Maryland mom fighting to create tougher laws against child sex predators
AA
by Scott Taylor
Thursday, January 28th 2021
A Maryland mom is back at it in Annapolis at the State House next week working to create tougher penalties for child sex abusers.
Annie Kenny is fighting to pass the Sex Offender - Lifetime Supervision bill.
The 2021 versions are HB531 and SB333.
We first told you about Kenny in 2019.
The bill would mandate that anyone convicted of sexually abusing a minor in the State of Maryland, which makes them a Tier III Registered Sex Offender for life, would also place them on probation for life, instead of just the current 5-year probationary period.
“This is my third year trying to get this bill passed, and I am really hopeful that this year will be one. Every year this doesn't get passed, we miss out on so many more offenders that this won't be able to apply too,” says Kenny.
"Our kids deserve better than this. I will be here fighting until we get this bill passed. And next year another bill. And then another after that. Until we can't find any new child sexual abuse cases where legislative negligence was a contributing factor,” says Kenny.
The petition describes what happened to her family after an ex-husband was convicted of attempted sex abuse of a minor, a misdemeanor with five years of probation, and a lifetime of registering as a tier-three sex offender.
“We assumed incorrectly that kept some boundaries up for the other children that he was having visitation with,” Kenny said.
ABC7 did reach out to Kenny’s ex-husband in 2019 for comment but did not receive a response.
Right now the petition has more than 48,000 signatures.
After the conviction, Kenny was told her ex-husband might be sleeping in the same bed with her minor children during custodial visits. When she went to the Charles County Sheriff's Office, she was told in Maryland it isn't a crime for a convicted child sex offender to sleep in the same bed with a minor. Only a judge could add that type of restriction during a parole hearing.
"I was really horrified to find out that it wasn't already a law. It doesn't make any sense to me,” Kenny said.
She also discovered child sex offenders finished with probation can legally contact kids through electronic devices with no parental supervision.
"Criminally there's nothing happening,” Kenny said.
Last year Kenny noticed major issues with the Maryland Sex Offender Registry.
It’s where anyone can find the details of men and women who have preyed on children. In 2020, Kenny noticed something very odd when she landed on this website.
“Recently when I checked the website what I found was that although there was a space for scars and tattoos the information was listed as unavailable and there was no spot at all anymore for work addresses or vehicle information,” says Kenny.
Vital information that helps people identify sex offenders missing for weeks. Kenny did some research and discovered Maryland was in violation of state and federal guidelines.
“It’s really disturbing to think that an entire state's sex offender registry could be non-compliant with the U.S Department of Justice requirements. To me that’s pretty concerning,” says Kenny.
7 On Your Side did some digging and found out in April 2020, Maryland joined 21 other states and switched its sex offender website to the Offender Watch. It allows law enforcement and public safety agencies to share and manage information in real-time.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services admitted it was this Maryland mom who discovered the issues.
It says: "The data was, in fact, present on the site however the vendor had a security rights issue and some information wasn’t visible to the public."
The vendor corrected the issue.
"Anyone who is convicted of sexually abusing a minor should be subject to probation for the rest of their life. Assuming they are "safe" after 5 years is preventing law enforcement from establishing additional restrictions and treatments to help limit their future access with children," adds Kenny.
East Montpelier, Vt man gets two years in child sex abuse case
By Eric Blaisdell Staff Writer 5 hrs ago
BARRE — An East Montpelier man previously convicted for sexually assaulting a minor has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for more sexual contact with children.
Randall J. Lavin, 55, was sentenced Wednesday in Washington County criminal court in Barre on two felony counts of lewd and lascivious conduct. Lavin was placed on probation and will remain on probation until a judge says otherwise. He pleaded guilty to the charges in December.
The state argued for a prison sentence of 5 years, while his attorney, Andrew M. Pappone, argued for a lesser sentence.
Detective James Pontbriand, of the Barre City Police, said in his affidavit that in July 2019 he met with a woman who reported inappropriate sexual contact Lavin had with the child of a family friend. Pontbriand said the woman was concerned because her 16-year-old son was in contact often with Lavin.
The woman told Pontbriand her son admitted to her that Lavin had touched him when he was 12 years old. She said her son told her it happened when he was staying at Lavin’s home.
Pontbriand said he looked into the incident with the family friend that sparked the woman’s concern, and discovered a family from North Carolina was visiting Lavin when he groped a 13-year-old boy over the boy’s clothes during the visit.
Pontbriand said the 16-year-old victim reported in August 2019 that he was staying at Lavin’s home one night and was asleep when Lavin came into the room and groped him under his clothes for a few moments. He said it happened again a few weeks later.
The victim told Pontbriand he didn’t tell anyone what happened until he heard about the victim from North Carolina.
Pontbriand said the second victim was interviewed in North Carolina in September 2019. He told investigators Lavin sexually abused him twice while the victim was visiting Vermont that June. Pontbriand said the second victim didn’t say anything about the abuse until Lavin came to North Carolina to see family and he was supposed to sleep on an air mattress with the victim.
