(Originally Posted 12-25-07)
West Ashley (South Carolina) teacher Scott Larue Knight, accused of making sexually inappropriate comments to female students, is charge with raping a woman, according to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office.
The Charleston Post & Courier has more in their story, W. Ashley teacher charged with rape:
Deputies arrested Scott Larue Knight, 39, Friday on charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, sheriff's Maj. John Clark said.
Affidavits describe an attack in September at Knight's home at Concord West of the Ashley on 45 Sycamore Ave., Clark said.
Knight is accused of pushing a woman in her early 30s into his room and locking the door, then forcibly raping her, Clark said. Knight was arrested at home. He left the Charleston County Detention Center on Saturday after posting $20,000 bail, according to court documents and the jail. Knight has been on administrative leave from his teaching job since being arrested Nov. 14 on two counts of first- degree harassment, according to the school district.
The harassment charges stem from incidents with inappropriate comments directed at teenage students. A 16 year old girl claimed that starting in June, Knight started to make inappropriate comments directed at her in front of her boyfriend. The comments started back up when the school year started, and Knight allegedly started staring at her in her classroom while outside. Her parents made a report to her school's administration. Another girl, 14, reported similar comments made allegedly by Knight.
Update (12-31-07) Knight commited suicide on the 27th by crashing his car into a tree. A suicide note was found.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Woman raped after leaving own birthday party in Queens
James Moye, 19, was arrested after allegedly chasing, then kidnapping and raping a 19 year old woman who had just left her own birthday party in Queens, NY.
One Captured, One Sought in Rape After Birthday Party from the Queens Courier has the disgusting details:
“It is alleged that a Saturday night birthday celebration at a friend’s house turned into a nightmare early Sunday morning for the victim,” said District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “Like predatory animals, the defendant and an unapprehended individual are alleged to have chased down their victim before brutally victimizing her at gunpoint. The consequences of such a sexual assault for a victim are profound and can result in emotional trauma from which she may never fully recover.”
James Moye, 19, of 106-12 223rd Street in Queens Village, has been arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge William Harrington on charges of predatory sexual assault, first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act and second-degree kidnapping.Moye, who faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, was ordered held without bail and to return to court on January 7, 2008.
According to the criminal charges, Moye and an unapprehended accomplice chased the 19-year-old female college student into a yard in the vicinity of 108th Avenue and 220th Street in Queens Village during the early morning hours December 9 and that, after the unapprehended individual displayed a black handgun, both he and Moye ordered the victim to get into Moye’s van.
After the victim was forced in the back of the van, Moye and the unnamed accomplice drove around for a few hours, then took turns raping and sexually assaulting her in other ways. The suspects then drove the victim to Jamaica Center where they ordered the alleged victim out of the van. She ran for help at the nearest subway station.
One Captured, One Sought in Rape After Birthday Party from the Queens Courier has the disgusting details:
“It is alleged that a Saturday night birthday celebration at a friend’s house turned into a nightmare early Sunday morning for the victim,” said District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “Like predatory animals, the defendant and an unapprehended individual are alleged to have chased down their victim before brutally victimizing her at gunpoint. The consequences of such a sexual assault for a victim are profound and can result in emotional trauma from which she may never fully recover.”
James Moye, 19, of 106-12 223rd Street in Queens Village, has been arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge William Harrington on charges of predatory sexual assault, first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act and second-degree kidnapping.Moye, who faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, was ordered held without bail and to return to court on January 7, 2008.
According to the criminal charges, Moye and an unapprehended accomplice chased the 19-year-old female college student into a yard in the vicinity of 108th Avenue and 220th Street in Queens Village during the early morning hours December 9 and that, after the unapprehended individual displayed a black handgun, both he and Moye ordered the victim to get into Moye’s van.
After the victim was forced in the back of the van, Moye and the unnamed accomplice drove around for a few hours, then took turns raping and sexually assaulting her in other ways. The suspects then drove the victim to Jamaica Center where they ordered the alleged victim out of the van. She ran for help at the nearest subway station.
25 to 50 years for sexual attacks at Jackson, WY bar
Two men who carried out a plan to rape women while the women were drunk or alone were sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison. They tried to rape a woman, but she screamed and they ran away. They followed a second woman after the first attempt, and were more sucessful the second time around.
AN excerpt fro the Casper Star-Tribune, Men get 25-50 years for rape
The victim helped Jackson police create a computer-generated composite drawing. Aguilar and Juarez were identified by a man who drove them home the night of the attacks.
Days after that incident, the two men, along with two other accomplices, Federico Lopez and Gustavo Bonilla, fled to Mexico where they were arrested and extradited back to Wyoming in June. Lopez and Bonila pled guilty to 3rd degree sexual assault and were sentenced to 4 years in prison.
More from the story:
District Judge Gary Hartman said he couldn't even contemplate rehabilitation for Armando Aguilar, 25, or Daniel Juarez, 21."The goal in this case is punishment," Hartman said. Each man pleaded guilty in October to first-degree sexual assault. Each also pleaded guilty to a charge of accessory before the fact to third-degree sexual assault in a separate attack.
AN excerpt fro the Casper Star-Tribune, Men get 25-50 years for rape
The victim helped Jackson police create a computer-generated composite drawing. Aguilar and Juarez were identified by a man who drove them home the night of the attacks.
