British paedophile Catholic priest of England Reginald Dunkling sentenced after conviction for sexual abuse of a child

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Reginald Dunkling, a priest of the Diocese of Westminster in England, was sentenced Dec. 1 for a non-recent sexual abuse of a child. The Wood Green Crown Court imposed a 12-month community order, with additional requirements.

The diocese said Dunkling, now 61, withdrew from ministry in May 2020, and since that time has had no role in public ministry. The church issued a statement saying that following his conviction, the priest does not, and will not, have any role in public ministry.

Police officers cited the bravery of the victim who came forward and spoke with them, leading to the priest being sentenced for indecent assault committed three decades ago.

On April 21, 2020, detectives received allegations of sexual abuse said to have taken place in the Camden area of London in the 1990s.

The victim-survivor, who was 17 years old at the time he was assaulted, informed officers that he met Dunkling at his local church.

Dunkling was arrested on June 16, 2020, and charged with indecent assault on Sept. 9, 2021. He was found guilty on July 6 of this year.

After the Dec. 1 sentencing, Detective Constable Lucy Dugdale, the investigating officer, said it shows that the police “will always take this type of offending seriously, irrespective of how many years have passed. I would like to praise the victim for finding the courage to contact police; after 30 years, his voice has been heard.”

She noted that Dunkling used his status within the community to target a teenager who he then assaulted.

“He abused his position of trust which is wholly unacceptable. I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault to speak with police, or any of the charities or organizations that are available, so that they can get the support they need,” Dugdale said.

The Diocese of Westminster’s statement on the sentencing says it has been cooperating with the police throughout their investigations and is deeply sorry for the hurt that he caused to his victim, the victim’s family and the wider community, and acknowledges the gravity of the abuse he inflicted.

“The Diocese of Westminster is committed to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable adults in its care,” the diocesan statement says.

“Over the past two decades, in conjunction with the Catholic Church in England and Wales, we have developed robust safeguarding policies and procedures, which have been put in place across parishes, chaplaincies, schools and agencies of the diocese to provide protection for children and vulnerable adults. We continue to strengthen our policies, procedures and practice,” the statement adds.

Dunkling has a 12-month community order with two requirements, a curfew for three months and a 25 hours’ rehabilitation activity requirement.

 

American Baptist pastor of Texas pleads guilty to possession of child sex abuse images

David Lloyd Walther admitted downloading the materials to a computer at Faith Baptist Church in Round Rock, where he was pastor before his arrest in November.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A Texas pastor pleaded guilty to an enhanced charge of possession of child sex abuse images after he admitted having downloaded some of the materials at his church, according to federal prosecutors and court documents.

David Lloyd Walther, 57, "knowingly searched for, downloaded, distributed and possessed" child sex abuse images, some of which depicted prepubescent minors, on a peer-to-peer file sharing network while he was the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Round Rock, a city 18 miles north of Austin, the U.S. attorney's office for Western Texas said Thursday.

Walther was arrested Nov. 9 after a search of his home and car turned up two large computer hard drives with more than 100,000 images and more than 5,000 videos of child sex abuse material, the U.S. attorney's office said.

He was released on home detention with GPS monitoring on Nov. 17 and was prohibited from using any computers or having any contact with minors.

 

Another murder-suicide in United States involving a New York police that fatally shot his entire family before killing himself 

Watson Morgan, a sergeant with the Bronxville Police Department, shot his wife, Ornela Morgan, and their sons

By Edward Era Barbacena 

 A husband and wife and their two sons, ages 10 and 12, were found dead in a suburban New York home Saturday in what authorities described as a murder-suicide by a police sergeant.

Police officials said Watson Morgan, a sergeant with the Bronxville Police Department, fatally shot his wife, Ornela Morgan, 43, and their sons before taking his own life.

The four bodies were discovered by police just after midnight on Friday at the family’s home in New City, a suburb of New York City, after Morgan failed to show up for his evening shift at the Bronxville Police Department.

“At this phase in the investigation it is believed that Watson killed his wife and two children, prior to killing himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the Clarkstown Police Department said.

