Pervert Drives Girl to Suicide; Caregiver Rapes Disabled Child Among Horror Stories on Today's USA PnP List

Child Sex Charges for Maryland Man's Online Stalking

of 13 y/o Girl Who Suicided

BY DAN RATCHFORD

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A Maryland man is facing child sex charges after authorities say he tried to entice a girl in Lycoming County to engage in sexually explicit conduct on a web camera.

Federal investigators said Marc Punzalan, 24, of Rockville, Maryland, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on one count of stalking and one count of the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Authorities said Punzalan used an internet messaging service to harass and intimidate a 13-year-old female in Lycoming County, causing her substantial emotional distress and resulting in her death.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Punzalan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a potential 30-year maximum sentence for the attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and up to life imprisonment for cyberstalking the victim. The maximum possible fine for these offenses is $250,000.

There needs to be a new crime for cyber-stalking a person into committing suicide. Along with a life sentence not to be run concurrent with any other sentence and with no chance of parole. Monsters like this have no place in a free society.

More charges were filed in an investigation regarding child sex crimes in Texas church

Author: KXVA

Abilene police said Amanda McKee is to be charged for failure to report child sex crimes.

Allegedly, while she was the director at Wylie Baptist Church’s Child Development Center she didn’t report sex crimes to authority.

Currently, there are over 20 open cases centered around former childcare worker 25-year-old Benjamin Roberts. He was previously arrested for indecency with a child and possession of child porn.

Now, he’s also charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child.

Police said in April there were 8 confirmed victims, and that number hasn’t changed.

Montana man sentenced for sexual exploitation of a child

By: MTN News

Timothy Allen Weaver was sentenced in federal court in Great Falls on Tuesday for sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of child pornography.

Judge Brian Morris sentenced Weaver to a total of 500 months (41.6 years) in prison, followed by lifetime court supervision.

Morris sentenced Weaver to the federal Bureau of Prisons for 360 months each on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child; the two terms are to run concurrently.

Morris also sentenced Weaver to 140 months in prison on a count of receipt of child pornography; that sentence will run consecutive to the other sentences.

If and when Weaver is ever released from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life.

In its sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said that Weaver "engaged in a repeated pattern, covering a period of approximately five years, of sexual exploitation of (the) child. He violently abused the child victim multiple times per week, including choking.  During the abuse and humiliation, the victim would close her eyes and cry."

“The efforts of the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office in promptly searching Weaver’s residence and then requesting the assistance of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and HSI have not only rescued this child from Weaver’s on-going abuse but it also protected other children from victimization." said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that Weaver will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, Weaver does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

NY Man Sentenced For Having Sex With Disabled Child

In His Care

By Michael Woyton, Patch Staff |

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A White Plains man was sentenced to prison for 32 years for having sex with a disabled child while he was her caregiver. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. announced Tuesday that Jard Hobbs, 45, of White Plains, was sentenced to the maximum possible for the following charges:

First-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a felony — 25 years

Second-degree rape, a felony — seven years

Endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor — one year

Scarpino said the first two sentences will be served consecutively. The one year on the child endangerment charge will be served as part of the longer sentence.

Hobbs must appear for post-release supervision and will have to register as a sex offender before he is released from prison.

He was convicted by a jury March 16.

Prosecutors said the sexual abuse began when the child was 11 and ended when she was 13 at which time she told her family. Hobbs was in his 40s at the time.

He was entrusted by the child's single working mother to be her caregiver. The family subsequently reported the abuse to the Rye police

Investigators found DNA evidence including semen in the child's shorts which corroborated the charges. Rye police arrested Hobbs at his White Plains residence July 7, 2017.

In court Tuesday, the child's mother told the judge of her child's cerebral palsy, seizures, pain, loss of sight and daily struggles.

She said, "For someone, your honor, to know this, to know all of this, and see firsthand the things she goes through and how she suffers everyday of her life to purposely hurt her … to use her for his own sexual pleasure over and over."

Scarpino said the child asked to have lyrics from "Praying" by Kesha read as her statement to the court.

In his sentencing statement, Assistant District Attorney Paul Stein said that Hobbs remained remorseless even in the face of the child's testimony, which was supported by all of the other evidence in the case.

Former Oklahoma Teacher Found Guilty

Of Child Sex Abuse

BY: NEWSON6.COM

VINITA, Oklahoma - A former Vinita teacher has been found guilty of molesting an 8-year-old girl. Ronnie Manners will be sentenced July 9, 2018, according to the Craig County District Attorney's Office.

Manners was a second-grade teacher whose wife ran a daycare out of their home. Prosecutors say he asked the girl's mother if she could come over to play with the kids, and the victim's mother didn't know that Manners' wife or other children would not be present.

Prosecutors say after orchestrating the opportunity to be alone with the girl, he kissed her and touched her inappropriately.

The girl told her mother about the abuse. Manners was arrested in the summer of 2015.

“It’s traumatic for a child to have to go on the witness stand and tell a room full of strangers the most horrific thing that has ever happened to her.  We sincerely thank the jury for its service and sending Manners to prison where he belongs," said Prosecutor Kali Strain.

Manners remains in the Craig County Jail.

Iowa sees 26% spike in confirmed child abuse cases while CPS budget cut

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say publicity around high-profile child abuse cases in Iowa has caused a surge in such reports.

The Des Moines Register reports that confirmed child abuse cases in Iowa increased 26 percent, from almost 8,900 in 2016 to more than 11,200 last year. Child protection workers found more cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and drug-affected children.

Lawmakers say they believe media coverage of the starvation deaths of Natalie Finn in 2016 and Sabrina Ray in 2017 increased public awareness of the issue. The state’s child abuse hotline received more calls following media coverage of the deaths.