Days after that incident, the two men, along with two other accomplices, Federico Lopez and Gustavo Bonilla, fled to Mexico where they were arrested and extradited back to Wyoming in June. Lopez and Bonila pled guilty to 3rd degree sexual assault and were sentenced to 4 years in prison.
More from the story:
District Judge Gary Hartman said he couldn't even contemplate rehabilitation for Armando Aguilar, 25, or Daniel Juarez, 21."The goal in this case is punishment," Hartman said. Each man pleaded guilty in October to first-degree sexual assault. Each also pleaded guilty to a charge of accessory before the fact to third-degree sexual assault in a separate attack.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
SO job scam leads to inappropriate touches
Oscar Corea, 38, a convicted sex offender, has been arrested for luring women to a hotel for fake interviews so he could grope them. Four women showed up for interviews at the Hacienda Hotel in El Segundo, but there was no AT&T job waiting for them, but unwanted sexual touching.
Corea had been sentenced three weeks earlier in Los Angeles Superior Court to a 6 year suspended sentence for assault to commit rape for the same scam.
Reference:
Job Scam Gets Sex Offender Arrested Again
Corea had been sentenced three weeks earlier in Los Angeles Superior Court to a 6 year suspended sentence for assault to commit rape for the same scam.
Reference:
Job Scam Gets Sex Offender Arrested Again
Doctor charged in sexual assault, harassment of patients
Dr. Mack Douglas Lyons was booked into the Fort Payne (Alabama) city jail last night on four charges of sexual abuse and harassment against his female patients. He was arrested in Gadsen, where there were no charges as of yet, according to police.
According to WHNT-TV (Huntsville, AL):
He did operate a part-time clinic in Fort Payne last year, which is where the charges stem from. Fort Payne Police say their investigation begin in October of 2006, when a victim told them Dr. Lyons had sexually abused her at his office at 1526 Gault Avenue. Three other women also came forward.
Lyons is being held on $20,000 bond. The sexual abuse charges are felonies, and the harassment charges are misdemeanors.
The Fort Payne office is now closed, and there is a link to Alabama's Board Of Examiners In Counseling.
Reference:
Monday, December 24, 2007
Man tees of on wife, friend instead of golf ball; gets 4 months probation
An Eagle Mountain, Utah man, who faced attempted murder charges for beating his wife and former friend with a golf club is getting a huge break. Kevin Householder, 30, was charged with second-degree felony counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault for taking a 4-iron to the face of his wife and friend instead of to a golf ball.
The Salt Lake Tribune has more in "Plea deal in raging hot-tub attack with club":
Householder pleaded guilty to two lesser class A misdemeanor counts of attempted aggravated assault. The attack came just after midnight during the party on June 17, 2006, when Householder struck his wife multiple times in the head and face, and struck his friend in the head, arms and legs, according to police. When the head of the club broke off, Householder used the jagged end to stab the man, who suffered two puncture wounds, a concussion and a fractured pelvis. The woman was treated for facial injuries.
Householder's wife and (former, hopefully) friend approved the plea deal, and the wife is currently going to counseling with her husband. She also reports that her husband is getting his drinking under control. The plea deal requires 120 days of electronic monitoring, and an order to complete domestic battery and anger management counseling. Restitution for $25,000 may still be required for the ex-friend's injuries.
The Salt Lake Tribune has more in "Plea deal in raging hot-tub attack with club":
Householder pleaded guilty to two lesser class A misdemeanor counts of attempted aggravated assault. The attack came just after midnight during the party on June 17, 2006, when Householder struck his wife multiple times in the head and face, and struck his friend in the head, arms and legs, according to police. When the head of the club broke off, Householder used the jagged end to stab the man, who suffered two puncture wounds, a concussion and a fractured pelvis. The woman was treated for facial injuries.
Householder's wife and (former, hopefully) friend approved the plea deal, and the wife is currently going to counseling with her husband. She also reports that her husband is getting his drinking under control. The plea deal requires 120 days of electronic monitoring, and an order to complete domestic battery and anger management counseling. Restitution for $25,000 may still be required for the ex-friend's injuries.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Cabbie charged with rape of passenger
A cab driver has been charged with sexual assault and kidnapping for an attack which took place a year ago. The woman, then 28, called a cab after a night of drinking. After the night was over, she woke up at the Admiral Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, nude from the waist down.
KCTV (Kansas CIty, MO) reports below:
Abdi Qamaan, 47, picked her up at the bar and she passed out drunk in the back of his cab, prosecutors said. They claimed that Qamaan then took her to the hotel, booked a room and sexually assaulted her.
She awoke the next morning with no memory of what had happened and called police.
As they questioned her, Qamaan returned to the hotel room and told police he'd gotten her room number because he didn't know where she lived and had come back to take her home, prosecutors said.
DNA evidence refuted his claims. Police took samples from a used condom from a trash can. The semen sample matched Qamaan's, and he was charged with aggravated forcible sodomy and kidnapping. Qamaan is being held on $100,000 bond.
Reference:
Cab driver accused of sex assault
KCTV (Kansas CIty, MO) reports below:
Abdi Qamaan, 47, picked her up at the bar and she passed out drunk in the back of his cab, prosecutors said. They claimed that Qamaan then took her to the hotel, booked a room and sexually assaulted her.
She awoke the next morning with no memory of what had happened and called police.
