Doctor, Musician, Man with Dementia on Today's USA P&P List

USA Gymnastics doctor opts for plea deal - Illinois

Man accused of thousands of sex assaults on child - Colorado

72 y/o man with dementia get 2 years for procuring - Alabama

Fugitive musician turns himself in to police - North Carolina

USA Gymnastics doctor to plead guilty to

child porn charges

USA TODAY NETWORK Matt Mencarini , Lansing State Journal 

Former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar agreed to plead guilty to federal child pornography charges. 

Nassar, 53, of Holt, was indicted in December on charges of obtaining and possessing child pornography. Months later, the U.S. Attorney's Office added a third charge that alleged Nassar had images or files destroyed.

He signed an agreement to plead guilty to all three charges, according a copy of the agreement obtained by the Lansing State Journal. The plea deal does not include a sentence agreement.

Each charge carries a sentence of five to 20 years in prison. 

The formal plea agreement has not been filed in federal court, and no plea hearing has been scheduled. His next scheduled appearance is for August. 

Matt Newburg, one of Nassar's attorneys, declined to comment. 

In December, days after Nassar was arrested, an FBI agent testified at a detention hearing that, during a search of Nassar's Holt property, law enforcement found hard drives, some of which were in a trash can outside the home, that contained at least 37,000 images and videos of child pornography. 

The agent also testified that videos were found that appeared to show Nassar sexually assaulting young girls in a pool. 

Nassar worked at MSU for nearly 20 years. The university fired him on Sept. 20 but on Sept. 16 sent him a letter stating that, based on new sexual assault allegations and his withholding of information about a 2004 police investigation, the university was considering firing him. 

On Sept. 19, according to the plea agreement, Nassar took his work laptop to a computer service store and paid $49 to have all the data, including the operating system, permanently deleted. 

The plea agreement states that Nassar had the laptop erased and put the hard drives in a trash can "to impede and obstruct" the investigation.  

The plea deal includes an agreement that Nassar will register as a sex offender and an agreement that the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan will not prosecute him for alleged sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation of children, including an incident in 2015 in his swimming pool. 

Nassar also worked with USA Gymnastics. He left the organization in fall 2015 with little notice. 

The plea agreement will resolve one of four criminal cases against Nassar, leaving three state sexual assault cases that are being prosecuted by the Michigan Attorney General's Office. 

Those three cases include 22 first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges, with all but three relating to his former role as a doctor. Nassar faces up to life in prison if convicted on the state charges. 

He's also being sued by more than 115 women and girls, all but one of whom say in court records that he sexually assaulted them during medical appointments. Many have said the abuse happened at MSU, at USA Gymnastics events or at Twistars gymnastics club in Dimondale. 

MSU, USA Gymnastics and Twistars have all been named as co-defendants in some of the lawsuits. 

Man accused of 6-7 years of sexual abuse of child

This means she was sexually assaulted thousands of times

By Gabrielle Porter 

A Grand Junction man accused of sexually abusing a girl repeatedly over a six-year span has been arrested and could be charged with multiple counts of sexual assault.

Aaron Lyman Neff, 45, was arrested Wednesday after the now-adult woman told Grand Junction police detectives that he had been sexually assaulting her on an almost daily basis from the time she was 10 or 11 until she was 17, according to an arrest affidavit.

The woman told a friend and a church youth leader about the alleged abuse when she was a teenager. When the youth leader reported the story to the child welfare workers and a detective contacted the victim, however, she denied any abuse, Neff’s arrest affidavit said.

Last month, however, the woman got back in touch with the police department and told an officer that Neff had sexually assaulted her for years.

The woman said she once witnessed Neff assaulting another young girl, the report said. The second victim — also an adult now — told police Neff abused her once when she was 13.

Neff appeared in Mesa County Court Thursday afternoon, where his attorney asked that he be released on a personal-recognizance or cash-surety bond while his case is ongoing. Public Defender Jason Groth said that Neff has a “pretty sparse” criminal history, that he has a job at a roofing company, and that he has only missed court once in his life.

Mesa County Chief Deputy District Attorney Trish Mahre asked for a “significant” cash bond in Neff’s case because of the serious nature of the case.

Mesa County Judge Bruce Raaum sided with Mahre and ordered Neff to remain in custody on a $50,000 cash-only bond. He also ordered Neff to have no contact with children under the age of 18, and set his next court appearance for Thursday before District Judge Richard Gurley.

72-year-old man with dementia sentenced for traveling to meet child for sex

Emma Kennedy

A Mobile, Alabama, man with dementia was sentenced Friday to two years in state prison for traveling to meet with who he thought was a 12-year-old child for sexual acts.