Republican Rep. Bobby Kaufmann says the higher abuse numbers released this month indicate a need for more resources.

Gov. Kim Reynolds cut $4.3 million in March from the Department of Human Services, which oversees child protection.

I promise you Gov. Reynolds, this spike is not a one-off. Child sex abuse will continue to increase and DHS will need considerably more resources to deal with it. Cutting their budget is irresponsible and wrong-headed.

Oregon man accused of sex crimes, detectives report images of child abuse found on device

by KATU Staff

LEBANON, Ore. – A 40-year-old is facing rape and sex abuse charges after authorities say he had “inappropriate contact” with an underage girl at his home in Lebanon.

Police said the investigation started after someone reported finding images of child sex abuse on one of Mark William Chevalier’s digital devices.

Detectives say the child knew Chevalier, however, they have not released how they were connected. They are not aware of any other victims in the case.

Police arrested Chevalier at his home at about 4 a.m. Sunday.

He was later booked into the Linn County Jail on using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, three counts of third-degree rape, three counts of third-degree sex abuse, one count of third-degree sodomy, and possession of material depicting sexually explicit conduct.

If you have any helpful information in this case, call police.

Alabama man charged with sex abuse and

enticing a child

by Stephen Gallien

HOOVER, Ala. — A Hoover man arrested for sexual abuse and enticing a child charges is now free on $42,000 bond.

Court records show 58-year-old Donald Kirk Barnard is accused of sex crimes involving someone younger than 16 years of age but over the age of 12.

The alleged crime happened last August.

Illinois Ice Skating Coach Charged With

Criminal Sexual Abuse

By Rebecca Bream, Patch Staff 

ROCKFORD, IL — A Rockford ice skating coach has been charged with several counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse following a recent investigation by Illinois State Police. 

Winnebago County State's Attorney Joe Bruscato says police conducted the investigation involving 78-year-old Eugene Heffron after two women recently reported Heffron had inappropriately touched them during ice skating lessons at Riverview Ice House and at the Carlson Ice Arena in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008.

Bruscato said the girls were under the age of 17 during the time they claim the incidents took place, which is also when Heffron was an employee of the Rockford Park District.

According to Bruscato, Heffron is currently charged with three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and is being held in the Winnebago County Jail on $250,000 bond.

Bruscato adds that Heffron is ordered by the court to not have contact with any children under the age of 17.

Seattle Storm Star Breanna Stewart Embracing Chance To Help Sex Abuse Victims

Seattle Storm basketball player Breanna Stewart revealed that she was sexually abused as a child. The Seattle Storm star is partnering with RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) to give back and raise awareness. (Elaine Thompson / AP)

Doug Feinberg

Associated Press

It’s been seven months since Breanna Stewart publicly revealed she was sexually abused as a child.

Feedback on her essay in The Players’ Tribune has been overwhelmingly supportive, and it’s pushed her to do even more to help abuse victims.

“It needs to be talked about,” Stewart told The Associated Press in an interview over the weekend. “It’s not something that should be hush-hush. I’m not saying everyone needs to share their story, but people need to understand this stuff happens.”

The Seattle Storm star has partnered with RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) to raise awareness. Stewart wore shoes Friday night in the Storm’s game against Chicago featuring the organization’s phone number. The sneakers were auctioned off after the game to raise money, and she also met with members of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. The latter was an emotional experience for Stewart.

“They just thanked me and hugged me. It really just put it in a bigger spotlight than it had been in,” Stewart said. “It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but something I wanted to do. Partnering with RAINN as a place for people to have an outlet to talk to people was the right thing to do. I can’t respond to everybody, but this is a place you can go to talk to people.”

Writing that essay was also helpful for Stewart.

“It was kind of therapeutic,” she said. “It was another weight lifted off my chest. Not to say it was any burden to me, because people who were immediate to me knew about the situation. I handled it how I should have. Now everyone knows my story.”

Stewart wrote in the essay that she was first molested at a relative’s house in upstate New York when she was 9 years old by a man who abused her for two years. She eventually told her parents, who called police. She says the man was arrested and confessed.

Her essay was titled “Me Too,” a nod to the social media movement against sexual harassment and assault. Stewart said she chose to tell her story when she was playing overseas in China in October — away from the American press — so she could focus on playing basketball. She hasn’t done many interviews regarding her story, and she’s relieved at the positive response it received on social media.

“I was nervous about releasing it,” she said. “You get all these types of backlash for things you stand for. I didn’t know how people were going to react. Everyone was supporting me. Everyone was thanking me. People could resonate with my story. Nobody said anything rude.”

Stewart said her father told her that what happened to her is not a “dirty little secret” and that when she was comfortable telling her story, it might save someone’s life.

“That’s the biggest message. Not to say if you went through something like I went through you’re going to be an amazing basketball player, but if you go through something like that, you don’t have to have a bad life. It’s not going to take you off life’s track unless you let it.”

NY man charged with sexual assault,

abuse of a child

By OSWEGO LEDGER

Michael A. Malpede

An Oswego man is facing multiple charges of criminal sexual assault and abuse of a child.

The Kendall County State's Attorney's Office has filed the charges against Michael A. Malpede, 45, of the 400 block of Grapevine Trail, according to Oswego police.

Police said Malpede turned himself in at the village police station May 25 and was later released after posting bond.

Police said the state's attorney's office has charged Malpede with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, attempted predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse. All of the charges are felonies. He is scheduled to appear at the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville on the charges June 13.

Malpede's arrest capped a two month investigation by police. Police said they initiated their investigation in March when they received information that the suspect had sexual contact with a minor in August and September of 2016. Police said the minor, a female, was under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged incidents.