All four had gunshot wounds, police said. A handgun was recovered at the scene.

Watson, 49, began his career with the New York Police Department in 2000 before joining the force in Bronxville, a village in Westchester County, seven years later, according to a department biography. He was promoted to sergeant in 2016.

In a statement, Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale said the killings left the department with “profoundly broken hearts at the senseless loss of innocent lives.”

“Our hearts go out to Sergeant Morgan’s extended family,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are also with his Bronxville Police Department family.”

 

American actor admitted to California prison after rape conviction

That ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson begins lengthy sentence at California prison

By Edward Era Barbacena 

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirms "That '70s Show" actor Daniel Masterson has been admitted to North Kern State Prison in Delano after being convicted of rape earlier this year.

CDCR confirmed Masterson is going through the classification and reception process on Wednesday.

The jury of seven women and five men reached the verdict after deliberating for seven days spread over two weeks. They could not reach a verdict on the third count, that alleged Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend. They had voted 8-4 in favor of conviction.

After a deadlocked jury led to a mistrial in December, prosecutors retried Masterson, saying he forcibly raped three women in his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003.

They told jurors he drugged the women's drinks so he could rape them. They said he used his prominence in the Church of Scientology — where all three women were also members at the time — to avoid consequences for decades.

 

American paedophile of Indiana arrested for sexually molesting a child for years

Anthony Muir was arrested on Dec. 21 after a long investigation by police into the allegations of child molestation. 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A Plainfield dirty old white man is under arrest after a young victim told police that he had been molesting her for years.

Anthony Muir, 52, was arrested on Dec. 21 after a long investigation by police into the allegations of child molestation. He is charged with seven counts of child molesting, including multiple counts as a Level 1 felony.

According to court documents, the victim came forward in March of 2022 and told her mother that Muir had been touching her underneath her pajama shorts for several years and committing other sexual acts when he was alone with the child.

Muir reportedly showed the child pornography on his tablet, according to court documents. Police also spoke with another child who reported seeing a naked Muir with the young victim.

Neither Muir nor his attorney responded to police’s request for an interview, court documents state.

A warrant for Muir’s arrest was filed on Dec. 21 and he was arrested the same day.

If convicted of a Level 1 felony, Muir could face between 20 and 40 years in prison

 

Ex-Anheuser-Busch President Claims ‘Woke’ Companies Have a Long ‘Road to Recovery’

Bud Light's parent is one of several companies that were boycotted in 2023 after partnering with a homosexual influencer 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A former executive of Bud Light's parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, earlier this week predicted that companies embracing "woke" ideals will have a tough time winning back spurned consumers.

Anheuser-Busch is still reeling from backlash over its social media advertisement during March Madness, which featured American homosexual TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney . Conservatives from Congress members to Kid Rock and Joe Rogan slammed the brand, sparking outrage and boycotts.

Bud Light's sales fell steeply amid the controversy, its stock plummeted and the brand lost its title as America's top-selling beer by dollar sales. Anheuser-Busch's revenue fell 13.5% for the quarter that ended Sept. 30. Company CEO Michel Doukeris told investors Tuesday that the falloff was, "primarily due to volume decline in Bud Light."

The company's stock has mostly recovered since then, but the lessons from the Bud Light controversy have not been lost on other firms.

“People are seeing that when companies get involved in these social and political issues that have nothing to do with their mission and their stock price plummets — that’s bad for these companies,” Anson Frericks, an ex-president of Anheuser-Busch sales and distribution and a vocal critic of corporate environmental, social and governance policies , told FOX Business on Tuesday.

"I think the road to recovery is a long one for a lot of these companies that have gotten involved in these sort of divisive social-political issues," Frericks added.

Anheuser-Busch is far from the only company to spark conservative outrage in 2023, and some groups have laundry lists of corporations they now refuse to patronize.

Target Corp. was recently criticized by conservative activists for selling very carnal and sinful LGBTQ+ Pride nutcrackers and other inclusive holiday merchandise, and earlier this year activists boycotted the retailer over its decision to sell Pride Month products. Protestors also knocked over displays at Target stores and confronted employees and customers over the merchandise.