Alfred Foster, 72, was one of 26 people arrested in a joint internet crimes against children task force operation called Operation Undertow in September 2016.

Foster messaged with the undercover agent, who was posing as a child, repeatedly to set up the meeting, and he drove to several locations and had a condom in his pocket, according to Assistant State Attorney Anne Patterson.

Foster's attorney, James Burns, spoke about his client's health problems during the sentencing hearing, saying he had suffered with dementia for approximately four years and is medicated for that condition. Burns said Foster has almost no criminal history besides the present charge.

Patterson said despite the dementia diagnosis, Foster's crime was "as egregious as it gets" and he showed consistency and responsiveness in his messages to the investigator.

Circuit Judge E.P. Nickinson sentenced Foster to two years in state prison for one count of traveling to meet a minor. A second count of lewd or lascivious acts was dropped as part of a plea agreement. Upon release, Foster will be designated as a sex offender.

44-year-old wanted child sex-abuse suspect

surrenders to Durham police

BY MARK DONOVAN

Traveling private music instructor John William Garris, 44, of 1908 Mountain Creek Road, Albemarle, turned himself in to Durham police on Thursday.

He was being sought on charges of first-degree statutory sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a child.

He was released from the Durham County jail after posting $50,000 bond, Durham Police Department spokeswoman Kammie Michael said Friday.

The only other information police provided was that the alleged incident which resulted in the charges against Garris was reported May 1 in Durham and that the victim was known to Garris.

Lord Janner's £1Million Legacy May Go To His 'Child Sex Abuse Victims'

Executors of Labour peer's will have set aside money to cover potential compensation claims  

By ANDREW YOUNG and MARTIN DELGADO FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Probate records show that Janner left more than £2.1 million, around half of which has been frozen pending the outcome of legal claims by at least six of his alleged victims.

Lawyers acting for the family of the former Leicester MP, who died aged 87 last December, plan to contest the action in court.

If the abuse claims are found to be unproven, the frozen assets will be distributed according to his will, in which he left the bulk of his fortune to his three children. His wife Myra died in 1996.

Janner died two weeks after he was ruled unfit to stand trial on 22 counts of sex offences against nine boys between 1963 and 1988. A judge decided he was incapable of entering a plea due to his dementia.

A ‘trial of the facts’ – in which as jury is asked to examine evidence and decide whether the accused committed crimes – had been due to start in April. Although this process cannot now take place, the abuse allegations will still be aired in the civil courts.

A source close to Janner’s family said yesterday: ‘As his estate is being sued, a sum has been put aside and cannot be dissipated until the matter is settled.'

‘If it is resolved in the estate’s favour, then inheritance tax on the amount will have to be paid.’

The source added: ‘The claims of abuse will be strongly contested. The family are looking forward to the claimants being cross-examined in court.’

Money from the estate will be used to fight the case and inheritance tax will not be payable on the legal fees, the source said.

The bulk of Janner’s fortune came from his luxury flat in Golders Green, North London. Land Registry records reveal the apartment was sold for £2,035,000 just before his death.

Janner was Labour MP for Leicester North West and then Leicester West from 1970 until retiring in 1997, when he was made a life peer. He campaigned for Israeli and Jewish causes, as well as on women’s equality.


Lord Janner attends a reception to mark the 21st anniversary of the Commonwealth Jewish Council at St James's Palace with the Queen in 2003

Lawyer Liz Dux, who represents several of Janner’s alleged victims, said: ‘The estate is fully aware of its obligations not to distribute any part of the estate while the legal action remains outstanding.’

Janner’s will, signed in 2009, left £15,000 to each of his grandchildren, and £25,000 to his sister Lady Morris of Kenwood. There were also charitable donations of £5,000 each to the World Jewish Affairs Fund, the Commonwealth Jewish Council and Holocaust Educational Trust.

The bulk was left in trust for his three children – Daniel, Marion and Laura.

Janner’s family declined to comment.

Lord Janner Dead: Former Peer Found Unfit to Stand Trial for Alleged Child Sex Abuse

 Janner was suffering with severe dementia

Heather Saul 
The Independent

Greville Janner, in 1975. Rex Features
Greville Janner, the former Labour peer, has died aged 87.

His family confirmed his death on Saturday. He was suffering from severe dementia. 

"Lord Janner died peacefully on Saturday, 19 December after a long illness,” the family said in a statement. "He will be deeply missed."