Rape of 2 y/o; CSA Increasing in Turkey; Horrific Child Porn; One Survivor's Story on Today's Global PnP List

Second Aussie man charged over rape of

2-year-old girl in Tennant Creek

The Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek with a population of just under 3000. Violence is rampant in the town. Photo / GettyThe Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek with a population of just under 3000. Violence is rampant in the town. Photo / Getty

news.com.au 

By: Megan Palin

A second person has been charged over the rape of a 2-year-old girl in Tennant Creek earlier this year.

The accused 25-year-old man was yesterday charged with sexual intercourse without consent relating to the incident on February 15, according to Northern Territory Police. It comes after a 24-year-old man was also charged with the same offence, in relation to the same incident, in February.

An independent report by NT Children's Commissioner Colleen Gwynne into the alleged rape of the little girl found she suffered "significant and painful" injuries and required a blood transfusion. After the alleged rape, the child was medically evacuated to Alice Springs before being transferred to Adelaide Women and Children's hospital the next day.

The heavily redacted version of the 102-page report, tabled in Parliament earlier this month, revealed harm was a foreseeable risk that could have been managed or mitigated.

The NT Children's Commissioner report found there had been 35 domestic violence incidents recorded against the parents, including eight aggravated assault convictions for one of them, and more than 150 recorded interactions with police.

The toddler and her four siblings had been the subject of 16 years of investigations into physical and sexual abuse and neglect, in the lead-up to the alleged rape.

The girl, who is now 3 years old, and one of her siblings were removed from their mother's care by the Department of Child Protection South Australia on April 5.

Fifty-two child protection notifications relating to the child or her siblings were documented between 2002 and 2018, according to the report.

Police "had also conducted investigations in relation to sexual and physical abuse upon her siblings" prior to the alleged sexual assault.

"Prior to the birth of C1 [the child], Territory Families had available to it an abundance of evidence relating to the substantial neglect and numerous harms suffered by all of her older siblings," the report read.

"This included the fact that they themselves sought safety and regularly self-placed with different extended family to avoid return to the care of P1 [a parent].

"All possible harm types have been identified for these children", including exposure to domestic violence and parental substance abuse, lack of education, neglect, emotional harm, physical harm and sexual abuse.

During the time 52 child protection notifications had been recorded, the NT had gone through two major child protection reports, the royal commission into youth detention and child protection and the federal intervention.

One of the notifications — received just four months before the alleged rape — related to one of the girl's sisters and alleged a man aged between 40 and 50 was "buying young girls clothes and taking them to a hotel room".

"This investigation has identified that agencies and service providers continue to work in silos to the detriment of the safety and wellbeing of children," the report said.

In its response to Ms Gwynne's report, Territory Families wrote it "refutes the finding that 'it was foreseeable that (the girl) was at risk of sexual assault'".

In a shocking admission, Territory Families claimed the risk faced by the little girl before the alleged rape was "not dissimilar" to many other open child protection investigations.

If the approach suggested in the report was used that would result in more kids being taken from their families, it said.

In February, Territory Families reported "no specific concerns that came to Territory Families about particular harm to this child of a sexual nature".

The 25-year-old man charged today over the alleged assault has been remanded in custody to face court on July 26.

"Sex Crime Detectives are carrying out an ongoing investigation into the incident," an NT Police statement read.

Sexual abuse against children is increasing in Turkey

The number of child abuse victims in Turkey has increased 33 percent in the last four years and increased human trafficking has led to a rise in child prostitution according to a recent study on child abuse, Milliyet newspaper reported on Sunday.

More than 21,000 children were referred to Child Monitoring Centers in Turkey between January 2011 and May 2016, 85 percent of them girls. According to the report, prepared by Oğuz Polat from Acıbadem University, between 2016 - 2017 2,487 female and 124 male children aged under 11 were victims of sexual violence. Among older children, aged between 12 and 14, abuse victims numbered 3,688 girls and 563 boys.

Polat told Milliyet that Syrian refugee girls were being sold to older man in return for a dowry. “In Turkey, human trafficking and consequently child abductions and child prostitution have been increasing. The data on child abuse is quite limited. There is no data available for some cases,” Polat said.

He added that organised human trafficking was one of those cases and as a result it was difficult to access data on Syrian child abuse victims. 

In January 2018, news reports on child pregnancies sparked outrage, largely reflected in social media, in Turkey. According to reports, 115 girls, including 39 from Syria were treated in a single hospital in Istanbul in less than five months.

Scottish paedophile downloaded horrific child porn and animal sadism images

Graham Murray, 33, searched for images of pre-teens and bestiality on the internet, Ayr Sheriff Court heard.

By Sarah Hilley

A paedophile downloaded child sex abuse images and files featuring animals.

Graham Murray, 33, searched for images of pre-teens and bestiality on the internet, Ayr Sheriff Court heard.

Murray smiled as he left court despite being added to the sex offenders’ register in the dock.

Police raided his home in Church Court, Ayr, and seized computers as part of an investigation.

Officers found horrific child porn and depraved images depicting animal sadism among a stash of 2,067 indecent files.

Murray possessed three images of animal sadism in the most serious A category. They involved animals being hurt for sexual pleasure.

A total of 1,682 images were unique.

Depute fiscal Jason Bell said cybercrime experts discovered Murray had searched for bestiality and pre-teen youngsters as he binged on abusive images. Mr Bell said pictures showed “extreme pornography”.

The content was found on two hard drives and two computers seized from his home in 2015. After the seizure, Murray was taken to a police station and replied ‘no comment’ to every question put to him.

