August, 2006 News (continued)
It takes action to safeguard children
KAFFIE McCULLOUGH
16 Aug 2006 12:00 am
It is hard to find a crime more heinous or more tragic than adults preying on and receiving perverted gratification from the sexual exploitation of innocent children. As a community, we don't want to think that fathers and/or trusted friends of the family might "use" our children in ways that destroy their childhood and rob them of their innocence.
Data drawn from the 1997 National Incident-Based Reporting System indicated that although juveniles made up only 12 percent of all crime victims known to police, they accounted for 71 percent of all sex crime victims, with girls more likely to be victims of sexual offenses than boys.
Statistics, though, are just numbers. Each number is one little person — one little girl whose life is changed forever, who when she goes to bed at night will have memories that prevent her from sleeping peacefully, who when she plays with her friends will wonder if there's something wrong with her or if she is different, who when she grows up and enters a relationship will find her relationship terrain strewn with land mines from the past. Outrage for that little girl is not enough. We must take action.
From 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 7, a panel is being held at Atlanta Girls' School called "Keeping Kids Safe in Cyberspace." Katherine Tarbox, author of "A Girl's Life Online," will be the keynote speaker, sharing her experience as a young teenager exploited by an online predator. She will be joined by Sue Dowling from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Sgt. Ernest Britton from the Atlanta Police Department and a member of the media. These representatives will highlight what is being done in their respective arenas and provide information on steps that you and I can take to protect our children.
Educate yourself, educate your children. Find the place where your energy and your ideas can take hold and bring results.
Former coach pleads not guilty to sex charges
TERRY SMITH
16 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A former Wood River Valley youth lacrosse coach pleaded not guilty Monday to four felony charges for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old Hailey girl.
Specifically, the indictment charges [him] with rape, lewd conduct with a child under 16, sexual abuse of a child under 16 and enticing a minor over the Internet.
Both the rape and lewd conduct charges carry maximum penalties in Idaho of life in prison. The sexual abuse and Internet enticement counts are each punishable by up to 15 years behind bars.
Police investigate rape, robbery
MARILYN FONTENOT
16 Aug 2006 12:00 am
Two women, one from New Orleans and one from Seattle, Wash., had spent the day at the Sunflower River Blues Festival. They went back to their room at about 8:30 p.m. at the motor inn to change clothes and return to the festival.
"I was going back to the festival," the rape victim said. " I had plans to go see the Mississippi Allstars. That all changed."
Acting Clarksdale Police Chief Greg Hoskins said this situation was an isolated one. Apparently the hotel was being watched, he said, and the perpetrator saw an easy target. They were females and most of the time men can take on women, he said.
"But I say to our citizens as well as our visitors, always, and a lot of times you don't have your mind on people jumping you or someone making you become a victim. We try to tell everyone to pay attention to your surroundings. If you see a person sitting in a car, watch. Not necessarily saying to focus on them, but use your peripheral vision to keep an eye out on these people, because we have people out here for no good."
Augusta man nabbed in Internet sex sting
16 Aug 2006 12:00 am
An Augusta man is among two people being charged with using the Internet to solicit sex with a minor.
[He] was arrested following a monthlong investigation in which representatives of "Perverted Justice" -- an Internet sex sting group -- posed as a 13-year-old, with whom the two men were supposed to meet.
[They] allegedly participated in sexually explicit Internet chats with a person they believed to be a 13-year-old female from South Portland, police said.
'Wine on the Mountain' will help Crisis Services
16 Aug 2006 12:00 am
Cool wine and warm company make a combination that's hard to beat. Toss in a picture-perfect venue, and you've got a splendid party. All three elements come together at "Wine on the Mountain" set for Aug. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the beautiful Monte Sano Lodge.
Patrons will enjoy sampling national and international wines hand-picked by a trio of Huntsville distributors. In addition, there will be heavy hors d'oeuvres, music, a silent auction and raffle to help raise money for the evening's selected charity, Crisis Services of North Alabama.
