GARNER, IA
A Klemme man is convicted and sentenced for sexual exploitation of a minor and conspiracy to commit bestiality.
David Eugene Schreiber, 37, is sentenced to serve 4 years for the 2 aggravated misdemeanors.
The prison time is being suspended; instead he will serve 2 years probation and is being ordered to get mental help.
Schreiber is also not allowed to have contact with his ex-wife, Beth Schreiber, who was convicted of having sex with dogs.
Prosecutors said that he videotaped the act.
They discovered it after serving a search warrant at his home in May of 2008 while looking for evidence of child pornography.
David Schreiber also not allowed have internet access, text messaging, a digital camera or pets.
Beth Schreiber was sentenced last month to a 30 day suspended jail sentence, 1 year of probation and she was also ordered to get some mental health treatment.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Daniel Hendrix & Brandon Thompson Arrested for Possessing of Child Porn
Two Fortuna men were arrested on suspicion of possessing and manufacturing drugs, while one was also suspected of possessing child pornography.
The Fortuna Police Department served a search warrant Thursday at a residence in the 900 block of Park Heights Court, leading to the arrest of Daniel Jason Rivera Hendrix, 31, and Brandon Garrett Thompson, 24, according to a press release.
The release stated officers found a marijuana garden, 112 tablets of ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms, a marijuana hash laboratory, an AR-15 assault rifle, suspected child pornography and items possibly associated with the sexual exploitation of a child.
Hendrix was arrested on suspicion of renting a room for unlawful manufacture and storage of a controlled substance, unauthorized possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to make phencyclidine or PCP, possession of child pornography and illegally possessing a firearm.
Thompson was arrested on suspicion of renting a room for unlawful manufacture and storage of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to make PCP.
The Fortuna Police Department served a search warrant Thursday at a residence in the 900 block of Park Heights Court, leading to the arrest of Daniel Jason Rivera Hendrix, 31, and Brandon Garrett Thompson, 24, according to a press release.
The release stated officers found a marijuana garden, 112 tablets of ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms, a marijuana hash laboratory, an AR-15 assault rifle, suspected child pornography and items possibly associated with the sexual exploitation of a child.
Hendrix was arrested on suspicion of renting a room for unlawful manufacture and storage of a controlled substance, unauthorized possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to make phencyclidine or PCP, possession of child pornography and illegally possessing a firearm.
Thompson was arrested on suspicion of renting a room for unlawful manufacture and storage of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to make PCP.
Carlos Witherington Arrested for Child Porn
A 43-year-old Belvidere man has been indicted on 53 counts of Aggravated Child Pornography.
Carlos L. Witherington is accused of possessing pictures of children under the age of 13 engaging in sexual activity.
Witherington is also accused of having videos of children under the age of 13 engaging in sexual conduct with him.
His next court date is set for July 10.
Police are looking for more information on this case. If you can help, call the Belvidere Police Department at 544-2135 or Crimestoppers a 547-7867.
Todd Harry Toms Jr Arrested for Sexual Exploitation
Police are working to identify children featured in a series of pornographic images they reportedly found on a Phoenix man's computer Tuesday morning.
Following a two-month investigation, 25-year-old Todd Harry Toms, Jr. was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexual exploitation in connection with the images, police said.
Police found the pictures after serving a search warrant at the home where Toms lived, near Bell Road and 29th Avenue, around 6 a.m., according to police spokesman Officer James Holmes.
Inside the home, officers found multiple computers they suspect Toms was using to receive and distribute child pornography, possibly to specific Web sites, Holmes said.
As of late Tuesday morning, police hadn't been able to identify any of the children shown in the images. Toms did not appear in any of the images with the children, Holmes said.
__________________________
Video: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/07/07/20090707abrk-childporn.html
Following a two-month investigation, 25-year-old Todd Harry Toms, Jr. was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexual exploitation in connection with the images, police said.
Police found the pictures after serving a search warrant at the home where Toms lived, near Bell Road and 29th Avenue, around 6 a.m., according to police spokesman Officer James Holmes.
Inside the home, officers found multiple computers they suspect Toms was using to receive and distribute child pornography, possibly to specific Web sites, Holmes said.
As of late Tuesday morning, police hadn't been able to identify any of the children shown in the images. Toms did not appear in any of the images with the children, Holmes said.
__________________________
Video: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/07/07/20090707abrk-childporn.html
Registered Sex Offender Faces Charges of Child Porn
A registered sex offender faces child pornography charges after investigators working on another case found child pornography inside the man’s home.
Meridian Township police released few details about the case. They did not identify the man because he has not been formally charged.
The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case, Sgt. Lana Howell said today in a news release. The man could be arraigned Wednesday.