Sheriff Desmond Leslie ordered the preparation of a criminal justice social work report to find out more about his background.

The sheriff told Murray: “You are registered as a sex offender on an interim basis.”

He is due back in court next month for sentencing and was released on bail.

The 33-year-old pled guilty to possessing indecent photographs of children between January 11, 2011 and March 15, 2015.

He admitted possessing extreme pornographic images between March 2011 and March 2015 showing sexual activity with animals.

The door-knock that brought back years of abuse

One Survivor's Story

By Andrew Bomford

Mark's first day at Grafton Close, a council-run children's home, was in December 1980

A knock on the door by two detectives changed everything for Mark, bringing back the horrors of sexual abuse he had suffered as a child. Like other survivors of child abuse, he says he found it hard to get any support afterwards.

The black and white photo of Mark was taken in December 1980 on his first day at Grafton Close, a council-run children's home in south-west London. Weighing just 5st 8lb (78 lbs) and measuring just 5ft 2in tall, he looks younger than his 14 years. His young life was already troubled and it was about to get a lot worse.

Now, 38 years later, Mark is still dealing with the consequences.

"When I was a kid, I was as kind-hearted a child as you can possibly imagine," he says. "What happened to that child is so horrendously wrong, and it's horrendously wrong that it should just be allowed to continue."

Mark was sexually abused by a manager at the children's home. Other children were abused there too and some were taken elsewhere to be abused.

Although he was small and vulnerable, Mark was a very bright and articulate boy, who managed to cope by outsmarting people. "I used language as a weapon," he says.

He had few qualifications but in his 20s and 30s made a successful career for himself working in commercial radio sales.

He explains his coping strategy as managing to lock away his terrible childhood traumas in a box marked: "Do not open ever." But it all came crashing to a halt in January 2013 when the police came knocking on his door.

As Mark re-lived the traumatic events of his youth, he became very anxious and suffered panic attacks

At the time, the UK was going through a collective panic over child abuse.

It was not long after the revelations about Jimmy Savile, and the police were investigating a series of allegations about high-profile paedophiles operating in Westminster during the 1970s and 1980s.

The visit, by two officers from the Metropolitan Police, to Mark's house in the Manchester area came out of the blue. During the visit - and in a subsequent formal interview - they asked about the abuse he suffered.

Mark said his carefully constructed mental box was now in ruins - its dark secrets scattered over the floor for everyone to see. He says the police left him to deal with the consequences, and offered no support.

"I went through 18 months to two years of deep, deep depression," he says. "It's like you're gradually walking through a tunnel, and your friends become further away - they visit less.

"You've got a choice - a choice to either fight to get back to the light, or let it drift away. I fought to get back to the light."

Mark says he suffered from suicidal thoughts, and became very anxious. He suffered panic attacks in public places, and was terrified of people even walking past his front door.

Shortly after the police visit he discovered to his horror that someone had posted the names of a list of child abuse victims online, and that his name was listed among them. Another post described him wrongly as a "rent boy".

Mark became embroiled in a long battle with the police to get them to force the websites to remove the postings, but the police failed to act. He eventually managed to get them removed himself.

The man who abused him was charged with sexual offences, but he died shortly before the case came to court. Mark would have been a victim and witness at the trial but never got his day in court.

Clinical psychologist Vanesssa Fay says she helped Mark work through some "very self-critical beliefs"

He has recently completed a 24-week course of Cognitive Analytic Therapy, delivered by clinical psychologist Vanessa Fay, of the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

"That knock on the door from the police changed everything for Mark. He couldn't push it down anymore, and how painful it is. He wasn't aware of how complicated and nuanced that impact can be on relationships, and how he related to himself," she says.

Mark has been diagnosed as suffering from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), also known as Complex Trauma. He says he managed to access a course of treatment only after a relentless struggle with his GP for support.

Complex Trauma is poorly understood, rarely recognised, and few psychologists are trained to treat it. The condition is not even officially recognised but is expected to be included as a distinct category of PTSD in an international classification system known as ICD-11, published by the World Health Organization.

Bryony Farrant, chief psychologist to the independent Child Abuse Inquiry, said official recognition will make a big difference to survivors of abuse and therapists.

"It would mean professionals will need to be trained and have an understanding of complex trauma - what it looks like, what causes it, and identified treatments and support. But for victims and survivors it would be particularly important because often with the abuse they have experienced, part of it is about secrecy, about that person being silenced, and disempowered."

Mark blames the police for "re-traumatising" him and failing to offer support. He is most upset with their failure to deal with the online postings naming him publicly as a child abuse victim.

He made a series of complaints to the police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and the Metropolitan Police eventually apologised. They admitted their systems were at fault and he should have had more support. But they said no individual officer was at fault and there was no police misconduct.

The Met said in a statement to the BBC that officers are trained to be sensitive to victims, and they are directed to support agencies.

11 million survivors in the UK

Napac - the National Association for People Abused in Childhood - says there are more than 11 million adult survivors of child abuse in the UK, and they deserve much better specialist support.

Research by the NSPCC in 2011 found that 25% of 18-24 year olds suffered severe maltreatment including sexual abuse as children.

Mark Samaru believes his therapy has helped him process the ordeal he went through. He is also very aware that most survivors get nowhere near the support he has fought to get.

"It's a measure of our society how we treat the most vulnerable," he says. "Nobody who's been abused in childhood deserves it, and yet they all deserve as much support as society can give them. And they're not getting it."

3 Teachers, A Bishop, Valedictorian, Several Carers on Today's Global PnP List

Dutch Jewish teacher sentenced to 2 years for
child sexual assault

Former teacher convicted of inappropriately touching 13-year-old student while working at Orthodox school; teacher, who moved to Israel and was extradited back to Netherlands, ordered to pay €6,000 in compensation, barred from teaching for 5 years.