A High Court judge ruled Lord Janner was "unfit to plead" over a series of child sex abuse charges dating back 50 years earlier in December and a 'trial of the facts' was scheduled to take place in April.

Mr Justice Openshaw said in his ruling: “The defendant has advanced and disabling dementia which is deteriorating and irreversible and I find he is unfit to plead and stand trial on his indictment.”

The former Labour MP for Leicester West was accused of 22 sexual offences dating back to the 1960s against nine alleged victims, the majority of whom were 16 or under at the time.

Lord Janner was made a life peer upon his retirement in 1997 after serving as a Labour MP for 20 years. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2009 and suspended from the Labour party in April.

His family said he was "entirely innocent of any wrongdoing" in response to the allegations.

His many alleged victims will not agree with his family's assessment of Janner. They may also feel cheated out of their day in court to air the alleged abuse suffered at his hands. But Mr Janner still has to stand before God in judgment; his guilt or innocence will be made known and recompensed at that time.

Lord Janner was an outspoken MP and prominent campaigner for Jewish organisations. Sir Mick Davis, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “The passing of Greville Janner marks the end of an era for the Jewish community.

”Our thoughts and prayers are with the Janner family at this most difficult time.“

A family spokesperson asked that their privacy during mourning be respected. 

Lord Janner: Judge Rules Dementia Sufferer is Unfit to Plead in Child Sex Abuse Trial

Court hearing on 87-year-old peer's mental health is told former Labour grandee is suffering from 'advanced and disabling' dementia

Lord Janner pictured after a previous court appearance Photo: Reuters

David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Telegraph

Lord Janner has been declared unfit to plead in a criminal trial over a range of sex abuse charges dating back 50 years, a senior judge has ruled.

In a hearing at the Old Bailey on the 87-year-old's mental health, Mr Justice Openshaw said the peer was suffering from "advanced and disabling" dementia.

He detailed reports from four leading psychiatrists and psychologists which had been commissioned by both prosecution and defence - all of which agreed the peer's mental health was very poor. Janner did not attend the latest court hearing.

"Medical opinion is... all one way," said the judge. "The inevitable and irresistible conclusion is the defendant has advanced and disabling dementia which is deteriorating and irreversible and, accordingly, I find that he is unfit to plead."

At a the last hearing in October, both prosecution and defence barristers made it clear there was no dispute between them that Janner was not well enough to stand trial.

But the judge told them that the matter should be decided following a "short opening" in court as the public was "entitled to know" why.

Janner is accused of 22 sex abuse charges and there is due to be a rare "trial of the facts" heard in the new year.

Lord Janner and his daughter arrive at Westminster Magistrates' Court for an earlier hearing

One of the doctors who examined Janner on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service was Professor Michael Kopelman, an expert in memory loss and a professor of neuropsychiatry at King's College London.

He examined Janner four times between February last year and September this year.

Summarising the most recent report by Prof Kopelman, the judge said of Janner: "He can now hardly speak and when he does it is to make inappropriate, repetitive statements.

"He scarcely recognised his own family and he has entirely lost his short term memory.

"He is unable to give any account of his professional and Parliamentary history."

Earlier this year, a review of the case led the Crown Prosecution Service to overturn its decision not pursue charges against Janner due to his ill-health.

Janner is accused of 15 counts of indecent assault and seven counts of a separate sexual offence against a total of nine alleged victims in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Twenty-one of the offences relate to complainants who were aged 16 or under at the time.

"The inevitable and irresistible conclusion is the defendant has advanced and disabling dementia which is deteriorating and irreversible"

Mr Justice Openshaw

Mr Justice Openshaw chose not to refer to the defendant by his noble title, instead calling him "Greville Janner" and noting that he had been "indicted as Lord Janner".

He added that it was important to balance openness over the decision not to proceed with a criminal trial with "protecting the defendant's privacy".

The judge acknowledged there had been what he described as "unjustifiable scepticism" among some members of the public regarding the legal process surrounding Janner.

The judge added that the peer had been examined by "eminent" doctors.

"Each is of the opinion that the defendant is suffering from such severe disability, namely dementia ... that he is unfit to be plead or to be tried," the judge said.

Prof Kopelman's report from March this year said: "Lord Janner would be unable to understand the charges against him, to comprehend that a juror could be challenged, to instruct his lawyers, to comprehend the details of evidence, or to follow and recall the court proceedings."

Another expert who examined Janner on behalf of the prosecution, Dr Kate Humphreys from St Thomas' Hospital - which sits on the River Thames opposite the Palace of Westminster - said it had been impossible to carry out the full range of cognitive tests because his condition was so poor.

His mental health problems are a combination of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, she concluded.