The man was being investigated after he was identified as providing alcohol and pornography to minors during a Fourth of July party at an Okemos hotel, Howell said.
A search of his home resulted in the discovery of child pornography, Howell said.
He is being held at the Ingham County Jail, she said.
Meridian Township police released few details about the case. They did not identify the man because he has not been formally charged.
The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case, Sgt. Lana Howell said today in a news release. The man could be arraigned Wednesday.
The man was being investigated after he was identified as providing alcohol and pornography to minors during a Fourth of July party at an Okemos hotel, Howell said.
A search of his home resulted in the discovery of child pornography, Howell said.
He is being held at the Ingham County Jail, she said.
David Frank Lane Arrested on Sex Abuse Charges
SALEM, Ore.
A DNA match with a man from Salem led detectives on Monday to the man who sexually assaulted a woman in 2005, deputies said.
David Frank Lane, 39, was arrested on sex abuse charges after his DNA was matched to a 2005 sexual assault when evidence was run through a periodic check, Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller said.
In April 2005, a woman answered a knock at her door to find a man who claimed to be an employee of her satellite TV service provider, Mueller said. Once he got inside, the man hit the victim in the head and threatened her with a gun before he sexually assaulted her.
DNA evidence was recovered from the scene and submitted to the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory but it didn't match anything in the files, Mueller said.
The DNA profile was periodically checked through state and national databases and during one of those checks in June it matched with Lane, Mueller said.
Lane had been entered into the database after a September 2008 conviction for encouraging child sexual abuse. He was arrested Monday when he went to meet with his probation officer at the Marion County Sheriff's Office on charges of unlawful sexual penetration, sexual abuse, attempted sodomy, burglary and menacing.
Robert Pratt Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Boy
"It struck me as this is something you would see in a movie or on television and yet it was here in Bennington," Bennington County Prosecutor Erica Marthage said.
Marthage says she was skeptical when police told her they had evidence that Robert Pratt, 37, of Bennington, had repeatedly sexually assaulted and physically abused a boy in his care for six years.
The police say the boy was victimized between the ages of 10 and 16 while he lived with Pratt in an apartment building in Bennington.
Marthage says the evidence confirmed a horror story about how the boy was tortured.
"I definitely would call this torture," Marthage said. "He was locked in his room... He was kept without food and water and denied access to bathroom facilities, repeatedly abused."
Pratt has reportedly admitted some of the allegations to police. Investigators say Pratt told them the boy agreed to the sexual activity. The police did not buy it. Pratt was arrested and jailed at the state prison in Rutland.
Tuesday he was still in the prison when he was arraigned in Bennington on a half dozen charges at the district Court in Bennington via interactive video. He pled innocent to all the charges that included repeated sexual assaults on the child in his care, kidnapping, and domestic assault with a firearm.
Police say they only learned about the crimes after the boy-- now 17-- reported them for the first time to his mother and a counselor in recent weeks.
The prosecutor was shocked it took so long.
"You know he lived in a complex while this was happening with very close neighbors," Marthage said. "What were those people thinking was going on? What were his teachers thinking was going on? He had attended school."
During the six years of alleged abuse, prosecutors say the boy was not living with his mother and she was unaware of any abuse.
The judge granted the prosecutor's request that Pratt be held without bail on the charges that carry a potential maximum sentence of life behind bars plus 72 years.
______________
More Information: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_12806005
Raul Jesus Mendoza Sentenced for Rape of 12-year-old
A Greeley man with a juvenile history of sexual assaults will spend the next 10 years to life in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old girl last summer.
Raul Jesus Mendoza, now 20, was listed as a sex offender before the July 2008 incident. He was arrested, and subsequently convicted of taking a 12-year-old into his west Greeley apartment and raping her.
The Weld District Attorney's office reports Mendoza is in the United States illegally, and he will serve his prison sentence before being deported. Iin April, a Weld District Court jury found him guilty at trial of sexual assault on a child causing bodily injury and sexual assault, overcoming a victim's will.
The girl last summer told her parents two days after the incident that Mendoza lured her into his apartment, then raped her. The 12-year-old and her sister were at the apartment complex to visit a friend, the warrant stated, when Mendoza took the girl into a bedroom, removed her clothes and raped her. Mendoza also was visiting the apartment, but he lives in another building of the complex.
Raul Jesus Mendoza, now 20, was listed as a sex offender before the July 2008 incident. He was arrested, and subsequently convicted of taking a 12-year-old into his west Greeley apartment and raping her.
The Weld District Attorney's office reports Mendoza is in the United States illegally, and he will serve his prison sentence before being deported. Iin April, a Weld District Court jury found him guilty at trial of sexual assault on a child causing bodily injury and sexual assault, overcoming a victim's will.