Itay Blumenthal|

Teacher Efraim S., who worked at an esteemed school of the Amsterdam Jewish-Orthodox community and sexually assaulted one of his students, was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison by a Dutch court.

The teacher was extradited to The Netherlands more than two years ago, after escaping to Israel and teaching there as well.

In 2012, the teacher inappropriately touched a 13-year-old student and massaged different areas of his body several times, according to court documents. "The man gravely took advantage of the victim's fragile state and harmed his physical and sexual well-being," the court's ruling said.

The teacher also taught in Israel, before being extradited to his home country to face charges of sexual assault

Efraim was also ordered by the court to pay his student 6,000 euros in compensation, and he has been barred from teaching in the next five years.

That's dreadful! He should be barred from teaching for life.

The former educator was initially accused of sexually abusing five more students, aged six to 13, with prosecution proving he had indeed massaged two of them on the shoulders and neck.

While his actions were inappropriate and unwelcome, the court did not find them sexual and he was therefore not convicted of sexual abuse in the aforementioned instances.

As for the remaining three students, it was determined their testimonies did not suffice to prove an illegal act had been committed.

Initial suspicions against the Jewish teacher came to light in 2012, but the school refused to press charges at first, announcing it had held a "clarification talk with the teacher."

Obviously, that did a lot of good.

After suspicions of harming other students came to light, however, and the affair making national headlines, the school's administration joined the complaint against him as well.

While the complaint was being processed, Efraim left his home country for Israel. At the end of January 2014, Dutch authorities contacted Israel and submitted an extradition request.

More than two years later, on March 2016, he was arrested and extradited.

Pedophile teacher sentenced to 7 years in prison in Israel

Tel Aviv District Court sentences Shaul Shamai, who admitted to statutory rape of 6 girls in plea bargain; 4 of the girls were students at his school, while he tutored remaining 2; judge also criticizes fact that Shamai was previously charged in another sexual assault case but was allowed to remain a teacher.

Gilad Morag

A teacher convicted of statutory rape of six young girls, some of whom went to the school in which he taught, was sentenced on Monday to seven years in prison.

The teacher, 49-year-old Rishon LeZion resident Shaul Shamai, was convicted as part of a plea bargain. Four of his victims, aged 7-8, were pupils at the school while the remaining two received private lessons from him.

In addition to the seven year sentence, Tel Aviv District Court Judge Zvi Gurfinkel gave Shamai an 18 month suspended sentence and ordered him to pay each girl NIS 25,000 in compensation.

Teacher Shaul Shamai was sentenced to 7 years in prison for the statutory rape of six girls (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

While the plea agreement was approved back in January, the parties could not reach an agreement on the sentencing, with the State Attorney's Office pushing for a sentence of 10 to 18 years.

Judge Gurfinkel said at the sentencing that, "The severity of the defendant's actions could not be overstated. He abused his position as teacher and educator and the trust his students placed in him to systematically carry out his deeds."

Gurfinkel also criticized the fact that a report of a previous conviction in a similar case was not made known to the relevant authorities, allowing him to continue to serve as a teacher. "The offenses in this case were committed while the defendant was charged with sexual assault in another instance, all while serving as a teacher," he said.

And yet, he sentenced him to only 7 years.

The attorney representing the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office commented on the sentence, saying, "The court has accepted our position and levied the defendant with a harsh sentence in accordance with the grave circumstances of the case."

The prolonged prison sentence, attorney Kineret Kahan Mor added, will serve as a deterrent for anyone entrusted with the safety and well-being of children, who then takes advantage of their naiveté and helplessness to harm them.

Shamai's attorney Tali Gottlieb provided comment of her own, saying, "The court accepted all of our claims, as to the fact that while we have an obligation to send a perpetrator to prison we must also, as a society, take into account that he confessed, showed regret and asked for treatment."

"The mere fact that my client confessed is rare and unusual in cases such as these, and speaks for itself in reflecting his true, honest regret without first securing a promise for any (reduced) punishment," she added.

The victims' lawyers said on behalf of the families: "As the District Court's verdict shows, this is a horrifying case, which undoubtedly could have been prevented—as could the immense harm caused to the helpless minors, who were exposed to the pedophile teach—with better conduct. Now, with the completion of the criminal proceedings, a damages claim will soon be filed against all of the relevant elements, and we can only hope the necessary lessons will be learned to avoid terrible cases such as this from repeating."

Shamai worked as a substitute teacher at an elementary school in northern Tel Aviv from October 2016 until June 2017. He was arrested after one of the students told her mother he had hurt her, and the mother complained to the principal.

The teacher was charged in June 2017 with multiple counts of indecent acts against four second grade students and a 13-year-old girl he was privately tutoring. He was also charged at the Magistrate's Court in the city with working at an institution despite being convicted of a sexual offense.

While 10 complaints have been made by second grade students against Shamai, only five complaints were eventually included in the indictment.

According to the indictment, during his time at the Tel Aviv elementary school, Shamai sexually assaulted girls aged 7-8 in several separate incidents. He allegedly carried out the acts during class and in front of the other students in the classroom.

Shamai sat the students down on his lap, put his hands under their clothes and touched their private parts, at times despite their verbal and physical objections.

The sentencing also included another case in which Shamai was convicted of indecent acts against another girl he was giving private lessons to. In that instance, the suspect had fondled the girl and attempted to kiss her on several occasions.

Shamai also admitted to not informing the school principal he had been previously convicted of a sexual offense.