DNA Database: Some Felons' Getting Off the Hook
Shannon Samson
15 Aug 2006 6:48 pm
Since July 2005, Indiana law requires every person convicted of any felony offense to have a DNA sample collected, analyzed and sent to a federal database.
A year later, that's still not getting done everywhere. Law enforcement in many small counties simply don't know how to do any of it.
Letter To Ehrlich Seeks Help For Battered Women
Carole Alexander
15 Aug 2006 1:21 pm
Dear Governor Ehrlich:
The time is now. Now, we need your leadership and advocacy on behalf of thousands of victims of domestic violence in Maryland. Now, we need you to stand up. Governor Ehrlich, only you have the power to make this a new day for battered women and children who no longer believe that they have access to justice.
Last Friday, Judge Richard Palumbo sent you a letter resigning from the bench. However, he littered his road to resignation with derision, satire and jokes about the vulnerable and terrified victims who appeared before him. He left behind a trail of allegations of misconduct related to moral and ethical lapses.
Our justice system carries a heavy burden in protecting victims of domestic violence. In failing to direct sufficient resources to prevent the violence, we have made our courts the first and sometimes only resort for some victims.
Governor Ehrlich, you and I know that domestic violence is not a joke. A battered woman should never be the victim of a judge. Do not allow Judge Palumbo’s amnesty to stand. If you act now, you will help to give battered women back their dignity and their access to justice.
Children bear brunt of Lebanon-Israeli war: report
Sue Pleming
15 Aug 2006 11:03 am
Children face serious health problems in the coming months as a result of the Lebanon-Israel conflict in which about a third of those killed or wounded were youngsters, a U.S. medical charity said on Tuesday.
California-based International Medical Corps, or IMC, which has been giving medical help in Lebanon, said that a "disproportionately high" number of children were victims of the month-long conflict, particularly in Lebanon.
Citing U.N. statistics, the IMC said more than 300 children were killed in Lebanon and 1,000 wounded while a further half million youngsters were displaced by battles between Hizbollah guerrillas and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry names eight Israeli children killed by Hizbollah rockets, including two 18-year olds. The total Israeli death toll is estimated at more than 150. It is unclear how many Israeli children were wounded.
"We are particularly horrified by the impact this crisis is having on children," said IMC president Nancy Aossey, referring to children on both side of the conflict.
Rape Victim Wonders Why It Took 3 Years to Indict Suspect
Andrea Conklin
15 Aug 2006 8:17 am
"When I'm eating, I'm thinking about it. When I'm asleep, I'm dreaming about it," she says.
Jane says she was drugged and sexually assaulted by U.S. Border Patrol agent.
But when the case reached the District Attorney's office, prosecutors chose to dismiss it.
"I just couldn't understand, didn't understand, still don't," says Jane.
And for three years, she has seen him walk free.
But, now a new district attorney's office is giving Jane a chance at justice.
Monsignor has right to jury trial, judge rules
Gary Grado
15 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A judge has granted a Mesa monsignor the right to a jury trial on seven sexually related misdemeanor offenses, overruling a lower court's decision.
Defendants in petty offenses don't have a right to jury trials in Arizona unless certain legal guidelines are met, including whether the offense carries "additional severe, direct, uniformly applied, statutory consequences," wrote Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Douglas Rayes.
Monsignor Dale Fushek met that guideline since he faces the possibility of registering as a sex offender if he is convicted on the five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, assault and indecent exposure for which he is charged, Rayes reasoned.
We must change the way we select judges
Bob Martin
15 Aug 2005 12:00 am
It has become necessary for Alabamians who are concerned about the influence bought by millions in out-of-state campaign dollars, which have been contributed to judicial candidates in our state, particularly to those seeking election to the State Supreme Court, to speak out. It is even more disturbing that millions of those dollars come from sources only known by the candidates.
Since 1993 these interests groups have contributed nearly $50 million to campaigns for our state's highest court. Nearly $5 million was spent in just five races in the recent Republican primary election.