The girl last summer told her parents two days after the incident that Mendoza lured her into his apartment, then raped her. The 12-year-old and her sister were at the apartment complex to visit a friend, the warrant stated, when Mendoza took the girl into a bedroom, removed her clothes and raped her. Mendoza also was visiting the apartment, but he lives in another building of the complex.
Nathan Eyberg Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Porn
A Columbia man faces five to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty yesterday to possession of child pornography in a case investigated by the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force.
Nathan Eyberg, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography in front of Boone County Circuit Judge Gene Hamilton. Prosecutors dropped one count of promotion of child pornography.
Hamilton scheduled sentencing for Aug. 24. Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Merilee Crockett said she would recommend concurrent 10-year sentences and oppose probation.
Eyberg yesterday admitted possessing more than 20 photographs and at least two videos of pornography depicting children younger than 14.
Eyberg allegedly offered 63 files of child pornography through a file-sharing program from a computer in Columbia, prompting the task force’s investigation.
Detectives seized his computer during an Oct. 24 search and found “several thousand” images and videos depicting the sexual molestation of children as young as 3, according to court documents.
Noah Fulton Jackson Charged with Sexually Assaulting 2 Teens
A registered sex offender remains in Harrison County Jail on charges of sexually assaulting two local teenagers.
Noah Fulton Jackson, 21, of 360 Marion County Road 3103, Jefferson, was arrested at approximately 9:45 p.m. Sunday by the Marshall Police Department, said Detective Sonya L. Johnson, public information officer.
Jackson appeared Monday before Precinct 4, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Nancy George, who set his bail at $50,000, said a spokesperson for the bonds division of the sheriff's office.
District Attorney Joe Black said the girls, 15 and 17 years of age, are residents of East Texas Open Door.
He said the matter came to the attention of police when a worker at the shelter for troubled female youth, who also works part-time at Wal-Mart Super Center, "ran into the girls" at the store.
"The story now is that they voluntarily engaged in sex in the woods behind Wal-Mart," Black added.
The 17-year-old said immediately that she had sex with Jackson, but the 15-year-old originally said she had been sexually assaulted.
"The little girl lied about her age," Black said Monday afternoon. "She told him she was 19 and she now says the sex was consensual."
The DA said the girl told the shelter worker she had been raped as a reason for not being at East Texas Open Door.
Law dictates, however, that a 15-year-old may not give consent for sex.
"The fact is that he is a sex offender," Black said, "and I'm not going to release him. I'll present the case to the grand jury and let them decide."
Texas Department of Public Safety's sex offender list indicates Jackson first registered with Texas Youth Commission in January 2005. He last registered with Marion County Sheriff's Office in December 2008.
It shows Jackson's place of employment as Sonic Drive-in in Atlanta.
The disposition date of the earlier crimes against Jackson was April 16, 2001, and lists his victims as a 10-year-old female and a 15-year-old female. Jackson would have been 14 years old in 2001.
The DPS list indicates Jackson as having served three years and six months and being placed on "juvenile probation" for two counts of indecency with a child, sexual contact.
Noah Fulton Jackson, 21, of 360 Marion County Road 3103, Jefferson, was arrested at approximately 9:45 p.m. Sunday by the Marshall Police Department, said Detective Sonya L. Johnson, public information officer.
Jackson appeared Monday before Precinct 4, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Nancy George, who set his bail at $50,000, said a spokesperson for the bonds division of the sheriff's office.
District Attorney Joe Black said the girls, 15 and 17 years of age, are residents of East Texas Open Door.
He said the matter came to the attention of police when a worker at the shelter for troubled female youth, who also works part-time at Wal-Mart Super Center, "ran into the girls" at the store.
"The story now is that they voluntarily engaged in sex in the woods behind Wal-Mart," Black added.
The 17-year-old said immediately that she had sex with Jackson, but the 15-year-old originally said she had been sexually assaulted.
"The little girl lied about her age," Black said Monday afternoon. "She told him she was 19 and she now says the sex was consensual."
The DA said the girl told the shelter worker she had been raped as a reason for not being at East Texas Open Door.
Law dictates, however, that a 15-year-old may not give consent for sex.
"The fact is that he is a sex offender," Black said, "and I'm not going to release him. I'll present the case to the grand jury and let them decide."
Texas Department of Public Safety's sex offender list indicates Jackson first registered with Texas Youth Commission in January 2005. He last registered with Marion County Sheriff's Office in December 2008.
It shows Jackson's place of employment as Sonic Drive-in in Atlanta.
The disposition date of the earlier crimes against Jackson was April 16, 2001, and lists his victims as a 10-year-old female and a 15-year-old female. Jackson would have been 14 years old in 2001.