As they questioned her, Qamaan returned to the hotel room and told police he'd gotten her room number because he didn't know where she lived and had come back to take her home, prosecutors said.
DNA evidence refuted his claims. Police took samples from a used condom from a trash can. The semen sample matched Qamaan's, and he was charged with aggravated forcible sodomy and kidnapping. Qamaan is being held on $100,000 bond.
Reference:
Cab driver accused of sex assault
Prosecution of professor/student sex as official misconduct
This post deals with the acquittal of ISU professor Michael Forbes after his bench trial on official misconduct charges. The idea that professor/college student sex is or can be criminalized using this statute may be far fetched, but lets look more closely.
Official misconduct, in layman's terms, is defined as using a position in government to obtain favors or other advantages. A public university employee is technically a government employee, and sexual encounters with students, even students which may be older than the sexually boundary-confused employee, count as favors and perks. So McLean County (which includes Normal, IL, where ISU is located) prosecutors saw the sexual misconduct by professors against students as official misconduct.
The tactic of charging teachers/professors with official misconduct for sex with students over the AOC is a tactic which has been used before. Timothy Zisa, as described in this blog, was sentenced to 5 years on probation and barred from teaching or holding other public employment in NJ for sex with 2 18 year old students.
I agree with the prosecution of sexual encounters between public college employees and students as official misconduct. If the professor who had sex with his student was a high school teacher and a 16 year old girl, there would have been prison time. The lack of prison time is due to a dismissal of victims over 18 as true victims.
Women high school teachers who have sexual relationships with students over 16 are now getting prison time, and 21 and 17 are not a whole lot different in maturity. If a boy who is in his mid to late teens can be damaged by sex with a female teacher who is around 30, then a woman in her early 20s can be damaged with a sexual relationship with a professor in college. When it comes to a position of power, college professors and high school teachers have similar power and influence over their students.
I disagree with Judge Fitzgerald's contention that Forbes wasn't in a position to influence grades, because he was the victim's professor. Professors have the power to raise grades of students they are over, regardless of whether the student asks for the favor or not. The fact that former Professor Forbes had a employer-employee relationship with the student as a babysitter is an example of a dual relationship, something frowned upon by most professions.
If sex between a high school teacher and student is illegal, and this case between a professor and a college student was prosecuted as a felony, due to the implication of grades for sex, then perhaps Illinois (and other states') official misconduct laws can be expanded to include professor-student sex in public universities, if they can't be interpreted that way already.
In the case that official misconduct can't be expanded to cover professor/college student sex under existing constructs, perhaps it's time to criminalize professor-student sex, and a start would be making sex between professors and college students official misconduct or sexual imposition of a vulnerable adult. There are people who believe in laissez-faire when dealing with sexual relationships between adults, but the candy store should be closed regardless of age if you are teaching a student. Young adults and their parents need to be protected when the potential victim is over 18 or the local AOC just as much as if the victim was under 18.
Official misconduct, in layman's terms, is defined as using a position in government to obtain favors or other advantages. A public university employee is technically a government employee, and sexual encounters with students, even students which may be older than the sexually boundary-confused employee, count as favors and perks. So McLean County (which includes Normal, IL, where ISU is located) prosecutors saw the sexual misconduct by professors against students as official misconduct.
The tactic of charging teachers/professors with official misconduct for sex with students over the AOC is a tactic which has been used before. Timothy Zisa, as described in this blog, was sentenced to 5 years on probation and barred from teaching or holding other public employment in NJ for sex with 2 18 year old students.
I agree with the prosecution of sexual encounters between public college employees and students as official misconduct. If the professor who had sex with his student was a high school teacher and a 16 year old girl, there would have been prison time. The lack of prison time is due to a dismissal of victims over 18 as true victims.
Women high school teachers who have sexual relationships with students over 16 are now getting prison time, and 21 and 17 are not a whole lot different in maturity. If a boy who is in his mid to late teens can be damaged by sex with a female teacher who is around 30, then a woman in her early 20s can be damaged with a sexual relationship with a professor in college. When it comes to a position of power, college professors and high school teachers have similar power and influence over their students.
I disagree with Judge Fitzgerald's contention that Forbes wasn't in a position to influence grades, because he was the victim's professor. Professors have the power to raise grades of students they are over, regardless of whether the student asks for the favor or not. The fact that former Professor Forbes had a employer-employee relationship with the student as a babysitter is an example of a dual relationship, something frowned upon by most professions.
If sex between a high school teacher and student is illegal, and this case between a professor and a college student was prosecuted as a felony, due to the implication of grades for sex, then perhaps Illinois (and other states') official misconduct laws can be expanded to include professor-student sex in public universities, if they can't be interpreted that way already.
In the case that official misconduct can't be expanded to cover professor/college student sex under existing constructs, perhaps it's time to criminalize professor-student sex, and a start would be making sex between professors and college students official misconduct or sexual imposition of a vulnerable adult. There are people who believe in laissez-faire when dealing with sexual relationships between adults, but the candy store should be closed regardless of age if you are teaching a student. Young adults and their parents need to be protected when the potential victim is over 18 or the local AOC just as much as if the victim was under 18.
Professor gets off (in both senses of the word) for sexual encounter with student
A former Illinois State University professor was acquitted of official misconduct after a bench trail because the judge ruled that while the relationship between the married professor and the then 21 year old student was unethical and immoral, but also that the professor was not in a position to influence that woman's grade. "It’s not a question of the morality of this relationship but the legality of it,” Judge Kevin Fitzgerald said in the decision.