Court records show Lavin was convicted of sexual assault on a minor in 1989. He was sentenced to three to 10 years, all suspended except for 30 days to serve.
Prior to handing down the sentence Wednesday, Judge Mary L. Morrissey said Lavin’s conduct was “highly egregious.”
“He offended against two different children with whom he had a trusting relationship ... not only the children but with their families,” Morrissey said.
The judge said the two families were not aware of Lavin’s prior criminal history.
She said Lavin is a self-admitted pedophile who is attracted to boys ranging in age from 10 to 15 years old. Morrissey said Lavin had been engaged in treatment until 2014 when his treatment provider retired. She said Lavin started abusing one of the victims in 2016.
“As his support systems diminished, he allowed himself to engage in risky association with two families and eventually reoffended,” the judge said.
Morrissey said without treatment and appropriate supervision, “the community is clearly at risk of future harm” by Lavin.
But, he is on parole and is only sentenced to two years? Does that make sense to you?
Man gets 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes
Jan 28, 2021 / 04:22 PM EST
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SC (WSPA) – A man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to charges related to the sexual abuse of two boys.
According to a news release, Daniel Walker, 53, of Spartanburg, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
As part of his sentence, Walker will have to register as a sex offender, will be on lifetime GPS monitoring, as well as a no-contact provision with the victims.
According to the release, Walker admitted to inappropriately touching two boys, who were left with him to babysit.
He was obviously in the wrong state. In Maryland or Vermont he would have gotten off so much easier. (See above).
Also, Moms, Dads, please don't let men babysit your children. You are putting them at exceptional and completely unnecessary risk. There are dozens of stories on this blog testifying to that fact.
The mother of the victims filed a complaint with the Spartanburg Police Department on Dec. 17, 2019, and the victims described what took place during a forensic examination at the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Walker’s previous criminal history includes convictions for fraudulent checks, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and forgery. Sound like a good babysitter to you?
Live Oak, Ca Man Arrested In Child Molestation Investigation
By CBS13 Staff
January 29, 2021 at 3:28 pm
LIVE OAK
(CBS13) –
A child molestation investigation has landed an arrest of a Live Oak resident, the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday.
Heriberto “Eddie” Ramirez, 46, is being held on $500,000 bail and faces charges several charges related to child sex abuse., authorities said.
The sheriff’s office said it first received reports of the alleged child molestation back on December 12, 2020. Detectives discovered evidence that yielded probable cause for the arrest of Ramirez.
Ramirez is scheduled to appear in court on February 1.
Goshen, Ind: Bashor Children's Home staffer among accused
charged in sex abuse cases
THE GOSHEN NEWS 5 hrs ago
Elkhart County courthouse
A Bashor Children’s Home employee is among three local men charged in separate child sex abuse cases.
Jeffery Stoll and Zachary Pontius, both of Goshen, and Floyd Schrock, of Middlebury, were named in cases filed Thursday.
Stoll, 22, is charged with a Level 5 felony count of child seduction after he allegedly used his position at Bashor to touch a youth inappropriately last June.
According to the accusations, Stoll walked with the teen victim to a structure where he allegedly made sexual remarks and grabbed the teen’s chin. The teen resisted, and, according to statements made to police, Stoll’s response was quoted as, “I’m the staff and you’re supposed to listen to me and do what I say,” the probable cause affidavit in the case shows.
Stoll allegedly struggled with the teen, then while the youth was restrained, he allegedly threatened to fill out an incident report. When the victim asked what he wanted, Stoll allegedly touched the victim inappropriately, according to the affidavit.
Police reviewed Bashor’s security camera video recordings from the incident date and confirmed Stoll walked with the youth out of a door at the facility, and then they returned about 25 minutes later. Stoll was also interviewed by police in July, where police said he first denied the accusations, and then later admitted to the inappropriate contact.
After the case was filed, a warrant was issued for Stoll’s arrest, court information shows.
Meanwhile, Pontius, 35, faces three Level 1 felony counts of child molesting after accusations were made to Elkhart County police last June. He allegedly touched a child inappropriately three different times, according to information in the probable cause affidavit in that case.
In the third case, Schrock, 39, faces two Level 4 felony counts of child molesting and two Level 5 felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. He’s accused of inappropriately touching the victim multiple times over the past few years.
While following up on details, Elkhart County police confirmed last September that Schrock had confessed the molestation to his wife and pastor, according to information in the probable cause affidavit in the case.
All three cases were filed in Elkhart County Superior Court 3.
Sex abuse charges against former Idaho high school employee
involve special needs student
Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com
Published at 2:23 pm, January 29, 2021
POCATELLO — A local man charged with sexual abuse of a minor taught special needs students at Highland High School, according to newly released court documents.
Eric Steven Popely, 47, was
arrested Wednesday after Pocatello Police Department detectives uncovered
evidence the man allegedly groped a 15-year-old non-verbal, special needs student under her clothing.
Popely was the head of Highland High School’s developmental learning program and was working with the teenager, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Police were contacted by school administrators at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 21 and were told there was a witness, as well as video surveillance, of the alleged abuse. Officers were unable to interview Popely on-site as he had already been placed on administrative leave and removed from the campus by Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 administrators.