The DPS list indicates Jackson as having served three years and six months and being placed on "juvenile probation" for two counts of indecency with a child, sexual contact.
Supreme Court Rules Police Didn't Need Warrant
Clifton police did not need a warrant to search the apartment of Anthony Bogan, after a 14 year-old girl alleged he had sexually molested her, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled today.
The unanimous decision said because a 12 year-old boy was in the apartment with Bogan, 31, police had "an immediate duty to ensure his safety," and were justified in their actions.
"The police had an obligation not only to determine who was caring for Wally, but also to enter the apartment for the limited purpose of ensuring that neither Wally nor any other child was in harm's way," Justice Barry Albin wrote for the court. Both names of the minors involved in the case were changed by the court to protect their identity.
Bogan, a "family friend" of the 14 year-old girl, picked her up one morning and offered to give her a ride to school, said the decision.
"Anthony Bogan instead took her to an apartment where he sexually molested her," the justices said.
A trial court previously convicted Bogan in 2005 of luring or enticing a child, criminal sexual contact and hindering apprehension, sentencing him to eight years in prison. But a state appeals court later overturned the charges, saying the police had conducted an illegal search of his Clifton apartment, and sent Bogan back to trial.
Public Defender Yvonne Smith Segars, whose office participated in the case, said children should be protected from offenders but not at the expense of residents' rights, when searching or entering a home without a warrant.
"It must be exercised carefully to balance the competing needs of protecting children and preserving our Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure," said Segars. "This case teeters closely on the edge."
The same morning Bogan molested the girl, she was found crying on the sidewalk by a receptionist at Passaic Mill Work, in Passaic, who helped her report the crime to the police, according to court documents. Through the girl's description of Bogan's apartment and car, Clifton police officers were able to locate it, according to the decision.
The decision said the officers became concerned when they heard an adult's voice coming from the apartment but the door, when opened, was answered by a boy.
Rachel Goemaat, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office, said "the Court correctly upheld the propriety of the officer's simple act of entering the apartment" because the police officers had reason to believe "a child who appeared to be home alone on a school day" was in an apartment where a crime had just occurred.
The state's highest court reversed the lower court's ruling and reinstated Bogan's conviction. Bogan was released form Passaic County Jail in November 2008, said Passaic County Sheriff's Department spokesman, Bill Maer.
The unanimous decision said because a 12 year-old boy was in the apartment with Bogan, 31, police had "an immediate duty to ensure his safety," and were justified in their actions.
"The police had an obligation not only to determine who was caring for Wally, but also to enter the apartment for the limited purpose of ensuring that neither Wally nor any other child was in harm's way," Justice Barry Albin wrote for the court. Both names of the minors involved in the case were changed by the court to protect their identity.
Bogan, a "family friend" of the 14 year-old girl, picked her up one morning and offered to give her a ride to school, said the decision.
"Anthony Bogan instead took her to an apartment where he sexually molested her," the justices said.
A trial court previously convicted Bogan in 2005 of luring or enticing a child, criminal sexual contact and hindering apprehension, sentencing him to eight years in prison. But a state appeals court later overturned the charges, saying the police had conducted an illegal search of his Clifton apartment, and sent Bogan back to trial.
Public Defender Yvonne Smith Segars, whose office participated in the case, said children should be protected from offenders but not at the expense of residents' rights, when searching or entering a home without a warrant.
"It must be exercised carefully to balance the competing needs of protecting children and preserving our Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure," said Segars. "This case teeters closely on the edge."
The same morning Bogan molested the girl, she was found crying on the sidewalk by a receptionist at Passaic Mill Work, in Passaic, who helped her report the crime to the police, according to court documents. Through the girl's description of Bogan's apartment and car, Clifton police officers were able to locate it, according to the decision.
The decision said the officers became concerned when they heard an adult's voice coming from the apartment but the door, when opened, was answered by a boy.
Rachel Goemaat, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office, said "the Court correctly upheld the propriety of the officer's simple act of entering the apartment" because the police officers had reason to believe "a child who appeared to be home alone on a school day" was in an apartment where a crime had just occurred.
The state's highest court reversed the lower court's ruling and reinstated Bogan's conviction. Bogan was released form Passaic County Jail in November 2008, said Passaic County Sheriff's Department spokesman, Bill Maer.
Additional Charged filed Against Barry Leonard Brown
Florence County Sheriff’s Office investigators have filed an additional charge against a Florence man already facing a charge of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a release from the department.
Barry Leonard Brown, initially arrested June 27 on a family court bench warrant, has now been charged with criminal sexual conduct, first degree, with a minor under the age of 11 years.
According to the release, Brown, 34, of 3639 E . Palmetto St . , Lot-14, Florence, is “alleged to have engaged in the sexual battery of a minor entrusted to his care over a period of time.”
