A 35-year-old Sidney man remained in the custody of the Cheyenne County Jail Monday morning after appearing in Cheyenne County Court for presentment on a felony child sexual assault charge, officials said.
It is the policy of The Sidney Sun-Telegraph that a local suspect in a sex assault case not be named unless he is proven or pleads guilty.
The man was arrested in his home last Thursday by the Sidney Police Department after investigators learned of the alleged act. Police Chief Larry Cox said a family friend was notified by the alleged victim who then informed authorities.
Court documents state the victim, a 12-year-old Sidney girl, was interviewed by authorities. She said the inappropriate touch occurred while she was being tickled by the suspect. The document said the girl gave a graphic description of the act.
The man, who denied inappropriately touching the girl at first, later claimed the touch was an accident while tickling the girl and her sister.
The Cheyenne County Attorney’s Office has filed a Class IIIA felony charge of third-degree sexual assault of a child. The charge states that the suspect, being older than 19 years old, subjected a child under the age of 14 to sexual contact but did not cause serious personal injury to the victim.
The maximum penalty for a Class IIIA felony is five years imprisonment, or a $10,000 fine, or both. There is no minimum sentence for the charge.
County Attorney Paul Schaub said a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 9 at 1:30 p.m. The man’s bond was set at 10 percent of $100,000.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Evan Ortiz Arrested for Sexually Abusing 14-year-old
A city man was arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and endangering the welfare of a 10-year-old girl.
Evan Ortiz, 51, of the 500 block of Sharp Street faces two counts of endangering the welfare of children/third degree and one charge of criminal sexual contact/fourth-degree.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald Casella said Monday the sexual contact charge is in connection with the 14-year-old girl.
The endangerment charges are for both girls.
Casella said Ortiz is familiar with the two girls in the case. The time period for the alleged was November 2007.
Superior Court Judge John Waters set bail at $35,000 for Ortiz. He was taken to county jail.
The next step is to present the case to a county grand jury.
Casella said Ortiz could face a total of five to 10 years on the charges, if convicted.
Evan Ortiz, 51, of the 500 block of Sharp Street faces two counts of endangering the welfare of children/third degree and one charge of criminal sexual contact/fourth-degree.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald Casella said Monday the sexual contact charge is in connection with the 14-year-old girl.
The endangerment charges are for both girls.
Casella said Ortiz is familiar with the two girls in the case. The time period for the alleged was November 2007.
Superior Court Judge John Waters set bail at $35,000 for Ortiz. He was taken to county jail.
The next step is to present the case to a county grand jury.
Casella said Ortiz could face a total of five to 10 years on the charges, if convicted.
Eugene Shier Arrested for Taking Naked Pictures
Alarming allegations from a teen who says years ago a man touched him and took naked pictures while he was bathing. Austin police arrested 61 year old Eugene Shier and charged him with indecency with a child.
Shier was convicted of sexual assault of a child back in 1994.
Neighbors tell KEYE TV they weren't surprised when police pulled up to the home of Eugene Shier, also known as Bill. Some in the North Austin community where he lives circulated a notice that the man who stayed at the address was a registered sex offender.
Police say a teen told them several years ago, Shier touched him as he bathed with a friend at Shier's home. We're told Shier kept his house stocked with things children love to play with.
"He had things outside swimming pool, he had video games and so forth, and a lot of neighborhood children went and visited Mr. Shier on a regular basis during this time period several years ago," says Austin Police Detective Brett Bailey.
The arrest affidavit says Shier remembers an occasion where the boy and his friend were bathing and according to the affidavit, Shier took pictures of the two naked in the tub. Those who work with alleged abuse victims say it's not uncommon for older children to cry out they've been touched inappropriately years later. Experts say when the alleged abuse first happens it may be viewed differently by a child than an adult.
"I actually work with adults sometimes and many adults who tell me they're in their 60's and 50's and they've just told their family members," say Austin’s Center for Child Protection Director Sandra Martin.
The affidavit says Shier kept knives and swords in his bedroom that children would play with. Although Shier is a registered sex offender, police tell us he was not required to stay away from children.
Police are worried there could be more alleged victims out there and they're asking parents who know Shier to talk to their kids. If you know someone who may have been abused you're ask to call the APD child abuse hotline at 976-6880.
