Paul Bess Charged with Aggravated Sexual Battery

A Suffolk teacher's assistant is accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old child.

Police say Paul Andrew Bess, 59, turned himself following his indicment on charges of aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a child.

Bess is alleged to have sexually assaulted the child at Nansemond Parkway Elementary School in June.

Bess is on admininstrative leave from his job there, according to officials.

He was hired by Suffolk Schools in August 2006 and a "successful background check was completed. He has since had exemplary evaluations,” according to spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw.

Bess is being held in Western Tidewater Regional Jail with no bond.

In a letter to parents Monday, principal Keith Hubbard said the Department of Social Services had conducted an investigation into this alleged incident in August and determined that the charges were unfounded.

He also made sure parents knew counselors are available if needed.

PRINCIPAL'S LETTER TO PARENTS:

October 5, 2009

Dear Parents & Guardians:

Student safety is a top priority in Suffolk Public Schools, and we want to keep families informed of situations as soon as we are able.

As you may be aware from media coverage, a teacher assistant here, Paul Bess, has been charged with aggravated sexual battery. The alleged incident was reported by a student to have happened in June during school hours. Because of the arrest, Bess has been placed on administrative leave until the allegations are resolved through the judicial system. At the time he was hired in August 2006, a successful background check was completed, and he has since had exemplary evaluations.

In August, the Department of Social Services conducted an investigation into this alleged incident and determined that the charges were unfounded.

I know as a parent such an allegation is troubling. The school works diligently to provide a quality education for all children, and to maintain a safe learning environment where students can trust the adults responsible for their care. In light of this incident, you might find an opportunity to talk with your child about these sensitive issues. If you feel your child would benefit from talking to a guidance counselor now or in the future, please call the school at 923-4167 and share your concerns.

Thank you for your concern and your efforts to keep Nansemond Parkway Elementary School a safe school.

Sincerely,

Keith Hubbard

Principal,

Nansemond Parkway Elementary School
--http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/suffolk-teachers-aide-charged-sex-assault----------------------------

Kirsi Nadzeika Charged with Assault and Battery on Child

A 43-year-old Mashpee woman accused of seriously assaulting her 4-week-old baby boy — including flailing him around the room while holding onto his leg — was arraigned in Falmouth District Court yesterday.

Kirsi Nadzeika of 11 Periwinkle Lane was charged with domestic assault and battery, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and assault and battery on a child with injury, after police found her assaulting and attempting to smother her son, Nathan Nadzeika.

Legal history

Kirsi Nadzeika has a record of convictions and 10 aliases, court documents state.

She was held on $100,000 cash bail at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility.

The child was "significantly injured," the court documents state, and Nadzeika has a "prior record of violence."

According to court documents, Nadzeika was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at the time of the alleged assault.

A spokesman from the Mashpee Fire Department said the baby was taken to Falmouth Hospital, but his condition was not known. A spokeswoman from Cape Cod Healthcare said the child was taken to another facility, but that could not be confirmed last night.

According to Police Chief Rodney Collins, officers were called to a domestic disturbance involving a child at Nadzeika's home at 12:59 a.m. yesterday. When they arrived, officers Ollie Naas and Ralph Mahoney heard screaming and entered the house.

In the kitchen, they found Leslie Brown, later identified as Nadzeika's boyfriend, on the kitchen floor trying to restrain a partially nude Nadzeika, who was holding the baby boy, Collins said. Furniture was overturned, and the floor was littered with household items.

The officers told Brown to step away from her, which he did, Collins said. They saw that the baby was bleeding from the mouth and had multiple injuries to his body. The officers told Nadzeika to move away from the baby, but she refused, according to the police, and tried to smother him.

The officers struggled with Nadzeika, Collins said. She squeezed the baby's right leg and stood up, flailing the baby's body around with "great force." Mahoney pried the baby free and Naas stopped him from hitting the ground.

Nadzeika continued to resist arrest, Collins said. She yelled Latin and religious phrases and told Mahoney he was "the devil."

Nadzeika had allegedly consumed wine and cocaine, according to court documents. Collins said that he could not immediately comment on how that was determined but said that she was obviously "high."

"Obviously it was an intense situation," Collins said. "The officers showed tremendous restraint and did a commendable job in an unfortunate set of circumstances."

Nadzeika has a record of convictions and 10 aliases, court documents state. She also has a history of not showing up for court appearances.

She was held on $100,000 cash bail at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility. She is scheduled for a Nov. 10 pretrial conference.

Glen Runnels Charged with Child Abuse

A Topeka man was charged with four counts of child abuse Thursday in Mason County Court.

According to court records, Glen D. Runnels, 34, is accused of striking a child younger than 13 on the back and buttocks with a belt and an incense burner on Aug. 8.

Runnels is charged with two counts of aggravated battery of a child, a Class X felony, and two counts of aggravated domestic battery of a child, a Class 2 felony.

He is being held in the Mason County jail on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear with public defender Roger Thomson at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Carlos Beltran Sentenced to 20 Years for Beating His 5-year-old

A Main Township man is sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the beating death of his 5-year-old daughter in 2007.

Carlos Beltran pleaded guilty to aggravated battery charges. First-degree murder charges against him were dropped when he agreed to testify against his common-law wife, the woman who prosecutors say actually killed the child.

Melanie Beltran died when her mother, Mila Petrov, allegedly slammed the child's head into a wall. Cook County prosecutors say Melanie had repeatedly been abused by Petrov and her father did nothing to stop the abuse. They say that on the day Melanie was killed, Beltran helped Petrov clean up their apartment and dispose of evidence.

At the time of the killing, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said the case was one of the "most horrific" examples of child abuse he had ever seen.