The previous charge alleges Brown “possessed multiple files on his personal computer containing video and still photographic images of children performing various sex acts.”
Brown, already in custody at the Florence County Detention Center, remains detained there waiting for bond to be set on the most recent charge.
_________________________
http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=10656404
Barry Leonard Brown, initially arrested June 27 on a family court bench warrant, has now been charged with criminal sexual conduct, first degree, with a minor under the age of 11 years.
According to the release, Brown, 34, of 3639 E . Palmetto St . , Lot-14, Florence, is “alleged to have engaged in the sexual battery of a minor entrusted to his care over a period of time.”
The previous charge alleges Brown “possessed multiple files on his personal computer containing video and still photographic images of children performing various sex acts.”
Brown, already in custody at the Florence County Detention Center, remains detained there waiting for bond to be set on the most recent charge.
_________________________
http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=10656404
Moroccan Government Making New Efforts to Combat Sexual Assault Against Children
The Moroccan government is making new efforts to combat sexual assault against children. On the heels of a recent report on child abuse by the association "Touche pas à mon enfant" (Don't Touch My Child), the Ministry of Social Development, Family, and Solidarity is working with child protection and advocacy groups to come up with a common strategy to prevent the spread of the phenomenon.
The "Touche pas à mon enfant" report, issued May 19th, counts 306 reported cases of paedophilia across Morocco. Association President Najat Anwar said the figure points to an "alarming spread", claiming it constitutes an increase of 536% over previous years.
Anwar also suggested that sexual abuse has become "structural", due to an overlap between the tourism industry that is vital to the Moroccan economy and "related networks and criminal organisations that have made a business out of child prostitution".
Officials from the Ministry of Social Development, Family, and Solidarity met with civil society groups on June 29th to exchange ideas on how best to address the issue.
"The national policy for the protection of children depends on a joint vision between the different sides in order to create a suitable environment for the protection of childhood," said Family and Solidarity Minister Nouzha Skelli at the meeting.
She also stressed the importance of creating a "tracking cell" to oversee the implementation of the strategy and identify new directions as needed.
"The cell can [also] prepare a guide on the procedures for taking care of children who have been victims of sexual abuse," she said.
Civil society groups offered other contributions. "During the meeting, we presented several proposals... such as observance of some legal rules that are not applied in courts," Najia Adib, president of Moroccan NGO "Touche pas à mes enfants" (Don't Touch My Children), told Magharebia. "Victims don't have to attend public court hearings, which we deem another sort of violence."
She added: "We have also called for exempting the victims from paying a court fee estimated at 500 dirhams, and from paying the medical experts' fees prescribed by the court."
Another demand is the acceleration of the judicial process; there are some cases still awaiting resolution after five years.
Experts also requested that judges specialising in children's' issues be appointed, and that victims' defence attorneys be permitted to attend investigation hearings. Current law only allows the accused, his lawyer, and the victim to attend such hearings.
Adib also called for compulsory sexual education in schools, to teach children to identify suspicious treatment or behaviour.
Said Al Raji of the National Observatory for Children's Rights told Magharebia that incidents of sexual abuse are likely not increasing. Instead, he suggested that awareness and reporting are becoming more common.
"In the past, the issue was taboo," he said. "Now, people have become more aware about their rights, and the number of legal actions has increased, which gives the impression that there is an increase in the number of cases."
Khadija Al-Riyadi, President of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, advocates stricter penalties for offenders.
"In addition, we must raise and prepare children not to be victims of violence," she told Magharebia. "We also need to shed light on the phenomenon of incest."
The "Touche pas à mon enfant" report, issued May 19th, counts 306 reported cases of paedophilia across Morocco. Association President Najat Anwar said the figure points to an "alarming spread", claiming it constitutes an increase of 536% over previous years.
Anwar also suggested that sexual abuse has become "structural", due to an overlap between the tourism industry that is vital to the Moroccan economy and "related networks and criminal organisations that have made a business out of child prostitution".
Officials from the Ministry of Social Development, Family, and Solidarity met with civil society groups on June 29th to exchange ideas on how best to address the issue.
"The national policy for the protection of children depends on a joint vision between the different sides in order to create a suitable environment for the protection of childhood," said Family and Solidarity Minister Nouzha Skelli at the meeting.
She also stressed the importance of creating a "tracking cell" to oversee the implementation of the strategy and identify new directions as needed.
"The cell can [also] prepare a guide on the procedures for taking care of children who have been victims of sexual abuse," she said.
Civil society groups offered other contributions. "During the meeting, we presented several proposals... such as observance of some legal rules that are not applied in courts," Najia Adib, president of Moroccan NGO "Touche pas à mes enfants" (Don't Touch My Children), told Magharebia. "Victims don't have to attend public court hearings, which we deem another sort of violence."