According to the Pantagraph:
Michael Forbes, a former associate professor in the ISU music department, was accused of convincing a student to perform a sex act on him on April 22, 2006, after she came to his home to baby sit for his child.
Prosecutors contend Forbes sought the sexual activity in return for his arranging music performances for the student, who was 21 at the time of the incident. Judge Kevin Fitzgerald ruled that insufficient evidence existed to show a connection between Forbes’ official duties at the university and the sexual activity.“There needs to be a nexus, a connection, between his official capacity and the alleged act,” the judge said.Evidence at the bench trial showed Forbes was not in a position to influence the woman’s grade.“It’s not a question of the morality of this relationship but the legality of it,” Fitzgerald said in the decision.
Forbes, who is married, admitted adultery when having sexual contact with the 21-year old student. “I do believe that I’ve committed adultery and for that I’ll always be sorry,” he said. The music professor also said that he was trying to regain his reputation, and that an contract with a North Carolina university was rescinded after Normal police told his prospective employer of the charges. “I have a lot of things to solve in the court of public opinion before I can put the pieces back together. There’s been a lot of damage done in the court of public opinion.”
More from the Pantagraph:
According to Forbes, the April 22 incident began when the woman asked Forbes if he wanted to see a tattoo located below her navel. Forbes said he kissed the tattoo and the two engaged in sexual activity before he left for a recital.
"Not once on April 22 did I utter the words ‘you owe me,’” to the student, Forbes testified. Assistant State’s Attorney Jane Foster argued that Forbes exploited his position to obtain sexual favors from the student. “The only reason they had interaction with each other was because he was a professor and she was a student at Illinois State University,” Foster said.Foster called suggestions that the sexual activity was consensual “incredulous, at best.”
The prosecutor also pointed out that Forbes asked the woman to keep the relationship confidential because of the harm a disclosure could mean for his career and family. Foster praised the student’s decision to file the complaint against the professor.“What’s important here is the victim came forward and made a report. She’s to be commended for that,” Foster said after the acquittal. A civil lawsuit filed by the student is pending against Forbes and ISU in federal court.
ISU is being sued for $500,000, and Forbes is being sued for $100,000. The federal trial is scheduled for 2009.
This was not the 1st time than an ISU professor faced criminal charges over sexual activity with a college student and was acquitted.
In May, former ISU theatre professor Patrick O’Gara was acquitted by a judge of battery and official misconduct charges for kissing a student who said the attention was unwanted.
Brian's opinion - My opinion about this case will be shown in the next posting. Here a a few of the over three dozen comments for this article: The comments I agree with I've shown below:
"Whatever price this educator pays he deserves. Along with being an educator goes the responsibility of leadership. He holds a position of trust to be revered by students. Every relationship between an educator and a student should be based on dignity, respect and above all high moral character. Mr Forbes chose to degrade his family, his unversity , his peers, and most of all the students when he engaged in adultery with a young female student. No law was broken since he did not force this young lady into doing anything, but the moral character of this educator is definitely in question. I question if this professor has the qualities we need in higher education professors. "
"... At either level, high school or college, it is ethically wrong (and in case of HS, legally) wrong to have sex with students."
According to the Pantagraph:
Michael Forbes, a former associate professor in the ISU music department, was accused of convincing a student to perform a sex act on him on April 22, 2006, after she came to his home to baby sit for his child.
Prosecutors contend Forbes sought the sexual activity in return for his arranging music performances for the student, who was 21 at the time of the incident. Judge Kevin Fitzgerald ruled that insufficient evidence existed to show a connection between Forbes’ official duties at the university and the sexual activity.“There needs to be a nexus, a connection, between his official capacity and the alleged act,” the judge said.Evidence at the bench trial showed Forbes was not in a position to influence the woman’s grade.“It’s not a question of the morality of this relationship but the legality of it,” Fitzgerald said in the decision.
Forbes, who is married, admitted adultery when having sexual contact with the 21-year old student. “I do believe that I’ve committed adultery and for that I’ll always be sorry,” he said. The music professor also said that he was trying to regain his reputation, and that an contract with a North Carolina university was rescinded after Normal police told his prospective employer of the charges. “I have a lot of things to solve in the court of public opinion before I can put the pieces back together. There’s been a lot of damage done in the court of public opinion.”
More from the Pantagraph:
According to Forbes, the April 22 incident began when the woman asked Forbes if he wanted to see a tattoo located below her navel. Forbes said he kissed the tattoo and the two engaged in sexual activity before he left for a recital.
"Not once on April 22 did I utter the words ‘you owe me,’” to the student, Forbes testified. Assistant State’s Attorney Jane Foster argued that Forbes exploited his position to obtain sexual favors from the student. “The only reason they had interaction with each other was because he was a professor and she was a student at Illinois State University,” Foster said.Foster called suggestions that the sexual activity was consensual “incredulous, at best.”
The prosecutor also pointed out that Forbes asked the woman to keep the relationship confidential because of the harm a disclosure could mean for his career and family. Foster praised the student’s decision to file the complaint against the professor.“What’s important here is the victim came forward and made a report. She’s to be commended for that,” Foster said after the acquittal. A civil lawsuit filed by the student is pending against Forbes and ISU in federal court.
