child's age. It states the woman who reported the alleged abuse did so after the child mentioned she had seen and touched Cook's genitals.

The woman told authorities she hadn't seen any odd behavior between the victim and Cook, but reported comments the child had made to investigators. The child told investigators during an interview that she played a sexual game with Cook and he would reward her with ice cream after.

When Cook was interviewed, he said the girl was very smart but he doesn't know why she would say she had touched his genitals. He told investigators maybe she had dreamed it, or she had walked in on him watching pornography and had been confused. 

The report states Cook said there was a high possibility the victim was molested, but it wasn't by him.

Cook also told police he thought the victim was a sociopath, and said he and the woman who reported the alleged abuse took the child to a doctor because they suspected sexual abuse.

He said doctors at that time were unable to determine if the child had been sexually abused.

The report also states Cook offered to take polygraph test, which he reportedly failed.

Cook allegedly said the test showed deception because his house had been broken into and he was stressed. He said he doesn't think the child was making up the abuse, but he thought she was mistaken about the suspect.

Cook was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and is being held without bond. Court records do not show an attorney for Cook.

Escambia Co., FLA

LA Rehab Facility Mogul Arrested for Sexual Assault, Fraud

    @Christopher Bathum / Facebook

Self-proclaimed “rehab mogul” Christopher Bathum, 55, is believed to have used his 19 sober living facilities in South California and Colorado to sexually assault women and steal patients’ identities. He was found to have used their details to scam insurance companies for $44 million.

Bathum was arrested on Thursday in his home in Agoura Hills, California during a raid that included searches of 15 locations spanning two states. While the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has yet to file formal charges, it claims that over a dozen victims have come forward with sexual assault accusations against.

LAPD also believe that there are more victims. “We want every one of them to come forward,” Lt. Todd Deeds of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crime Bureau told The Los Angeles Times. “He is in custody right now.”

While the LAPD declined to elaborate on the claims against Bathum, an LA Weekly piece from February said that he was under investigation by the LAPD, FBI, Los Angeles District Attorney as well as insurance companies.

Targeted vulnerable young women

In addition, three women filed complaints against him that alleged he used his position in the treatment centers to exploit women with substance abuse problems. According to their lawsuit, “Bathum specializes in targeting young women who have suffered childhood traumas or sexual abuse and who are particularly vulnerable.”

The lawsuit also claimed that Bathum isolated the women under the pretense of therapy and would give them drugs and then demand sexual favors in exchange for being allowed to stay in the clinic.

Bathum denied the sexual assault allegations in June when he was featured in an episode of ‘20/20’. “You gotta understand something. You're in a world of accusations that's amazingly complex and has people saying ... all kinds of crazy things … in a trauma-filled world,” he said.

Bathum is not only facing sexual assault charges, but he is also accused of using his treatment centers for massive frauds. He’s not the only one involved, either. Firm executive Kirsten Wallace is accused of working with Bathum to steal patients’ identities to buy health policies in order to continue billing insurance companies even after the patients completed their treatment.