She added: "We have also called for exempting the victims from paying a court fee estimated at 500 dirhams, and from paying the medical experts' fees prescribed by the court."
Another demand is the acceleration of the judicial process; there are some cases still awaiting resolution after five years.
Experts also requested that judges specialising in children's' issues be appointed, and that victims' defence attorneys be permitted to attend investigation hearings. Current law only allows the accused, his lawyer, and the victim to attend such hearings.
Adib also called for compulsory sexual education in schools, to teach children to identify suspicious treatment or behaviour.
Said Al Raji of the National Observatory for Children's Rights told Magharebia that incidents of sexual abuse are likely not increasing. Instead, he suggested that awareness and reporting are becoming more common.
"In the past, the issue was taboo," he said. "Now, people have become more aware about their rights, and the number of legal actions has increased, which gives the impression that there is an increase in the number of cases."
Khadija Al-Riyadi, President of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, advocates stricter penalties for offenders.
"In addition, we must raise and prepare children not to be victims of violence," she told Magharebia. "We also need to shed light on the phenomenon of incest."
Monday, July 6, 2009
'We Are All Obligated' to Report Child Abuse
Last week's arrest of two day care workers for failure to report child abuse has put the spotlight on those whose statutory duties include looking out for the welfare of children.
Sara Vasquez, 25, of Zolfo Springs and Linda Payne, 39, of Sebring, were arrested Wednesday and charged with failure to report suspected child abuse in connection with the death of 22-month-old Kaedyn Short, who died May 27, almost two months after she was allegedly severely beaten by Avon Park Police Officer James Parker. Payne owns A Better Choice day care center, and Vasquez is her employee.
Kaedyn's mother, Jenifer Short, 28, was also arrested and charged with failure to report abuse and child neglect causing great harm. Parker has been charged with first-degree murder. Investigators say the March 29 incident that led to Kaedyn's death was not the first time she was abused.
Members of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, when asked by law whose responsibility it is to report suspected child abuse, cited Florida Statute 39.201, which covers mandatory reports of child abuse, abandonment or neglect.
In addition to day care workers, the lengthy list includes physicians, health or mental health professionals, practitioners who rely solely on spiritual means for healing, teachers or school personnel, social workers, professional child care workers, foster care workers, law enforcement officers or judges.
According to statute the people in the listed professions are "required to provide their names to hotline staff," when reporting allegations of child abuse, not just to report it.
"According to state statute, it states that in a sense all residents of Florida are mandated reporters," said Jeff Roth, director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Sebring. "We are all obligated to call in a suspicion of abuse."
Roth also said those suspecting abuse are "not there to validate that an abuse has occurred," just to report any suspicions.
This is how the statute is worded as well.
It states the following:
"Any person who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child is abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent ... or other person responsible for the child's welfare ... shall report such knowledge or suspicion" to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
While the list of job titles cited in the statute are required to give their names, for Florida's citizens this is not required.
"By and large they can call it in anonymously," Roth said.
Information from the Florida Department of Children and Families Web site added that anyone making a report in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability.
There are different types of abuse that fall into certain categories, all which need to be reported. They are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
Neglect includes a failure to meet a child's physical, medical, educational or emotional needs.
More information defining those needs and different types of abuse can be found on the federal Child Welfare Web site at http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/can.cfm
Roth said anyone with questions can contact the CAC at 402-6845 or stop by in person at their office near Sebring High School, at 1000 S. Highlands Ave. in Sebring.
"If someone stops by and needs to discuss a circumstance," they will he helped by the CAC, Roth said. "If we have to make an abuse call from the center then we can do that."
To file a report with the state of Florida, call 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE) or go online to www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report and click on "complete a Florida Abuse Hotline report."
Sara Vasquez, 25, of Zolfo Springs and Linda Payne, 39, of Sebring, were arrested Wednesday and charged with failure to report suspected child abuse in connection with the death of 22-month-old Kaedyn Short, who died May 27, almost two months after she was allegedly severely beaten by Avon Park Police Officer James Parker. Payne owns A Better Choice day care center, and Vasquez is her employee.
Kaedyn's mother, Jenifer Short, 28, was also arrested and charged with failure to report abuse and child neglect causing great harm. Parker has been charged with first-degree murder. Investigators say the March 29 incident that led to Kaedyn's death was not the first time she was abused.
Members of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, when asked by law whose responsibility it is to report suspected child abuse, cited Florida Statute 39.201, which covers mandatory reports of child abuse, abandonment or neglect.