ISU is being sued for $500,000, and Forbes is being sued for $100,000. The federal trial is scheduled for 2009.
This was not the 1st time than an ISU professor faced criminal charges over sexual activity with a college student and was acquitted.
In May, former ISU theatre professor Patrick O’Gara was acquitted by a judge of battery and official misconduct charges for kissing a student who said the attention was unwanted.
Brian's opinion - My opinion about this case will be shown in the next posting. Here a a few of the over three dozen comments for this article: The comments I agree with I've shown below:
"Whatever price this educator pays he deserves. Along with being an educator goes the responsibility of leadership. He holds a position of trust to be revered by students. Every relationship between an educator and a student should be based on dignity, respect and above all high moral character. Mr Forbes chose to degrade his family, his unversity , his peers, and most of all the students when he engaged in adultery with a young female student. No law was broken since he did not force this young lady into doing anything, but the moral character of this educator is definitely in question. I question if this professor has the qualities we need in higher education professors. "
"... At either level, high school or college, it is ethically wrong (and in case of HS, legally) wrong to have sex with students."
Sex offender burglar charged with touching, stealing garments from women
A convicted burglar with a history of breaking into women's homes and stealing their personal belongings has been caught doing so again. Bruce A. Sitton, 56, was charges in a string of burglaries between August 25 and October 23 where women in their late teens to early 20s were sexually touched before Sitton stole personal items.
According to the Corvallis Gazette-Times article, "Sex Offender Arrested For Burglaries,"
“He has a history of going to college towns with young women, stalking them and entering their homes,” said Lt. Tim Brewer of the Corvallis Police Department. “He would watch and touch (the victims). If they woke up, he would run out.”
Sitton was charged with the burglaries and assaults while in jail for a parole violation. Police arrested him while he was in jail, but did not disclose it until a week later due to further investigation.
More from the Corvallis Gazette-Times article:
After Sitton was arrested, detectives obtained a warrant to search his home at 1117 S.E. Queen Ave. in Albany. Police discovered women’s undergarments, a hand-woven purse and other personal items in Sitton’s home that victims of the Corvallis burglaries identified as their property, Brewer said.
Sitton was convicted in Polk County in 2000 and in Benton County in 2001 for a series of burglaries in which he attempted to sexually assault some of his victims, Brewer said. He served five years in prison for those convictions. In 1998, Sitton was convicted of burglary and rape in Josephine County, but served no prison time.
Brewer said that what occurred in the Corvallis burglaries this summer and fall matched the manner in which Sitton was known to break into homes.
“We had our eye on him for the burglaries because they matched his M.O. and we knew he had been released from prison in 2006,” Brewer said.
According to the Corvallis Gazette-Times article, "Sex Offender Arrested For Burglaries,"
“He has a history of going to college towns with young women, stalking them and entering their homes,” said Lt. Tim Brewer of the Corvallis Police Department. “He would watch and touch (the victims). If they woke up, he would run out.”
Sitton was charged with the burglaries and assaults while in jail for a parole violation. Police arrested him while he was in jail, but did not disclose it until a week later due to further investigation.
More from the Corvallis Gazette-Times article:
After Sitton was arrested, detectives obtained a warrant to search his home at 1117 S.E. Queen Ave. in Albany. Police discovered women’s undergarments, a hand-woven purse and other personal items in Sitton’s home that victims of the Corvallis burglaries identified as their property, Brewer said.
Sitton was convicted in Polk County in 2000 and in Benton County in 2001 for a series of burglaries in which he attempted to sexually assault some of his victims, Brewer said. He served five years in prison for those convictions. In 1998, Sitton was convicted of burglary and rape in Josephine County, but served no prison time.
Brewer said that what occurred in the Corvallis burglaries this summer and fall matched the manner in which Sitton was known to break into homes.
“We had our eye on him for the burglaries because they matched his M.O. and we knew he had been released from prison in 2006,” Brewer said.
RSO charged in rape, kidnapping of 18 year old woman
Eric Houk, 23, of Bedford, Iowa, was arrested and charged with a variety of crimes, including arson and sexual assault, the the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 18 year old woman.
According to the SW Iowa News:
Family members reported the woman missing to the Taylor County Sheriff's Office at 10:38 p.m. Saturday. She last was seen leaving her job around 9 p.m. Saturday [December 15].
Bedford police found her car on fire in a parking lot behind a Bedford cafe just before 11 p.m.
She was found early Sunday at Houk's home after a county-wide search that included volunteers and officers from the Bedford police, the Sheriff's Office, the State Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Houk was being held in the Adams County Jail on $5 million bail.
Houk was previously convicted in 2003 of lascivious acts with a child and 3rd degree sexual abuse.
According to the SW Iowa News:
Family members reported the woman missing to the Taylor County Sheriff's Office at 10:38 p.m. Saturday. She last was seen leaving her job around 9 p.m. Saturday [December 15].
Bedford police found her car on fire in a parking lot behind a Bedford cafe just before 11 p.m.
She was found early Sunday at Houk's home after a county-wide search that included volunteers and officers from the Bedford police, the Sheriff's Office, the State Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Houk was being held in the Adams County Jail on $5 million bail.