Greville Janner in more coherent days Photo: Rex

Another psychiatrist, Dr James Warner, examined Janner for the defence.

Based on this report the judge said: "During cognitive testing he appeared somewhat perplexed and mildly irritable; his speech was abnormal, with periodic slurring of words, some being incomprehensible.

"He exhibited a condition known as ‘logoclonia’, being the repetition of simple words; he then had only a limited vocabulary.

"Most of his answers were inappropriate to the questions asked; indeed, he gave virtually no coherent answers to the questions asked.

"He was often bewildered by simple requests, even when made in simple language and given repeatedly.

"The defence cognitive testing he appeared somewhat perplexed and mildly irritable; his speech was abnormal, with periodic slurring of words, some being incomprehensible.

"He exhibited a condition known as ‘logoclonia’, being the repetition of simple words; he then had only a limited vocabulary. Most of his answers were inappropriate to the questions asked; indeed, he gave virtually no coherent answers to the questions asked. He was often bewildered by simple requests, even when made in simple language and given repeatedly."

Janner and daughter arrive at a previous court appearance

Greville Janner: a timeline
Allegations of child sex abuse are first made against Lord Janner in 1991 during the trial of convicted paedophile Frank Beck, but have persistently dogged the Labour Peer since then

June 1970
Janner wins Leicester North West
Greville Janner, a qualified barrister, successfully wins the seat of Leicester North West for Labour and enters the House of Commons aged 41.

1991
Police investigate Janner
Leicestershire Police investigates allegations that Janner was responsible for abuse at children's homes in Leicester. Janner is investigated alongside Frank Beck - a former Royal Marine turned social worker who was in charge of several children’s homes in Leicestershire from 1973 - 1986. Janner is questioned by appointment.

August 1991
Frank Beck goes on trial
Frank Beck goes on trial charged with abusing more than 100 children in his care. During the case he claims he had intervened to prevent Janner from abusing and buggering a child at one of the homes.

November 1991
Evidence against Janner
A former children’s home resident gives evidence at the trial in which he claims Janner regularly abused him.

November 1991
Beck sentenced to five life terms

Frank Beck (Picture: Richard Watt)

Frank Beck is convicted of a string of child abuse and rape charges and is sentenced to five life terms.

December 1991
Janner denies allegations in House of Commons speech

Janner uses a speech in the House of Commons to vehemently deny the allegations made against him and is supported by a number of colleagues from all sides of the House some of whom call for a change in the law to protect the reputation of those accused of such crimes.

December 1991
No further action against Janner
The Crown Prosecution Service announces no further action is to be taken against Janner over the allegations.

May 1997
Janner becomes a baron
Steps down as an MP and is ennobled as a Life Peer taking the title Baron Janner of Braunstone.

2002
Victim claims abuse by Janner
An alleged victim gives evidence to Leicester Police claiming he was abused by Janner. The evidence is never passed to the CPS for consideration.

2006
Another victim comes forward
Another alleged victim comes forward claiming to have been abused by three people, one of whom was Janner. The evidence is passed to the CPS for consideration.

2007
CPS decides there is insufficient evidence to prosecute

January 2013
Operation Enamel is launched
Operation Enamel is established by Leicestershire Police and more than a dozen allegations are made against Janner.

December 2013
Police search Janner’s home as part of the investigation

March 2014
Police search Janner’s Westminster offices

April 2015
Enough evidence, no prosecution
CPS announce it is not in the public interest to prosecute Janner despite there being enough evidence to proceed. DPP Alison Saunders announces his severe dementia means he would not be fit to stand trial.

May 2015
External QC is appointed to review the decision

June 2015
U-turn on Janner - he will be prosecuted
Alison Saunders announces she is reversing the decision not to prosecute the former Labour peer for child sexual offences, following a review carried out by an independent legal expert.

June 2015
Alison Saunders faces calls to resign
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders faces calls to resign after she was forced into a U-turn over her decision.

August 2015
Janner 'fit to attend court'
Lord Greville Janner after appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London (Picture: Reuters)
Chief magistrate Howard Riddle rules that Lord Janner is fit to attend court to answer charges of historic sex abuse. Lawyers for Lord Janner later lose a High Court bid to prevent him from having to do so.

December 2015
Janner 'unfit' to plead in trial
A senior judge rules Lord Janner is unfit to plead in a criminal trial over a range of sex abuse charges. Mr Justice Openshaw made the ruling after hearing details about Lord Janner's dementia.

CPS to Review Decision to Not Prosecute Lord Janner for CSA

The Crown Prosecution Service has said it will review its decision not to charge the Labour peer Lord Janner over allegations of historic child sex abuse.