Unfortunately, there is nothing in this report to indicate that anything will be done by anyone, to prevent this from happening again. I hope the children are able to sue the school and the judicial system for allowing this creep to keep teaching after having been convicted. Both have failed the children of Tel Aviv.

Sydney violin teacher charged over alleged indecent assault of 6 y/o girl

A music teacher will face court today charged over the alleged indecent assault of a 6-year-old girl in Sydney's north.

Earlier this month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad launched an investigation following reports a schoolgirl had been indecently assaulted by her violin tutor.

Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 21-year-old man at Redfern Police Station about 1pm yesterday.

The man was charged with 20 counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 years.

Police allege the man indecently assaulted the girl on numerous occasions during private violin lessons at an after-school facility at Denistone East.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court later today.

The man's employment at the facility has been suspended and investigations are continuing.

Tasmanian Anglican Church to launch probe into retired bishop's response to sexual abuse

By Rhiannon Shine

A preliminary hearing to investigate a retired bishop's response to child sexual abuse by a former priest will start next month, Tasmania's Anglican Church has announced.

The move has been welcomed by abuse survivor groups but they fear the church's powers are limited and have repeated their calls for a criminal investigation.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse held hearings in Hobart in 2016 to examine responses to allegations within the Church of England Boy's Society (CEBS) and Anglican Diocese in Tasmania.

The report found evidence that former Tasmanian Bishop Philip Newell was made aware in 1987 that now-convicted paedophile Louis Daniels had sexually abused three boys.

The commission found: "In view of the fact that Bishop Newell was aware that three separate boys had complained, it is difficult to understand how he could have been assured that the conduct would not be repeated."

In a statement provided to the ABC, a spokeswoman for the Anglican Church said the Diocesan Tribunal planned to hold a preliminary hearing in June and a substantive hearing later in the year.

She said the Ewan Crawford, the former Supreme Court judge in Tasmania, would have carriage of the tribunal.

Beyond Abuse spokesman and survivor Steve Fisher welcomed the announcement but said it had been a long and frustrating wait for action. "It is fantastic news that it is starting to happen and the ball is starting to roll," he said.

"Whilst it is frustrating and we would like it to be over as soon as possible, unfortunately that is not possible. I have faith that the Anglican Church are going to do the right thing here.

"I think victims of Louis Daniels will be breathing a sigh of relief. They would be feeling rather elated that we now know justice is going to be done.

"There is a lot of angst among the survivors that Philip Newell has never really had to be accountable and the fact that it is starting to happen now will make survivors feel a lot better about the whole process."

Police probes stemming from royal commission continue

If the church tribunal finds Bishop Newell failed to properly handle the child sexual abuse matters, possible sanctions are deposition from holy orders, prohibition from functioning, removal from office, and a rebuke.

While the claims against Bishop Newell do not concern concealing child sexual abuse but rather failing to adequately deal with sexual abuse complaints, Mr Fisher said this week's landmark ruling against Adelaide's Archbishop Philip Wilson had left survivors hopeful of a possible criminal investigation.

"It is up to Tasmania Police and it is a matter that they are across," he said. "Through process with the Anglican Church, the highest penalty that he can get is removal of the holy orders."

In a statement, a Tasmania Police spokeswoman said it could not comment on or confirm anything to do with an individual who may or may not be subject to investigation. The spokeswoman said Tasmania Police received a total of 85 referrals from the royal commission.

"Of these, 59 investigations have been completed," she said.

"The definition of 'completed' includes a range of outcomes, such as complaints being withdrawn, insufficient evidence, the alleged offender was deceased and sufficient information for an intelligence report only.

"Nine investigations are ongoing and police are sourcing further information in 17 cases.

"Due to the historical and highly complex nature of the referrals, the investigation process is expected to take some time.

"Police are also working to ensure release of information about the investigations and referrals does not adversely impact on victims or current investigations."

Hobart, Tas

Sex offence history forces MSVU valedictorian's removal

MAGGIE RAHR 

Ricardo Gorski was about to give the Valedictorian address at Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Mount Saint Vincent University spring convocation until his past was revealed.

On Friday, May 18, a brisk and sunny morning, graduates strode across the stage at Halifax’s Mount Saint Vincent University spring convocation. But one of their peers was curiously absent: Ricardo Gorski.

Until that Wednesday, Gorski was slated to deliver the valedictorian address.

But at the last minute, the university was scrambling to prevent him from reaching the podium microphone. The dean of Gorski’s department asked him to rescind his role.

Less than 24 hours earlier, the school had been notified by a concerned citizen of their valedictorian’s past, and present: as a registered sex offender, who’d been sentenced to two years in a federal prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Now 20, Katherine was just wrapping up a day at her full-time job, and heading to her part-time job, when she got a text from one of her best friends. It stopped her dead in her tracks.

“There’s no good time to see this,” her friend warned.

Katherine took a deep breath and clicked on the link — an article trumpeting Ricardo Gorski as valedictorian for Mount Saint Vincent University.

His name had changed. But Katherine instantly recognized the man smiling back at her in the photo. It was the face of her former soccer coach, whom she knew then as Konstanty “Kostek” Bedoa-Gorski, the man who was sent to prison for sexually assaulting her when she was still in junior high school.

The valedictorian in the write-up is described as “a natural leader who has the unique ability to bring out the best in his team . . . but above all . . . consistent, kind-hearted, and sincere.”

Katherine was floored.

“It was like fire replaced blood in my veins.”

“To put him up on a pedestal like that . . . does nobody fact check anymore?”

Katherine has fought hard to put the abuse behind her and move on. She recognizes that a registered sex offender can change their name, as Gorski did, and pursue education; two legally protected rights.