Houk was previously convicted in 2003 of lascivious acts with a child and 3rd degree sexual abuse.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Sex offender cop gets 4 years for unwanted contact
A NYC ex-cop has been sentenced to 4 years in prison for sexually assaulting two different women while on duty. The judge which sentenced him, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Chambers (unnamed in the New York Post story), said that Clerge "used the power of his office to obtain sexual gratification."
According to the Post and the New York Daily News:
Fernand Clerge, 40, had faced up to seven years behind bars for his crimes, which included unwanted sexual advances against two women on two separate occasions while armed and in uniform.
One of his victims, a 37-year-old waitress, testified at trial that Clerge and his partner followed her home after a routine traffic stop and tried to force her to perform oral sex on him.
The other victim was 21 when Clerge performed a sexually intrusive search on her while investigating a noise complaint. Clerge's apology rang hollow in court to the older victim, as noted below:
"You, myself and God know the truth of what occurred that day," he said to one of the victims, reading from a carefully worded, handwritten statement through tears and begging the judge to spare him. "I'm so sorry for any harm I may have caused you."
His words did little more than reduce the victim to tears herself.
"I think he was just doing that to get fewer years in jail," the 37-year-old woman said afterward as she left the courthouse still crying and barely able to talk.
Clerge was convicted of official misconduct, attempted criminal sex act, and sex abuse.
A comment at the Daily News describes what many people have on their minds about sex offender cops:
Another lowlife creep molesting women. Why don't they casterate[sic] his *** & call it a day. What is even more frightening it that he was an ex-cop!! I wonder how many ppl he beat up & molested during his stint as a cop? Well when those boys know about him being an ex-cop. I guess he will be somebody's B***H
According to the Post and the New York Daily News:
Fernand Clerge, 40, had faced up to seven years behind bars for his crimes, which included unwanted sexual advances against two women on two separate occasions while armed and in uniform.
One of his victims, a 37-year-old waitress, testified at trial that Clerge and his partner followed her home after a routine traffic stop and tried to force her to perform oral sex on him.
The other victim was 21 when Clerge performed a sexually intrusive search on her while investigating a noise complaint. Clerge's apology rang hollow in court to the older victim, as noted below:
"You, myself and God know the truth of what occurred that day," he said to one of the victims, reading from a carefully worded, handwritten statement through tears and begging the judge to spare him. "I'm so sorry for any harm I may have caused you."
His words did little more than reduce the victim to tears herself.
"I think he was just doing that to get fewer years in jail," the 37-year-old woman said afterward as she left the courthouse still crying and barely able to talk.
Clerge was convicted of official misconduct, attempted criminal sex act, and sex abuse.
A comment at the Daily News describes what many people have on their minds about sex offender cops:
Another lowlife creep molesting women. Why don't they casterate[sic] his *** & call it a day. What is even more frightening it that he was an ex-cop!! I wonder how many ppl he beat up & molested during his stint as a cop? Well when those boys know about him being an ex-cop. I guess he will be somebody's B***H
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Michigan man loses appeal of rape charge
A Sturgis man has been ordered to start serving a 21 month to 15 year sentence for the 2005 rape of a woman. The Michigan Court Of Appeals overturned a lower court's decision to grant Warren English III a new trail based on a juror being sexually abused as a child.
According to the Kalamazoo Gazette:
English, 23, was sentenced by Judge Paul Stutesman after he was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old woman in May 2005 following an after-prom party at his family's residence. English is the son of Sturgis businessman Warren English Jr.
County Prosecuting Attorney Douglas Fisher appealed the decision of the trial court, which stated that a victim of sexual abuse should be automatically excused from sitting on a criminal sexual conduct jury.
The appeals court called the decision `erroneous'' and ordered English, who had been released on bond pending the appeal, to turn himself in to the county sheriff.
Appellate Judge Helene N. White wrote in a separate opinion that she "would remand for reconsideration under the proper legal standard," but disagreed that a new trial was necessary.
Sturgis rapist won't get new trial
According to the Kalamazoo Gazette:
English, 23, was sentenced by Judge Paul Stutesman after he was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old woman in May 2005 following an after-prom party at his family's residence. English is the son of Sturgis businessman Warren English Jr.
County Prosecuting Attorney Douglas Fisher appealed the decision of the trial court, which stated that a victim of sexual abuse should be automatically excused from sitting on a criminal sexual conduct jury.
The appeals court called the decision `erroneous'' and ordered English, who had been released on bond pending the appeal, to turn himself in to the county sheriff.
Appellate Judge Helene N. White wrote in a separate opinion that she "would remand for reconsideration under the proper legal standard," but disagreed that a new trial was necessary.
Sturgis rapist won't get new trial
Rapist sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison
A serial rapist was sentenced to between 15 and 30 years for sexual attacks on three women, beating his pregnant girlfriend, and threatening a co-worker with a gun.
According to Penn Live News:
Dauphin County President Judge Richard A. Lewis imposed the term Monday on Jermaine Marks, 32, of the 2100 block of Sir Lancelot Drive, Lower Paxton Twp., after he pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, aggravated assault, simple assault, unlawful restraint, two counts of terroristic threats and one count each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual assault.
Marks, who was scheduled for trial next week, decided to enter the negotiated plea after Lewis denied several defense motions, including a request to separate the rape cases for trial. Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle argued they were all part of the same scheme, since Marks picked up the women, two of whom were admitted prostitutes, and violently attacked them.
Marks was arrested after prostitutes alleged a man in a Dodge Stratus was raping them in the same general area.