Lord Janner was accused of a string of historic child sex abuse allegations during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s but deemed unfit to stand trial because he is suffering from dementia.

Lord Janner

The decision by Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders not to proceed with court action against the the 86-year-old will now be revisited by an independent external barrister under its Victims' Right to Review scheme, the CPS said.

A spokesman said: "The CPS Victims' Right to Review scheme was set up to give complainants the ability to ask the CPS to review its decisions - usually when there has been a decision not to prosecute.

"The CPS has been asked to invoke this process in the case of Lord Janner and that review is now taking place.

"Where the decision is made by the DPP this review would normally be done by the CPS Appeals Unit. However, due to the unique circumstances surrounding this case, the CPS has instructed external counsel instead."

There has been pressure from lawyers representing alleged victims of the lawyer and politician, who was an MP for 27 years.

Justice Lowell Goddard

Justice Lowell Goddard, the New Zealand judge leading an independent inquiry into child sex abuse, also said she would investigate claims made against Lord Janner, and could even call him to give evidence. Did I mention, I love this woman!

An NSPCC spokesman said: "We welcome this news. Victims of sexual abuse were angry at the decision not to prosecute when there was clearly a case to answer.

"This review needs to reassure those with allegations that every option was fully explored. We have questioned why a trial of facts was not suitable whatever the state of Lord Janner's health. Given the mistakes of the past, victim confidence is now key."

Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale who helped expose child sex abuse carried out by the late Liberal MP Cyril Smith, said he welcomed the review.

Simon Danczuk

He told the Guardian: "But I am worried that the CPS is commissioning a review after they have frankly got this whole episode wrong from the very beginning.

"I hope it is entirely independent of previous decisions by Saunders.

"She sat on the police file for nine months before announcing a muddleheaded decision when parliament was not sitting and is now announcing this just as MPs prepare to come back. I hope we are not seeing political manipulation with a small 'p'."

We can always 'hope' Mr Danczuk! It may be utter foolishness to do so, but we can always hope.

New Alleged Victims of Lord Janner Appear as Police May Take Legal Action

Lord Janner - no charges for VIP accused of child sex abuse by 25 people

A number of new alleged victims of Lord Greville Janner have come forward since it was announced he will not be charged with child sex offences, police have revealed.

It comes after the decision to not prosecute the ex-Labour MP due to his poor health was branded “a disgrace” by one alleged victim, who claimed Janner was “being protected” due to his VIP status.

Leicestershire Police had already traced 25 potential victims during a two-year probe codenamed Operation Enamel.

A force spokesman said: “A number of alleged victims have come forward to the Operation Enamel team following the announcement last week.”

The Mirror can also reveal Lord Janner was officially registered as a “working peer, writer and lecturer” less than a week before he was told he would not be charged.

The Labour grandee gave the description under the heading “occupation” with Companies House, where he was listed as a director until April 10.

Six days later Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions, announced there was enough evidence to bring charges against him but this would not happen, because he was too sick to stand trial.

His family have said he is “entirely innocent”.

Lord Janner quit West Heath Road Seasons Ltd this month after 16 years as a director.

Records show he claimed £2,500 for 15 House of Lords appearances in the month before a search of his home.

In total, he attended on 138 days in 2013, but has not returned since December 18, 2013, a day after police completed a two-day search of his home.

He was diagnosed with dementia in 2009, and his condition is thought to have deteriorated since he became a suspect.

He is said to require round-the-clock care. It sounds like he needed round-the-clock care most of his life.

Labour peer Lord Greville Janner filmed outside his house in London

Leicestershire Police said they are considering taking legal action to overturn the DDP’s decision.

Campaigners have demanded full details of Lord Janner’s recent contact with House of Lords officials, which they claim may shed new light on his mental state.

It has been reported he wrote to Lords clerks earlier this month indicating he did not wish to step down as a serving peer.

John Mann, the Labour candidate contesting Bassetlaw, Notts said: “I don’t see how you can sign a document relating to membership of the House of Lords if you have dementia.”

One of nine victims Janner could have been charged over said Ms Saunders’ decision was “a disgrace”, and added: “This man is still being protected because [of his status] and isn’t able to stand trial.

“If he was an everyday person with a normal life and job, justice would [have] been served, but as it stands we victims are just being pushed to the ground again and walked over.”

It's called victim abuse. Protecting the pervert is abusing the victim again. It should not be allowed to happen under any circumstance. There is precedent for trying someone with dementia in absentia, and this should be considered.