April, 2006 News and earlier
Victim's mom urges support of bill
OLIVIA MORINO
30 Apr 2006 6:55 am
My loving daughter, Mary Morino Starkey, was raped and murdered by a two-time Megan's Law sex offender on June 15, 2005. She still has not been found. I would urge people to contact their legislators and ask them to support Assembly Bill 96. This bill would require all high-risk offenders paroled from state prison to wear a tracking device.
Registered sex offenders can put their profiles on Internet
Peter Reuell
30 Apr 2006 1:23 am
At least three registered sex offenders in MetroWest have profiles on a social networking Web site popular among teens, a Daily News investigation has found.
Of dozens of Level 3 sex offenders registered with police in MetroWest, three were found to have profiles on MySpace.com, a site millions of teens use to meet new friends and exchange messages.
Level 3 sex offenders are considered by the state the mostly likely to re-offend.
Helping sexual assault victims, young offenders
Kelly Nankervis
30 Apr 2006 12:00 am
Helping the survivors of sexual assault is an obvious need, and helping youthful offenders is becoming more so.
A recent workshop, sponsored by the Shelterhouse and Midland Kids First, titled "The Impact of Sexual Assault on Victims and Communities," focused on both topics.
"Ending sexual violence really means looking at all aspects of this issue," said Sharon Mortensen, Shelterhouse executive director.
"It takes an incredible amount of community input to treat and integrate," sex offenders, said Midland County Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Clulo, adding the idea that offenders can't be treated is one of many myths about sexual violence.
Guarding God's house
ED HOUSEWRIGHT
29 Apr 2006 9:29 am
Churches are thinking like businesses, developing risk management strategies to head off physical, financial, even emotional damage. Ongoing stories of clergy sexual abuse, across denomination lines, have helped awaken congregations to the myriad risks they face.
"I think it's time churches recognize that we're no longer segregated from violence and crime," said Mr. Smith, who has been director of security at the Potter's House for seven years. "Our doors are open every day and every night if we're truly an effective church.
"We bring in the sick and the homeless. That also opens us up to criminals and people who would take advantage of that kindness to hurt other people."
Need resources, laws to punish abusers
M. Elizabeth Ralston
29 Apr 2006 6:59 am
The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center (DNLCC) has launched an "I Believe" campaign based on the position that child abuse is an adult problem.
With the help of many wonderful individuals, businesses and organizations, we are raising awareness about the issue of child abuse and the services available in our community. Together we are working to make our community a safer place for children.
Vet found to be sex offender; VA fires volunteer
Rachel Gallegos
29 Apr 2006 12:00 am
After receiving seven medals Wednesday for service during the Vietnam War, Melvin Tomas was fired from his volunteer position at the VA Iowa City Health Care System after information surfaced that he is a convicted sex offender.
"He was terminated" as of Friday afternoon after hospital officials "found out what was going on," VA hospital spokesman Kirt Sickels said.
Tomas was convicted May 6, 2004, for lascivious acts with a child. According to the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, the child was a female 13 years old or younger.
Protecting children from sexual abuse
Liz Mitchell
29 Apr 2006 12:00 am
Protecting a child from sexual predators begins with acting like a mother hawk.
At a child abuse awareness event held at the Culpeper County Library Thursday, Lisa Peacock, director of social services, said stopping crimes against children begins with prevention.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Gary Close echoed the importance of awareness.
“I really would like young mothers and fathers to know, the most important thing is you have to be aware of everyone who has contact with your child,” Close said. “You have to be somewhat suspicious at all times, even of some of the most trusted people. Over the years, I’ve seen people abuse the trust people have given them. You have to be very careful about who you leave your children alone with.”
Sex-offender registry should remain public
29 Apr 2006 12:00 am
Legislatures across the country have established online sex offender registries based on the high rate of recidivism within this criminal class and because most of these crimes are committed against the most vulnerable members of our society – our children.
There were those who fought the enactment of these registries, focusing on the civil rights of the convicted perpetrators and the fear that posting the names, addresses and photos of these offenders could lead to vigilantism.
However, state lawmakers recognized that the threat to society these criminals posed far outweighed the damage to their privacy or the possibility of retribution, and they passed these laws.
And despite what happened in Maine recently, we believe those lawmakers made the right decision.
Sexual predator won’t be moving in
Megan Price, Scott Rothschild, Eric Weslander
29 Apr 2006 12:00 am
Sexual predator Leroy Hendricks won’t be moving to Leavenworth County.
The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday upheld a decision from Leavenworth County that prevented the state from moving Hendricks out of a special treatment program for violent sexual predators to a group home in rural Leavenworth County.
The court told the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services that because communities aren’t willing to accept sexually violent predators, the agency must do something to resolve the question of where those who leave the treatment program end up.
“We trust that SRS will call the dilemma to the attention to the only branch of state government empowered and equipped to address it: the Legislature,” Justice Carol Beier wrote in the unanimous decision.
The case centered on the placement of Hendricks, the first offender in the special sex predator treatment program to have reached a point where officials say he should be released into a monitored residence.
Hendricks, who has a long history of sex offenses involving children, is 71 years old and has several physical impairments resulting from a stroke and diabetes. He was the first person designated a sexually violent predator under a 1994 law that permits the state to confine predators indefinitely for treatment after they’re released from prison. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, rejecting an appeal by Hendricks.
Last year, a judge ruled Hendricks could be released from the program at Larned State Hospital. But attempts to settle him first in Lawrence and then rural Leavenworth County were rebuffed. He is living at Osawatomie State Hospital and will remain there, officials said.