Serial Rapist Sentenced
According to Penn Live News:
Dauphin County President Judge Richard A. Lewis imposed the term Monday on Jermaine Marks, 32, of the 2100 block of Sir Lancelot Drive, Lower Paxton Twp., after he pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, aggravated assault, simple assault, unlawful restraint, two counts of terroristic threats and one count each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual assault.
Marks, who was scheduled for trial next week, decided to enter the negotiated plea after Lewis denied several defense motions, including a request to separate the rape cases for trial. Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle argued they were all part of the same scheme, since Marks picked up the women, two of whom were admitted prostitutes, and violently attacked them.
Marks was arrested after prostitutes alleged a man in a Dodge Stratus was raping them in the same general area.
Serial Rapist Sentenced
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Stable owner charged in assault of teen
David Vanderwerken, co-owner of Shanderhof Farm in Shaftsbury, is facing life in prison after allegedly forcing himself on a 17 year old girl. Vanderwerken, 49, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of sexual assault with no consent and another felony charge of lewd and lascivious conduct. Sexual assault carries a penalty between 3 years and life imprisonment.
The assault allegedly occurred November 3rd. The girl, who had been riding at the stable for 5 years, had been subjected to unwanted kissing by Vanderwerken back in October.
According to the Rutland Herald:
The girl told police she was alone with Vanderwerken in his house for about 45 minutes. During this time, the girl told Gaiotti, Vanderwerken touched her several times under her clothes, kissed her and threw her onto a bed and laid on top of her.According to the affidavit, Vanderwerken asked the girl to spend the night at his home on Nov. 3 but she refused.The girl told police on Nov. 3 she told another teenager, who was 15, about the alleged incident just after it happened.
Gaiotti said she interviewed the second girl on Nov. 7.According to the affidavit, the younger girl said the older girl told her on Nov. 3 that "Vanderwerken had almost raped her."The younger girl told Gaiotti the older girl's hands were trembling and said she was pale and cried a little bit.The older girl told police she had gone to work on Nov. 4. The girl said Vanderwerken was outside of her workplace that day and waved to her through the window although he didn't come inside. The girl said she had never seen Vanderwerken there before.According to the affidavit, Vanderwerken also called the girl's home on Nov. 4 and asked to talk to her although she said he had never called her at home before.
In the affidavit, Gaiotti said she spoke with Vanderwerken November 5th, who claimed that the girl had a crush on him.
Over the course of the interview, according to the affidavit, Vanderwerken admitted he and the girl had kissed but said she had initiated it because she had a crush on him.Vanderwerken told police he did not want to say anything because he didn't want to damage the relationship between the girl and his wife."In closing, Vanderwerken admitted he 'did something wrong and probably should have changed the circumstances, hoping it would just kind of blow away and she would just go off on her own,'" the affidavit said.
Man denies sexual assault
The assault allegedly occurred November 3rd. The girl, who had been riding at the stable for 5 years, had been subjected to unwanted kissing by Vanderwerken back in October.
According to the Rutland Herald:
The girl told police she was alone with Vanderwerken in his house for about 45 minutes. During this time, the girl told Gaiotti, Vanderwerken touched her several times under her clothes, kissed her and threw her onto a bed and laid on top of her.According to the affidavit, Vanderwerken asked the girl to spend the night at his home on Nov. 3 but she refused.The girl told police on Nov. 3 she told another teenager, who was 15, about the alleged incident just after it happened.
Gaiotti said she interviewed the second girl on Nov. 7.According to the affidavit, the younger girl said the older girl told her on Nov. 3 that "Vanderwerken had almost raped her."The younger girl told Gaiotti the older girl's hands were trembling and said she was pale and cried a little bit.The older girl told police she had gone to work on Nov. 4. The girl said Vanderwerken was outside of her workplace that day and waved to her through the window although he didn't come inside. The girl said she had never seen Vanderwerken there before.According to the affidavit, Vanderwerken also called the girl's home on Nov. 4 and asked to talk to her although she said he had never called her at home before.
In the affidavit, Gaiotti said she spoke with Vanderwerken November 5th, who claimed that the girl had a crush on him.
Over the course of the interview, according to the affidavit, Vanderwerken admitted he and the girl had kissed but said she had initiated it because she had a crush on him.Vanderwerken told police he did not want to say anything because he didn't want to damage the relationship between the girl and his wife."In closing, Vanderwerken admitted he 'did something wrong and probably should have changed the circumstances, hoping it would just kind of blow away and she would just go off on her own,'" the affidavit said.
Man denies sexual assault
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Sex with NJ student, 17, leads to official misconduct charges
English teacher Celeste Adamski, of Kearny HS (NJ), has pleaded guilty to a single count of 3rd degree official misconduct for having sex with a 17 year old student in a car January 24, 2007. The investigation started when two students, both the victim that she was charged for, and an 18 year old student, approached school officials with allegations of inappropriate conduct. Adamski was suspended with pay in June after a three-year teaching stint. Her husband is a history teacher in good standing at Kearney High.
Normally, a 3rd degree official misconduct charge in New Jersey carries a sentence of 3 to 5 years, but prosecutors will request probation only when she is sentenced on November 30.
Since the victim is over the AOC in New Jersey (which is 16), Adamski was charged with official misconduct instead of sexual offenses, which spared her the burden of a Sex Offender Registry listing. However, under the terms of her plea agreement, she will lose her teaching job, surrender her teaching license and as a felon convicted of official misconduct, be barred from taking another public job in New Jersey.