The surveillance video was viewed by officers but parts of the incident were unclear, according to court documents. What could be seen from the video, according to the investigating officers, was Popely entering the classroom with the victim before closing the door at 11:13 a.m. School technicians arrived at the classroom five minutes later to find the door locked. The techs told police that when they entered the room, Popely was standing at the far corner of the classroom, with the victim on the opposite side of the room from him.
Popely directed the techs to another room to hook up a TV and returned to the room at 11:33 a.m., once again locking it. He would later tell police that he customarily locked his door as part of active-shooter preparedness.
During the incident, an adult witness told police she was headed to the restroom when she looked through a door window and observed Popely appear to inappropriately touch the student. The witness described Popely touching the child under her clothing.
Due to the angle of the camera, the surveillance video does not directly show the alleged sexual act. Popely can be seen standing behind the victim, nearly in contact with her with his arm “slightly forward,” the affidavit says. It does show him reach around the victim. The entire interaction took about 55 seconds.
PPD went to the room and stood where the witness, who was visible in the surveillance video, had been. School administrators mimicked the motions described by the witness and the officer noted the administrator’s arm was plainly visible through the classroom door window.
“I could see where his hand was without a doubt while he moved [it],” an officer noted in the report.
A school administrator told PPD that when they went to the classroom to inform Popely he was going to be placed on administrative leave, he was found in a darkened closet in the room, with a different special needs student, also described as non-verbal.
The 15-year-old’s family was contacted regarding the incident and they said they would monitor the girl for any emotional changes that could result from abuse. The family declined a sexual assault examination, saying that it would only further traumatize the young girl.
In an interview with detectives, Highland administrators described Popely as appearing “defeated” when he was brought to the office following the alleged incident. They said that he did not defend himself and only apologized, they told the police.
Popely explained to detectives in a subsequent interview that he normally would not have students alone in his classroom, but had been working through the day in question differently due to school buses running late. When asked directly if something bad had happened with the student, Popely responded “yes.”
He initially admitted to police that he accidentally brushed the victim’s breast. Reports then note that Popley became “withdrawn” and “shaken” and took long pauses and drinks of water, according to the affidavit. He then said he had accidentally reached up under the victim’s sweater, but readjusted when he realized what had happened.
When officers told him his claim did not match what was seen on surveillance, Popely admitted he grabbed the victim’s breast out of sexual frustration stemming from a recent romantic separation. He added that it was an “error in judgment.”
Popely told police that this had not happened before, asking to take a polygraph examination to prove that to be true.
He was arrested, charged and transferred to Bannock County Jail where he is being held on a $70,000 bail.
Popely has been scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 4.
Lewis Co., NY man charged with raping child younger than 11
A Lewis County man has been charged with felony first-degree sexual conduct against a child, New York State Police reported Friday.
Bryan Ely, 29, of Constableville, is charged with at least twice having sexual contact and intercourse with a child younger than 11 over a period of five years in West Turin, troopers said.
Ely was arraigned in Lewis County Court and sent to Lewis County jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond, police said.
U-Michigan Professor Facing Child Sex Abuse Charge Is Put On Leave
January 29, 2021, 11:22 AM
by Alan Stamm
A University of Michigan faculty member is out of the classroom and heading back to court on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Peter Chen, professor of computer science and engineering, is on administrative leave after being arraigned this week for alleged off-campus abuse of a child younger than 13.
Peter Chen faces the most serious sex offense in Michigan's Penal Code.
(Photos: University of Michigan)
"I realize this information will be shocking to many of you," Dean Alec Gallimore tells colleagues and students in a five-paragraph email, which also says: "There is no information that this criminal charge is connected to his teaching or research at the University of Michigan.
Chen, a 53-year-old Wixom resident, returns to district court next Thursday for a probable cause hearing. The alleged felony happened in April 2017 at an undisclosed location, according to The Michigan Daily student paper. The alleged victim's gender isn't publicly known.
"His teaching and other duties are being reassigned," says the dean. Chen taught Introduction to Operating Systems and Computer Vision courses this winter term, which began Jan. 19.
The accused molester, hired in 1993, was a rising star who earned awards, student salutes and was on a leadership track. He served six months as interim chair of computer science last year before resigning abruptly in July for "personal reasons."
Chen also had been the college's chief undergraduate program advisor and was faculty advisor to a student group. He's a five-time winner of a student honor society's Professor of the Year award. At a Rate My Professors site, he earns a ranking of 4.6 on a 5-point scale, based on 56 reviews.
Now he faces the most serious sex offense in Michigan's Penal Code, with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years if convicted. First-degree criminal sexual conduct is known more commonly as rape or sexual assault.
The professor's career highlights include a National Science Foundation award in 1996 and a series of honors at the Ann Arbor campus -- including an Undergraduate Teaching Award, an Engineering Teaching Excellence Award, a Departmental Teaching Excellence Award and an Outstanding Achievement Award, a 2019 university news release says.
Astonishing!