But still, word of her abuser’s academic ascendancy struck through Katherine like an arrow. “He changed his name and he’s fine, he just went back to his life,” she says,

“And I wasn’t able to go back to my life after it happened.”

In May 2014, Konstanty “Kostek” Bedoa-Gorski was sentenced to two years in a federal penitentiary, and two years probation, for sexually assaulting one of the young players with MAPS Elite, a high-performance soccer program for kids aged 12-16.

His victim was then-14-year-old Katherine.

Judge Michael Sherar ordered that 24-year-old Bedoa-Gorski register as a sex offender for 20 years following his release from prison, and prohibited him from taking any volunteer position or job that would place him in authority over children under the age of 16.

He was assessed as a mild to moderate risk to reoffend.

When news of the charges against him broke, Bedoa-Gorski was suspended from Saint Mary’s University, where he was studying at the time.

There is more on this story here.

MSVU, Halifax, Nova Scotia

He raped her 10 years ago. Now she wants his latest victims to know they're not alone

Canada's kid glove justice system ensured there would be many more victims of this monster

One Survivor's Story

Bethany Lindsay · CBC News 

R.H. now has her 'dream job' and a son she adores, but the abuse took a heavy toll on her life. (Daniel Taekema/CBC)

For years after Michael Bannon was sent to prison for raping her when she was 17, R.H. kept tabs on his whereabouts.

Then, a few months ago, the Ontario woman typed Bannon's name into Google, and discovered he was in trouble once again — this time in Vancouver, where he'd admitted to running an underage prostitution ring involving children as young as 14.

"All I want to do is reach out to them and say I'm sorry that I couldn't stop it. He only got so much time. He got out, and he just kept on doing this stuff.," R.H. said of the victims.

Most shocking of all was the news that one young woman had died of a drug overdose before she had a chance to testify against Bannon.

"I would even fly out there and talk to them, so they know it's not just them and they can get past it. I'm 100-per-cent open to those things because … I don't want to see another one of them overdose."

As a victim of sex offences, R.H.'s identity is protected by a publication ban. In 2010, Bannon was convicted in Toronto of two counts of sexual assault for forcing her into vaginal and oral sex, and sentenced to 26 months, according to documents from Ontario's Superior Court of Justice. He would be sentenced to another 30 months for tax fraud while he was behind bars.

This just drives me absolutely crazy! 26 months for two counts of what is basically rape, and 30 months for tax fraud. What kind of insanity is that? When is tax fraud more important than the rape of a child? The Canadian justice system is completely skewed away from the protection of children - children, who have no voice and need our protection seem to be of least concern to judges in Canada and far too many other countries.

B.C. Supreme Court heard that Bannon was out on parole for those crimes in 2014 when he began putting together the highly lucrative Vancouver prostitution ring that would eventually land him a 14-year prison sentence. He pimped 9 girls, 8 of them were under 18.

Sin is progressive!

Meeting 'Shane Silverthorn'

R.H. told CBC that she was an insecure 16-year-old when she met Bannon, uncomfortable with her weight and worried no one would ever love her.

They met in early 2008 on an online dating site, where Bannon, then 25, was going by the alias "Shane Silverthorn." He made her feel good about herself, and they finally met in person that November.

"We decided that we wanted to be together. We were happy. And then December 16 happened," R.H. remembered.

R.H. met Bannon through an online dating site. (Getty Images)

That's the day Bannon sent her a text message asking, "Are you ready to get beaten and banged?" and drove to the rural home where she lived with her family, according to court documents. She testified he threatened to drive the car into the house if she didn't leave with him.

He took her to a tiny bachelor apartment above a bakery in Toronto, where she stayed for the next five days. 

On Dec. 21, the day of Bannon's arrest, R.H. discovered that he was running a fraud operation out of the apartment. The discovery frightened her, according to court documents, and she refused Bannon's sexual advances.

He sexually assaulted her twice that day. The second time, she cried as he raped her.

Police raided the apartment that night, after R.H. reached out to friends and family online. She wouldn't see Bannon again until she testified against him.

Bannon was charged with unlawful confinement along with sexual assault, and R.H. testified that she was held in the apartment against her will. He was convicted in June 2010 on two counts of sexual assault, but acquitted on the unlawful confinement charge.

Create a goal; Don't skip therapy

It's been a slow climb to reclaim her life in the decade since the assaults, but at 27 R.H. has built a satisfying career and now cares for a son she adores. "I wouldn't be who I am now without it, but it sure does take a toll, and it took a really big toll on my family," she said of the abuse.

If she could speak with the young people who were exploited by Bannon in Vancouver, she'd give them two pieces of advice about recovering from their trauma — create a goal to work toward, and don't skip your therapy.

"My biggest goal was to go to college, and get a diploma, get a job, do something to help somebody," she said. She now has her "dream job" working with children, including kids from lower income families, and feels like her life has a purpose.

The therapy part of the equation took a bit longer to appreciate. Though she visited a counsellor a few times after Bannon abused her, it wasn't until years later, when she was going through a divorce, that she began seeing someone regularly.

"I wish I would have continued when I first went, after the fact. I was broken, and I didn't know how to deal with it," she said.

She still struggles with intimate relationships, and refuses to go online to meet people. But having a small person to care for helps keep things in perspective.

"Being a mom, that's my biggest thing," she said. "Being there for my son and knowing that I can do my best to protect him from these things ever happening to him ... if I didn't have him, certain times I don't think I'd be here."

Historical child sex abuse investigators

secure 10th conviction 

Ex care home boss Bryan Davies is the latest to be convicted as part of Operation Pallial

By Owen Evans

Four further trials are set to take place as part of a long-running investigation into the sexual abuse of children in North Wales.