In June, another New Jersey teacher, Timothy Zisa pleaded guilty to official misconduct for kissing three teenage female students and having sex with two of them after they turned 18.
(Update 12-1-07) Adamski was sentenced to 2 years probation, 50 hours of community service, a $155 fine, and forfeited not only her teaching license, but the right to hold any public office in New Jersey.
This is the Jersey Journal's account of Adamski's reaction.
Adamski seemed tense but composed, first resting balled fists on the table in front of her, then clasping her hands, and finally clutching her right elbow with her left hand, draping an arm across her stomach. [She's] pregnant with her second child by her husband, said [defense attourney John]Young, who added that the baby is due in June.
While serving her probation, Adamski will be a "stay-at-home mom" for her 2-year-old son, and she will continue to undergo psychiatric therapy and counseling, Young said.
"She's happy to be able to put this behind her," Young said after the sentencing. "She's prepared to get on with the rest of her life."
Reference:
No Prison Time For Sex Teach
Normally, a 3rd degree official misconduct charge in New Jersey carries a sentence of 3 to 5 years, but prosecutors will request probation only when she is sentenced on November 30.
Since the victim is over the AOC in New Jersey (which is 16), Adamski was charged with official misconduct instead of sexual offenses, which spared her the burden of a Sex Offender Registry listing. However, under the terms of her plea agreement, she will lose her teaching job, surrender her teaching license and as a felon convicted of official misconduct, be barred from taking another public job in New Jersey.
In June, another New Jersey teacher, Timothy Zisa pleaded guilty to official misconduct for kissing three teenage female students and having sex with two of them after they turned 18.
(Update 12-1-07) Adamski was sentenced to 2 years probation, 50 hours of community service, a $155 fine, and forfeited not only her teaching license, but the right to hold any public office in New Jersey.
This is the Jersey Journal's account of Adamski's reaction.
Adamski seemed tense but composed, first resting balled fists on the table in front of her, then clasping her hands, and finally clutching her right elbow with her left hand, draping an arm across her stomach. [She's] pregnant with her second child by her husband, said [defense attourney John]Young, who added that the baby is due in June.
While serving her probation, Adamski will be a "stay-at-home mom" for her 2-year-old son, and she will continue to undergo psychiatric therapy and counseling, Young said.
"She's happy to be able to put this behind her," Young said after the sentencing. "She's prepared to get on with the rest of her life."
Reference:
No Prison Time For Sex Teach
18 gets Georgia teacher 12 (months)
James Cypert Jr, a former Columbus (GA) high school teacher who had sex with one of his students, was sentenced to a year in jail and 5 years of probation. The "consensual" sex took place between March and May 2005. Muscogee County Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters accepted a plea of gulity to three counts of sexual assault against a person in custody.
"I don't know what to say," the victim said. "I've gone through hell since this relationship began. I was manipulated by someone much older and wiser than I was."
Excerpt from the Columbus Legder-Enquirer:
In contrast, her father's voice boomed across the courtroom when he spoke about the damage Cypert had done to his family.
"We trusted that man to take care of our child," he said. "My child will be scarred for the rest of her life. I ask you to send a message to the citizens in this city that this will not be tolerated in Columbus, Georgia."
Another former student led Columbus Police to begin an investigation into Cypert, said Stacey Jackson, senior assistant district attorney. That student told police in December 2006 that she had a relationship with Cypert, though Jackson said no sex was involved and the contact occurred after her high school graduation.
That first disclosure led Sgt. Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick to interview the school's principal and the victim who spoke Friday. In April, she admitted the relationship to Dent-Fitzpatrick.
Jackson said letters and e-mails between Cypert and the victim had been sent back and forth.
"Promises were made. 'I love you. I'll leave my wife,' " Jackson said of the e-mails.
Cypert's family and friends sat quietly in the courtroom during the proceedings. Cypert's attorney, Steven Hyles, said his client told him he wanted to stand before the judge, with only his attorney, and take responsibility.
"I don't know what to say," the victim said. "I've gone through hell since this relationship began. I was manipulated by someone much older and wiser than I was."
Excerpt from the Columbus Legder-Enquirer:
In contrast, her father's voice boomed across the courtroom when he spoke about the damage Cypert had done to his family.
"We trusted that man to take care of our child," he said. "My child will be scarred for the rest of her life. I ask you to send a message to the citizens in this city that this will not be tolerated in Columbus, Georgia."
Another former student led Columbus Police to begin an investigation into Cypert, said Stacey Jackson, senior assistant district attorney. That student told police in December 2006 that she had a relationship with Cypert, though Jackson said no sex was involved and the contact occurred after her high school graduation.
That first disclosure led Sgt. Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick to interview the school's principal and the victim who spoke Friday. In April, she admitted the relationship to Dent-Fitzpatrick.
Jackson said letters and e-mails between Cypert and the victim had been sent back and forth.
"Promises were made. 'I love you. I'll leave my wife,' " Jackson said of the e-mails.
Cypert's family and friends sat quietly in the courtroom during the proceedings. Cypert's attorney, Steven Hyles, said his client told him he wanted to stand before the judge, with only his attorney, and take responsibility.
Cypert must register as a sex offender.
Reference:
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