Michael Lovriem Arrested for Molesting 2 Children
A home break-in in the middle of the night has led to the arrest of a suspected child molester and authorities have relatives of the victim to thank for capturing the suspect. Authorities say the burglary and assault happened early Tuesday morning, in a quiet neighborhood near Wonder Valley Ranch. "I'm shocked. You don't expect that to happen around here. That's not what we moved up here for," said neighbor Roger Landucci.
Investigators say 32 year old Michael Lovriem broke into a home on Live Oak Drive early Tuesday morning and molested two young children while the family slept. "During the assault, one of the older brothers woke up and had seen Lovriem kneeling over one of the children. He basically alerted everyone else in the family and Lovriem tried to run out of the house," said Fresno County Sheriff's Dept. Spokesperson Chris Curtice.
Deputies say the victims' brother and father chased and caught Lovriem in front of a neighbor's house, where they held him until deputies arrived. "They did the right thing. Granted, we don't want someone to put themselves in harm's way. However, if it was my daughter or my son, I'd chase them down. I think most parents would do that," said Curtice.
Neighbors describe Lovriem as developmentally disabled and say he had been seen wandering around the neighborhood, even peeking into vacant homes. Still, they never thought he'd be capable of such a disturbing crime.
"He is lucky. He is lucky he got out of there the way he did. Because if it would have been someone else, he'd been down ... If someone breaks into my home, I couldn't guarantee their life," said Landucci.
Michael Lovriem is facing felony charges of burglary and sexual assault but the investigation continues, and deputies say more charges may follow.
Investigators say 32 year old Michael Lovriem broke into a home on Live Oak Drive early Tuesday morning and molested two young children while the family slept. "During the assault, one of the older brothers woke up and had seen Lovriem kneeling over one of the children. He basically alerted everyone else in the family and Lovriem tried to run out of the house," said Fresno County Sheriff's Dept. Spokesperson Chris Curtice.
Deputies say the victims' brother and father chased and caught Lovriem in front of a neighbor's house, where they held him until deputies arrived. "They did the right thing. Granted, we don't want someone to put themselves in harm's way. However, if it was my daughter or my son, I'd chase them down. I think most parents would do that," said Curtice.
Neighbors describe Lovriem as developmentally disabled and say he had been seen wandering around the neighborhood, even peeking into vacant homes. Still, they never thought he'd be capable of such a disturbing crime.
"He is lucky. He is lucky he got out of there the way he did. Because if it would have been someone else, he'd been down ... If someone breaks into my home, I couldn't guarantee their life," said Landucci.
Michael Lovriem is facing felony charges of burglary and sexual assault but the investigation continues, and deputies say more charges may follow.
Pastor Steve Richardson Charged with Possession of Child Porn on Church Computer
A former Texas pastor who admitted having more than 600 images of child pornography on his church computer has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The U.S. attorney's office in Dallas says 36-year-old Steve Richardson was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay.
The former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Royse City pleaded guilty in March to one count of transporting and shipping child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Prosecutors say Richardson sent a sexually explicit image of a child to an undercover federal agent in Seattle and requested comparable images.
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The U.S. attorney's office in Dallas says 36-year-old Steve Richardson was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay.
The former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Royse City pleaded guilty in March to one count of transporting and shipping child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Prosecutors say Richardson sent a sexually explicit image of a child to an undercover federal agent in Seattle and requested comparable images.
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Susanne Means Accused of Burning Boy with Cooking Pan (FOUND NOT GUILTY)
A longtime Allen teacher stands accused of using a cooking pan to burn the buttocks of a 14-year-old disabled boy in early 2008.
A Collin County grand jury indicted Susanne Means earlier this month on a charge of injury to a child, a first-degree felony.
The indictment says she knowingly caused serious bodily injury to the boy, using a cooking pan and also an unknown object. The incident is alleged to have occurred at Lowery Freshman Center, an Allen ISD school.
Means denied harming the boy when interviewed by police on March 13, 2008, a police affidavit shows.
She could not be reached Monday.
Means, 45, was a special education teacher at Lowery when the allegation surfaced in early March 2008.
She was reassigned from classroom teaching on March 12, 2008, and worked in the administration building in the last school year, said Kent Turner, chief human resources officer for Allen ISD.
Turner said Means resigned from the district earlier this month. She had worked for Allen ISD since 1997.
An Allen police affidavit filed on July 9, 2008, says Means caused burns to the boy, and describes him as "mentally challenged."
The affidavit says the boy's father became aware of the boy's injuries in early March 2008 and took him to a physician.
