Tag Archives: molestation

Patch reports: The Diocese of Rockville Centre has made its “best and final proposal” for victims of sexual abuse. As Patch reported in Oct. 2022, hundreds of sexual abuse claims were frozen in the wake of the diocese’s declared bankruptcy. The offer announced on Tuesday totals $200 million in compensation, Diocese spokesperson Sean Dolan said. The proposal from the Diocese …

Quincy’s NBC affiliate reports: A Quincy man who was a youth leader at Hope Lutheran Church in Quincy was sentenced Friday to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Court records show that 22-year-old Isaiah Mikkelson was sentenced to 6 years each for two counts of criminal sexual abuse of a victim between 13 and 18 years old. Mikkelson …

Toledo’s CBS affiliate reports: A former northwest Ohio priest was sentenced Friday, just over three years after he was initially arrested on charges of sex trafficking minors and adults, charges on which he was ultimately found guilty. Michael Zacharias appeared in federal court Friday afternoon, where a judge sentenced him to life in prison on two counts and 20 years …

Goldsboro’s CBS affiliate reports: A teacher at a Christian school in Sanford has been charged with sex offenses involving a student, Sanford police said Thursday. On Nov. 8, police received a report of misconduct by a teacher at Lee Christian School at 3220 Keller Andrews Road. Further Investigation into the allegations led police investigators to bring charges against 57-year-old Daniel …

Click On Detroit reports: A man serving as a youth leader at a Macomb County church has been charged with criminal sexual conduct due to alleged sexual contact with a minor who attends his church. Clinton Township man Luis Mendoza, 29, was arraigned Wednesday, Nov. 15 on multiple counts of criminal sex conduct, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office reports. Mendoza, …

The Mississippi Press reports: Samuel Lamar Taylor, 52, has been sentenced to life without parole after he was convicted by a Rankin County jury on September 20, 2023, of one count of sexual battery and one count of gratification of lust. Taylor served as a music teacher for over 25 years at schools across Mississippi, retiring from Richland Upper Elementary …

Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate reports: An Arizona judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received during …

The Arkansas Times reports: A federal lawsuit filed in Little Rock Monday against Ted Suhl, the former behavioral health services mogul convicted of bribing a state official but later set free by then-President Donald Trump, describes decades of alleged “systematic and widespread” child abuse by staff members at Suhl’s now-defunct Lord’s Ranch. The abuse at the residential facility included “premeditated …

Click Orlando reports: A former teacher at an Orlando Christian private school faces several charges of sexual activity with a minor, according to Orange County court records. In addition, the victim is suing The First Academy, The First Baptist Church of Orlando and her former teacher for sexual abuse and for failing to notify law enforcement after learning of the …

The Baltimore Sun reports: Diamonds and emeralds, marble busts and oil paintings, sterling silver flatware and an ivory crucifix — these are just some of the things the Archdiocese of Baltimore possesses in its treasure chest of valuables. The items, including rings, precious gemstones, gold and silver chains, and antique furniture, were disclosed as part of the archdiocese’s most recent …

Buffalo’s ABC affiliate reports: The Diocese of Buffalo claimed it will offer $100 million to settle child sex abuse lawsuits and is considering the sale of the Catholic Center, the former Christ the King Seminary campus and other real estate, according to documents filed in its federal bankruptcy case Monday. However, lawyers representing child sexual abuse survivors say the preliminary …

Atlanta’s Fox affiliate reports: An Acworth man who once had a leadership role at a popular Cobb County church has been arrested. Cobb Police have charged him with four counts of child molestation for his alleged encounters with a 15-year-old boy who attended the church. Cobb Police have arrested the 32-year-old former Worship in Wonders former director of operations Marcus …

The Baptist News reports: In August 2007, Louisiana College (now named Louisiana Christian University) announced plans to open a law school, the first in the state to be located outside the capital, Baton Rouge, or the largest city, New Orleans. The law school was named after Judge Paul Pressler, one of the principal architects of the “conservative resurgence” in the …

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports: A local Catholic priest called Westlake Police Department to report “a disturbing incident” involving Luis Jesus Barajas, 76, who was visiting the area and performing spiritual ceremonies in Spanish for Hispanic residents in the area. Barajas was driven to a home in Westlake on Oct. 10 to bless a 15-year-old girl who is undergoing chemotherapy. …

“The funny thing is that when people always call Jim Jordan a fighter, and I always wonder who he’s fighting for, because he had a real opportunity to fight for us and the people that he coached and the people that he recruited at the Ohio State, and all he’s done is turn his back on us, so I don’t …

Tulsa’s ABC affiliate reports: Tulsa Police arrested a man who worked as a pastor at a church and is accused of inappropriately touching a girl over a period of three years. The victim said Matthew Martinez was an associate pastor at New Heights Baptist Church and Academy near 21st and Memorial. She said Martinez first touched her hand and foot …

Jacksonville’s NBC affiliate reports: Early last month, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it was made aware of allegations of misconduct by a church youth group leader, Gregory Norton. Norton, 58, was accused of sexually molesting a teen that he met through functions at Oak Hill Church: Church of the Nazarene, according to JSO. The incident reportedly happened years earlier at …

Des Moines’ CBS affiliate reports: A former Cambridge pastor accused of drugging and sexually abusing a child appeared at the Story County Courthouse Monday morning for a plea hearing and sentencing. Prosecutors say Mark Benson, 69, gave a young girl medicine to make her sleep, then sexually assaulted her several times between 2009 and 2012, when she was between 10 …

Fox News reports: An Alabama math teacher at a private Christian school is accused of having sex with two teenage boys who had both been her students, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Fox News Digital. Chrystal Frost, 35, a married mother of three, resigned last month from Crenshaw Christian Academy, known as Home of the Cougars for its …

The Guardian reports: A retired Catholic priest from New Orleans who years ago secretly admitted to church leaders that he sexually molested or harassed numerous children is now facing criminal charges. State prosecutors in New Orleans obtained an indictment charging Lawrence Hecker, 91, on Thursday with aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature and theft. The crime allegedly occurred …