Predatory paedophile Bryan Davies, 71, a former Llangollen care home boss, became the 10th person to be convicted as part of Operation Pallial, a National Crime Agency investigation into historical abuse that allegedly took place in the region from the 1950s to the 1990s.

The large-scale operation has already seen a number of high-profile convictions - including ex-care home boss John Allen and former police boss Gordon Anglesea, who has since died.

Allen, who owned and ran the Bryn Alyn Community homes, was jailed for life after being found guilty of a string of historic offences against children as young as seven.

Anglesea, a former superintendent at North Wales Police, was jailed for 12 years over historical offences in 2016.

From left: Bryan Davies, John Allen and Gordon Anglesea (Image: Daily Post Wales)

He died a month later in hospital due to natural causes.

Eight others have also been convicted of crimes in relation to the investigation.

The latest abuser to be convicted, Davies, is currently in hospital in London after going on the run and slitting his throat in an attempt to take his own life before a jury found him guilty of 19 offences - 15 of indecent assault upon six of the complainants and four of an illegal sex act upon another complainant.

He was found not guilty of indecently assaulting three other complainants and indulging in an illegal sex act upon one of them.

They also convicted Davies of six charges of making indecent images of children between 2007 and 2013, and three charges of inciting young boys to indulge in sexual acts over the internet in 2011 and 2012.

Davies was arrested in Malta in 2017 after he went on the run following his arrest in 2013.

Roger Owen Griffiths at Mold Crown Court. He was found guilty of possessing animal porn (Image: Robert Parry-Jones)

North Wales Police ’s outgoing chief constable Mark Polin said he was aware victims had waited a long time for justice in these cases.

He said: “I would like to thank the NCA for the thorough and professional investigation they have conducted since Operation Pallial began at my request five and a half years ago.

“There have been 10 convictions to date and the team have worked closely with North Wales Police, other partners and agencies to deliver advice and support to victims of past abuse and to investigate crimes.”

Former Bryn Alyn Hall care home worker, Keith Alan Evans, 71 from Rhosrobin, Wrexham

“The victims in each case have waited a long time for justice. It has not been an easy journey for them and it has taken courage to stand by their convictions.”

“Nothing anyone can do now will change the past, but the investment which now goes in to investigating sexual abuse and the significance it is given is considerably different to how it was in the past.”

In total, 372 people have made contact with investigators as part of Operation Pallial .

Investigations into the evidence provided by 257 of them have concluded and details provided by 43 complainants are either with the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration of charges, or are part of active investigations.

Eddie Huxley, aged 70, a former Wrexham civil servant from Maidenhead, Berkshire. Huxley, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault. He received four and a half years in prison. (Image: National Crime Agency)

The offences reported occurred between 1953 and 1995, with victims ranging from six to 19 years old at the time.

The investigation has identified 146 suspected offenders, the majority in respect of sexual offending against boys.

Of these suspects, 23 have been arrested to date, 42 have been interviewed under caution following voluntary attendance, and 41 suspects are believed to have died.

So far, 21 suspects have been charged, of which matters have concluded against 17.

Investigators paid tribute to the victims in the case against Davies.

Gary Cook, (also known as Mark Grainger) was jailed for 14 years

Senior investigating officer Philip Marshall said: “I would like to pay tribute to the tenacity of all of the victims in this investigation, for their continued engagement over a number of years and for standing in court to provide harrowing evidence of their abuse.

“It is testament to their resolution and integrity that they have sought and achieved justice for events that happened over 40 years ago, but which for them remain real and tangible in their personal lives.”

Karen Mullin of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “Bryan Davies used his position of influence to prey on young boys, promising them goods and home visits in order to win their trust.

“His abuse was planned and calculated, driven by his own gratification.

George Neil Phoenix, a former bus driver from Wrexham, was found guilty of one count of sexual abuse. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. (Image: National Crime Agency)

“Despite the lengths Davies went to in order to evade the authorities, he was unsuccessful and was brought back to the UK to face justice.

“The victims have shown great courage in giving their evidence to the court, and we thank them for their support. They have waited decades to see the man who abused them answer for his crimes. We hope that it provides some comfort for them.”

Davies is set to be sentenced next Friday.

The NCA said four more trials are set to begin soon.

Those convicted are:
Gordon Anglesea - former North Wales Police superintendent who was jailed in 2016 for eight years for a string of offences. He died in 2016.

John Allen - former care home boss jailed for life in 2014 for a catalogue of offences.

Bryan Davies - Convicted on Thursday of a string of offences while a care home boss in Llangollen. He is due to be sentenced next month

Roger Griffiths - Former headmaster from Wrexham who was jailed for nine months in 2016 for possession of animal porn. He was cleared of two charges of indecent assault.

David Lightfoot, aged 72, a publican in Wrexham in the 1980s, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire was found guilty of nine offences. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. (Image: National Crime Agency)

Keith Evans - Former care home worker from Wrexham who was convicted of a child cruelty offence in 2016. He was given a suspended eight month prison sentence.

Eddie Huxley - a former Wrexham civil servant from Maidenhead, Berkshire. Huxley, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault. He received four and a half years in prison.

Gary Cook (also known as Mark Grainger) - A former professional wrestler from Leicester was found guilty of 16 counts of sexual abuse and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

George Neil Phoenix - a former bus driver from Wrexham, was found guilty of one count of sexual abuse. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Marc Roy Norry was jailed for 11 years (Image: National Crime Agency)

David Lightfoot - a publican in Wrexham in the 1980s, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire was found guilty of nine offences. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Marc Roy Norry - a former local radio presenter from Connahs Quay, Flintshire, was found guilty of six offences. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.