The physician found a 12-inch diameter "scald" in a circular pattern on the buttocks. The boy later told an interviewer that the teacher applied a hot pan once to each of his buttocks, the affidavit says.
The investigating officer found her classroom included a kitchen that had a stove and "various cookware," the affidavit says.
The affidavit also says Means failed a polygraph test administered by a U.S. Secret Service agent.
Means was booked into the Collin County Detention Center on July 30, 2008, and posted bail the same day. An Allen police spokeswoman said she did not know why nearly a year passed before the grand jury returned an indictment.
__________________________
New Information as of 7/21/2011
""QUOTE":
Susanne Means was found NOT GUILTY today. You may verify this through the Crimes Against Children Court of Collin County, Texas. Furthermore, a family friend most likely coached the victim to falsely name Mrs. Means who was a dedicated and compassionate special education teacher for years. This false accusation has caused her family over 3 years of unimaginable anguish and suffering, has cost them tens of thousands of dollars, and ruined the retirement she worked so hard towards. Worst of all, because of this careless, baseless and evil accusation, she understandably has no desire to teach again. That is a damn shame for the many children who would have had a wonderful teacher."
A Collin County grand jury indicted Susanne Means earlier this month on a charge of injury to a child, a first-degree felony.
The indictment says she knowingly caused serious bodily injury to the boy, using a cooking pan and also an unknown object. The incident is alleged to have occurred at Lowery Freshman Center, an Allen ISD school.
Means denied harming the boy when interviewed by police on March 13, 2008, a police affidavit shows.
She could not be reached Monday.
Means, 45, was a special education teacher at Lowery when the allegation surfaced in early March 2008.
She was reassigned from classroom teaching on March 12, 2008, and worked in the administration building in the last school year, said Kent Turner, chief human resources officer for Allen ISD.
Turner said Means resigned from the district earlier this month. She had worked for Allen ISD since 1997.
An Allen police affidavit filed on July 9, 2008, says Means caused burns to the boy, and describes him as "mentally challenged."
The affidavit says the boy's father became aware of the boy's injuries in early March 2008 and took him to a physician.
The physician found a 12-inch diameter "scald" in a circular pattern on the buttocks. The boy later told an interviewer that the teacher applied a hot pan once to each of his buttocks, the affidavit says.
The investigating officer found her classroom included a kitchen that had a stove and "various cookware," the affidavit says.
The affidavit also says Means failed a polygraph test administered by a U.S. Secret Service agent.
Means was booked into the Collin County Detention Center on July 30, 2008, and posted bail the same day. An Allen police spokeswoman said she did not know why nearly a year passed before the grand jury returned an indictment.
__________________________
New Information as of 7/21/2011
""QUOTE":
Susanne Means was found NOT GUILTY today. You may verify this through the Crimes Against Children Court of Collin County, Texas. Furthermore, a family friend most likely coached the victim to falsely name Mrs. Means who was a dedicated and compassionate special education teacher for years. This false accusation has caused her family over 3 years of unimaginable anguish and suffering, has cost them tens of thousands of dollars, and ruined the retirement she worked so hard towards. Worst of all, because of this careless, baseless and evil accusation, she understandably has no desire to teach again. That is a damn shame for the many children who would have had a wonderful teacher."
Marvin Manganaan Arrested for Sex Crimes
A 32-year-old youth racquetball coach has been arrested on suspicion of sex crimes against children, and investigators are calling for possible victims to come forward.
Officer Pete Smith, a police spokesman, said that last week a boy reported that Marvin Baclig Manganaan, 32, had tried to persuade him to take inappropriate photographs. The boy refused and went to police, who then served a search warrant at Manganaan’s home.
Smith said during the search investigators learned Manganaan had frequent contact with children in his role as a coach of competitive youth racquetball. Smith said police also found photographs and video depicting Manganaan molesting children.
“Until we identify the juveniles in all of those still or moving pictures, we don’t have any more details,” Smith said.
The Police Department has established a dedicated hotline for victims to contact investigators. Anyone with information is asked to call the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-7091.
“We saw the potential there for a lot of people either wanting to provide information or to come forward,” Smith said. “We wanted to have a fluid channel of contact.”
Manganaan is being held in the San Joaquin County Jail on $1 million bail. He was booked on suspicion of contacting minors with the intent to commit a sexual offense, possession of child pornography and using a minor to perform prohibited acts. He was scheduled to appear in court today.
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