Child molester who sparked legislation gets prison time
Mike Miller
29 Apr 2006 12:00 am
A convicted child molester whose failure to return to jail while on work release sparked the introduction of legislation on sex offenders was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison to be followed by 18 years of extended supervision.
[This case] caused two state lawmakers to introduce legislation to prevent courts from allowing sex offenders awaiting sentencing out on work release and to mandate a minimum 25-year sentence in child sex assault convictions. The legislation is pending.
Many Calling for Harsher Penalties for Online Predators
Debbie Dujanovic
28 Apr 2006 9:52 pm
Internet predators, our investigation exposed hundreds of Utah men trolling for children. Your response has been huge. Tonight we're getting results from Capitol Hill. Our investigative team discovered a twist, that's letting these guys walk.
For the predators it's a gamble. If they're caught by Federal officers, it's an automatic five years in prison. These guys got caught by local detectives, so does five years in prison still apply? Not even close.
Crenshaw Not Guilty Of Failing To Report Child Abuse
John Ivanic
28 Apr 2006 6:58 pm
Former Mifflin High School Principal Regina Crenshaw was found not guilty Friday of failing to report child abuse.
Crenshaw was accused of failing to notify officials about a sexual assault that occurred in the high school in March 2005.
Officials: Sex Offender Lives Too Close To School
Joe Pagonakis
28 Apr 2006 6:29 pm
Fonte is a convicted sex offender who is listed on the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department's Web site.
Police have classified Fonte as a habitual offender. Police said he used his computer to lure young girls into a sexual relationship.
Fonte's felony sex convictions aren't the whole story. Fonte's apartment on Ridge Road is less than one block from Bethany Lutheran School, where 400 elementary students attend school.
N.J. priest gets probation in abuse case
WAYNE PARRY
28 Apr 2006 3:55 pm
A Catholic priest accused of molesting a 9-year-old boy a decade ago after taking him to basketball games was sentenced to five years of probation Friday, angering some victims of sexual abuse including the cleric who replaced the defendant.
The Rev. Joseph McHugh, who was removed from active ministry about 10 years ago, had pleaded guilty in October to a single count of endangering the welfare of a child.
The victim, who is now 21, declined to speak in court, but said through his lawyer, Gregory Gianforcaro, that he was glad McHugh had to face justice. Gianforcaro and prosecutors said a more serious charge of sexual assault was dropped in a deal that spared the victim from having to testify.
Local Lawmaker Proposes New Law For Sex Offenders
28 Apr 2006 3:44 pm
Keeping an eye on convicted sex offenders who are now back on the streets has become a huge concern to many parents in recent years.
Now, parents may soon get a lot of help from a new law that has been proposed by State Sen. Steve Austria of Beavercreek. He is proposing the use of satellite tracking from paroled offenders.
Davis jailed immediately after pleading guilty to rape
BRUCE CADWALLADER
28 Apr 2006 2:53 pm
Over the objections of her defense attorney, a judge sent a surprised Twyana Davis to jail immediately today after she pleaded guilty to raping a cousin 10 years ago.
Local suspects caught in sweep
Gazette staff and
Associated Press
28 Apr 2006 11:20 am
The federal operation, scheduled to coincide with National Victims Rights Week, concentrated on people wanted for federal, state and local crimes and "targeted the worst of the worst," U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Thursday during a news conference.
Authorities arrested 9,037 people April 17 through Sunday. Among those apprehended were 1,102 people wanted for violent sex crimes or failure to register as sex offenders.
The operations in the past two years produced roughly 10 times the average number of weekly arrests, but even that barely dents the fugitive caseload. The FBI database contains names of a million fugitives. The director of the Marshals Service, John Clark, said Thursday there are a "few million fugitives" in the United States, most of them wanted on state and local charges.
Sex offender lobbies for child safety
Associated Press
28 Apr 2006 9:28 am
A registered sex offender who found himself in an unwelcome spotlight for his home’s proximity to a daycare has taken the opportunity to push for laws to minimize similar conflicts.
Hudson arrests sex offender for 'own safety'
28 Apr 2006 8:33 am
James Calvert and his wife just closed on their new home in Hudson Tuesday, but were soon greeted by picketing neighbors.
Calvert has three prior convictions for criminal sexual conduct. He is classified as a level one offender, which means he is considered less of a risk than a level three offender.
Mike O’Keefe, Calvert’s corrections field supervisor, said he was arrested for his own safety.
“He was experiencing stressors in his life, and I felt the best thing would be to place him on electronic monitoring,” O’Keefe said.
Calvert’s crimes were committed in Dakota County in Minnesota, where he served four years in prison.
If he had committed the same crimes in St. Croix County, he would have been imprisoned for possibly forty years.
Sex Offender Arrested In Belmont County, Ohio
Steve Mazure
28 Apr 2006 8:26 am
24-year-old Josh Lennox has served time for rape, corruption of a minor and intimidation of a witness. He was out under community control sanctions when police picked him up for a parole violation.
Ore. part of huge, nationwide fugitive roundup
MARK SHERMAN
28 Apr 2006 6:38 am
In Oregon, U.S. Marshal Dennis Merrill said federal, state and local agencies had arrested 243 fugitives, clearing up 282 warrants. He noted that was a fraction of the 36,000 felony warrants on file in the state.
At a Portland press conference meant to spotlight sex crimes against young people, Andrew Ross of Beaverton talked about his experience as a 14-year-old, meeting a sexual predator online and later becoming his victim.
"What I know is the reality of the internal struggle," said Ross, now 18, a piano player and a student at Portland Community College. "You don't know who you can go to. ... There are people in silence right now. They can't speak. We need to break the silence."