In addition to day care workers, the lengthy list includes physicians, health or mental health professionals, practitioners who rely solely on spiritual means for healing, teachers or school personnel, social workers, professional child care workers, foster care workers, law enforcement officers or judges.
According to statute the people in the listed professions are "required to provide their names to hotline staff," when reporting allegations of child abuse, not just to report it.
"According to state statute, it states that in a sense all residents of Florida are mandated reporters," said Jeff Roth, director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Sebring. "We are all obligated to call in a suspicion of abuse."
Roth also said those suspecting abuse are "not there to validate that an abuse has occurred," just to report any suspicions.
This is how the statute is worded as well.
It states the following:
"Any person who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child is abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent ... or other person responsible for the child's welfare ... shall report such knowledge or suspicion" to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
While the list of job titles cited in the statute are required to give their names, for Florida's citizens this is not required.
"By and large they can call it in anonymously," Roth said.
Information from the Florida Department of Children and Families Web site added that anyone making a report in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability.
There are different types of abuse that fall into certain categories, all which need to be reported. They are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
Neglect includes a failure to meet a child's physical, medical, educational or emotional needs.
More information defining those needs and different types of abuse can be found on the federal Child Welfare Web site at http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/can.cfm
Roth said anyone with questions can contact the CAC at 402-6845 or stop by in person at their office near Sebring High School, at 1000 S. Highlands Ave. in Sebring.
"If someone stops by and needs to discuss a circumstance," they will he helped by the CAC, Roth said. "If we have to make an abuse call from the center then we can do that."
To file a report with the state of Florida, call 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE) or go online to www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report and click on "complete a Florida Abuse Hotline report."
Former Officer Louis Alvie 'Buck' Morris in Court on Rape of 15-year-old
Former Stillwater Police Officer Louis Alvie "Buck" Morris, 48, who appeared in court today on charges alleging he committed five sex acts with a 15-year-old female student in May, has resigned from the department, Stillwater Police Chief Norman McNickle said.
"This case now rests in the hands of the judicial system," McNickle said.
The preliminary hearing for Morris, who has been charged with two counts of rape by instrumentation and three counts of lewd acts with a child, was scheduled during Morris's brief court appearance today for Aug. 28.
If convicted of the five-count charge, Morris could receive as much as two life without parole sentences plus 60 years in prison, court records show.
Morris was originally represented by Oklahoma City attorney Susan Ann Knight, but now is being defended by four Oklahoma City attorneys, Joe E. White Jr., Charles C. Weddle III, Marvel E. Lewis and Blake Farris, court records show.
Morris, who was an officer with the Stillwater Police Department for 17 years, had served as a School Resource Officer for six years, McNickle said.
He was suspended without pay at the time of his June 16 arrest at his Ripley residence, McNickle said.
Morris resigned from the Stillwater Police Department on June 26, McNickle said.
"As a Police Officer and a School Resource Officer, Morris was sworn to protect and serve all the citizens of Stillwater," McNickle said in a press release when Morris was arrested by officers from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Stillwater Police Department and the Payne County Sheriff's Office.
"It is apparent to me and the personnel of the Stillwater Police Department that the sacred trust in the Oath of Office was violated." McNickle said.
"Department members are deeply disappointed and disgusted in the actions of a veteran officer.
"Members of the department take their oath seriously and will continue to seek out those who violate the public trust and where appropriate, seek prosecution and removal from office," McNickle said.
An investigation began on May 20 when a citizen reported a concern to police that Morris was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl, McNickle said in his press release.
"The original information supplied by the citizen had no evidence of criminal activity by Morris.
"Two investigators were immediately assigned to determine if Morris had violated any policies of the Stillwater Police Department Standard Operating Procedures.
"The internal investigation continued until June 1, 2009, when information was discovered that Morris had possibly violated state law in his conduct with the 15-year-old victim.
"Based on this information, I immediately asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to assist the Stillwater Police Department in conducting a criminal investigation into Morris' conduct," McNickle said.
"On June 2, 2009, the criminal investigation determined probable cause existed that Morris committed a felony. Also on June 2, 2009, Morris was suspended from duty and his powers to act as a police officer were revoked," McNickle said.
"On June 10, 2009, two investigators were dispatched on an out-of-state trip to interview potential witnesses in the criminal investigation. The trip continued through Monday, June 15, 2009," McNickle said.
The following day, charges were filed against Morris by Payne County First Assistant District Attorney Tom Lee.
Morris was booked into the Payne County Jail and released after posting a $25,000 property bond, court records show.
According to an affidavit by OSBI agent Richard Brown, the girl knew Morris for the two years she attended Stillwater Junior High School. She said that she talked with Morris every morning at school, the affidavit said.
"She and Morris exchanged phone numbers and would text each other. She felt Morris knew she liked him and that he liked her.