The question we must ask is what are these dollars buying? Somehow, I doubt if the bottom line is fair and balanced justice or upholding the rule of law.
Convicted child molester faces new charges here
Seth Burkett
15 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A man convicted in 1993 of sexually abusing young boys is back in custody and facing new sex-abuse charges, Decatur police said.
Police developed John Arthur Brown, 34, of 307 Shelbrook Private Drive, Lacey's Spring, as a suspect after a father reported in June that someone sexually abused his 7- and 11-year-old sons, said police spokesman Lt. Chris Mathews.
The alleged abuse took place in Decatur between November and June, when Brown was out on bond after having been charged for failing to register as a sex offender related to his 1993 conviction, Mathews said.
According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety's Web site, Brown was previously convicted of subjecting five boys under the age of 12 to sexual contact in Morgan and Limestone counties.
Expired car tags leads to arrest of rape suspect
15 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A 36-year-old Cincinnati man wanted on a rape charge in Hamilton County was arrested in Florence on Saturday.
During a computer check on the expired tag, police learned that [he] was wanted in Hamilton County on a rape charge. He was arrested without resistance, police said.
Sjodin trial: With Dru missing, search grew more urgent
SHANNON PRATHER
15 Aug 2006 12:00 am
Within hours of University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin's disappearance, police began searching for her car and trying to track her cell phone signal, witnesses testified today in the trial of Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.
Rodriguez is on trial in federal court in Fargo for kidnapping across state lines resulting in Sjodin's death. Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Sjodin's body was discovered in April 2004 in a ditch near Crookston. Her hands were tied behind her back and her throat cut.
Group investigating pepperball incident
TRISTAN SCOTT
15 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A Montana civil rights group is investigating the actions of a Missoula County detention officer who last month shot a mentally ill woman five times with a pepperball gun.
The Montana Advocacy Program is a private, nonprofit law firm that promotes the rights of people with disabilities and investigates allegations of abuse or neglect. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the group will either file a lawsuit against the Missoula jail or make public their findings in a published report. Or both.
The organization began its investigation after Missoula Detention Officer Mike Burch was suspended for disseminating a written incident report and details of the shooting to several media organizations, including the Missoulian.
Burch also notified the ACLU of Montana and the FBI, alleging that the conduct of Detention Officer Jason Sorini constituted an excessive use of force.
Meanwhile, Burch's job remains in limbo, awaiting the outcome of a county review board's internal investigation.
Missoula County Sheriff Mike McMeekin and Deputy County Attorney Mike Sehestedt both say they're unable to decide Burch's fate at the county until the FBI completes a separate investigation into possible civil rights violations.
But according to Jan Caldwell, an FBI spokeswoman, a Missoula agent concluded the investigation late last week and determined there were no civil rights violations.
“That comes as a great surprise to me,” said Alexandra Volkerts, the attorney investigating the incident for the Montana Advocacy Program.
“We are looking into whether or not there was a civil rights violation when the detention officer used the pepperball gun. But we're also looking at all the circumstances leading up to the shooting.”
Volkerts said she is also looking into “a lot of separate incidents” at the Missoula jail. She would not go into detail about the separate incidents, pending the outcome of her investigation, but said former inmates have come forward with complaints of neglect.
Notes: K-State player, on sex offender list, dismissed from team
Associated Press
14 Aug 2006 8:58 pm
A reserve basketball player at Kansas State was dismissed from the team Monday because his name appears in a registered sex offender database.
The 21-year-old player was registered May 5 for aggravated indecent liberties with a child. District Attorney Paul Morrison said [he] was under 18 at the time, but authorities did not find out about it until recently.
Group Accuses Church Of Delaying Molestation Case
14 Aug 2006 8:42 pm
A victims' group on Monday said Catholic officials are causing delays in a lawsuit by a woman who claims she was sexually abused by a Terre Haute priest as a child.
David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the archdiocese was delaying justice by invoking the statute of limitations and arguing that the First Amendment shields the church from being sued in that case.
Archdiocese officials said they have acted properly and have a right to defend the church and protect its assets.