"She became close to Morris. Morris would text her saying he loved her and would be able to show her how much he loved her," the affidavit alleged.
She told the OSBI agent that Morris fondled her while they were alone in his home and that while he was driving her back to her house, Morris put his finger in her genital area, the affidavit alleged.
In May two days before she was to leave Oklahoma for the summer, Morris came by her house while her father was at work and they performed manual sex acts on each other, the affidavit alleged.
Morris subsequently talked to Stillwater Police Officer Guy Palladino, who was a School Resource Officer assigned to Stillwater's Sangre Ridge Elementary and Middle Schools, as well as Westwood Elementary School. Palladino also was a Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) representative for any officer at the Stillwater Police Department, according to the affidavit.
Morris told Palladino that they had sexual contact, but denied having oral or vaginal sex with the girl, the affidavit alleged.
Morris knew his job was gone and he hoped he did not have to go to prison, but that he had done this to himself," the affidavit alleged.
"This case now rests in the hands of the judicial system," McNickle said.
The preliminary hearing for Morris, who has been charged with two counts of rape by instrumentation and three counts of lewd acts with a child, was scheduled during Morris's brief court appearance today for Aug. 28.
If convicted of the five-count charge, Morris could receive as much as two life without parole sentences plus 60 years in prison, court records show.
Morris was originally represented by Oklahoma City attorney Susan Ann Knight, but now is being defended by four Oklahoma City attorneys, Joe E. White Jr., Charles C. Weddle III, Marvel E. Lewis and Blake Farris, court records show.
Morris, who was an officer with the Stillwater Police Department for 17 years, had served as a School Resource Officer for six years, McNickle said.
He was suspended without pay at the time of his June 16 arrest at his Ripley residence, McNickle said.
Morris resigned from the Stillwater Police Department on June 26, McNickle said.
"As a Police Officer and a School Resource Officer, Morris was sworn to protect and serve all the citizens of Stillwater," McNickle said in a press release when Morris was arrested by officers from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Stillwater Police Department and the Payne County Sheriff's Office.
"It is apparent to me and the personnel of the Stillwater Police Department that the sacred trust in the Oath of Office was violated." McNickle said.
"Department members are deeply disappointed and disgusted in the actions of a veteran officer.
"Members of the department take their oath seriously and will continue to seek out those who violate the public trust and where appropriate, seek prosecution and removal from office," McNickle said.
An investigation began on May 20 when a citizen reported a concern to police that Morris was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl, McNickle said in his press release.
"The original information supplied by the citizen had no evidence of criminal activity by Morris.
"Two investigators were immediately assigned to determine if Morris had violated any policies of the Stillwater Police Department Standard Operating Procedures.
"The internal investigation continued until June 1, 2009, when information was discovered that Morris had possibly violated state law in his conduct with the 15-year-old victim.
"Based on this information, I immediately asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to assist the Stillwater Police Department in conducting a criminal investigation into Morris' conduct," McNickle said.
"On June 2, 2009, the criminal investigation determined probable cause existed that Morris committed a felony. Also on June 2, 2009, Morris was suspended from duty and his powers to act as a police officer were revoked," McNickle said.
"On June 10, 2009, two investigators were dispatched on an out-of-state trip to interview potential witnesses in the criminal investigation. The trip continued through Monday, June 15, 2009," McNickle said.
The following day, charges were filed against Morris by Payne County First Assistant District Attorney Tom Lee.
Morris was booked into the Payne County Jail and released after posting a $25,000 property bond, court records show.
According to an affidavit by OSBI agent Richard Brown, the girl knew Morris for the two years she attended Stillwater Junior High School. She said that she talked with Morris every morning at school, the affidavit said.
"She and Morris exchanged phone numbers and would text each other. She felt Morris knew she liked him and that he liked her.
"She became close to Morris. Morris would text her saying he loved her and would be able to show her how much he loved her," the affidavit alleged.
She told the OSBI agent that Morris fondled her while they were alone in his home and that while he was driving her back to her house, Morris put his finger in her genital area, the affidavit alleged.
In May two days before she was to leave Oklahoma for the summer, Morris came by her house while her father was at work and they performed manual sex acts on each other, the affidavit alleged.
Morris subsequently talked to Stillwater Police Officer Guy Palladino, who was a School Resource Officer assigned to Stillwater's Sangre Ridge Elementary and Middle Schools, as well as Westwood Elementary School. Palladino also was a Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) representative for any officer at the Stillwater Police Department, according to the affidavit.
Morris told Palladino that they had sexual contact, but denied having oral or vaginal sex with the girl, the affidavit alleged.
Morris knew his job was gone and he hoped he did not have to go to prison, but that he had done this to himself," the affidavit alleged.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)