Kohl's was threatened with boycotts over the company's decision to sell Pride-themed clothing, shortly after Target said it would remove some of its merchandise.

And The Walt Disney Co. has been embroiled in a yearslong dispute with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , a Republican, over the company's support for LGBTQ+ policies. The conflict has expanded to the box office , where several of Disney's films have shown poor performance, as well as the company's resorts and its relationship with investors.

 

American paedophile police of Massachusetts arrested for raping a child 

James Feeley who fosters kids through DCF accused of child rape under the age of 14

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A longtime member of the Winthrop Police Department was ordered held Wednesday on $200,000 bail in connection with an investigation into child rape allegations after authorities say he confessed to the crimes in a cemetery on Christmas Night.

Winthrop Police Lt. James Feeley, 56, of Winthrop, was arraigned Wednesday morning in East Boston District Court on charges including aggravated rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson said.

A criminal complaint alleged that Feeley “did unlawfully have sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse” with the victim and that the victim was “under 12 years of age.”

The Department of Children and Families confirmed with Boston 25 that Feeley is a foster parent for the state and says they are working with law enforcement in the investigation.

“DCF is investigating these disturbing allegations against a foster parent. There are no foster children currently residing in the foster home,” said a DCF spokesperson.

Feeley was arrested Tuesday night by state police detectives assigned to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.

Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty said Feeley will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the state police investigation.

Delehanty told investigators that he was called to the Belle Isle Cemetery in Winthrop on Christmas Night, where he encountered Feeley, who had stated that he “was really in a bad way,” according to a police report.

While speaking with Delehanty, Feeley confessed to the rape and assault allegations as he stood near his parents’ grave site, the report stated. When Delehanty asked him why he was at the grave site, Feeley allegedly said, " What do you think?”

Delehanty also told investigators that he believed Feeley was suicidal and armed with a handgun, the report indicated. Feeley was later taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Assistant Suffolk District Attorney Benjamin Hui said the alleged assaults occurred over the past year.

Video captured by a Boston 25 News photographer showed Feeley in handcuffs as he was escorted out of a Suffolk County Sheriff’s van and into court to face the charges.

Feeley was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in 2020 after holding the rank for three years. He previously served as a patrolman for six years and reserve police officer for eight years. He is also a medic for the Metro North Special Operations Unit.

Feeley has been a member of the department for more than 20 years.

A judge also ordered Feeley to stay away from the alleged victim in this case, surrender his passport and all firearms, remain in the Commonwealth, and refrain from having contact with children under the age of 16.

The state initially requested bail of $500,000 but Feeley’s attorney argued for a lower amount, stating that his client had already brought “shame and embarrassment” upon his family and department.

 

American cop of Elgin, Illinois resigns after child pornography charges

Paedophile Jordan Collins was arrested on Dec 4  after child pornography Images were found in his own home

By Edward Era Barbacena 

An Elgin police officer facing child pornography charges has now resigned.

Officer Jordan Collins, 33, was arrested Dec. 4 after an investigation by the Illinois Attorney General's office. He is charged with eight Class 2 felony counts of possession of child pornography and two Class X counts of reproduction of child pornography.

Investigators from the DeKalb County Sheriff's office and the Illinois Attorney General's office said they found evidence of child pornography when they searched Collins' home in Kirkland earlier this month.

Inside Collins' home, prosecutors said a large number of guns, and a large amount of ammunition, were also found.

Collins, 33, had worked for the Elgin Police Department for the past five years. 

The Attorney General's office explained that it is involved because the case originated as a tip from its Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The AG's office also conducted the investigation.    

In a statement, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the case is part of his ongoing work with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement in the state to "apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online."

"All child predators, particularly those in a position of authority, must be held accountable for the horrific crime of child pornography that can leave life-long scars on victims and their families," Raoul said in a news release. "I am absolutely committed to working with local law enforcement agencies to protect communities from offenders who exploit children – even if those individuals are themselves supposed to be keeping their communities safe."

 

American sex offender of Moberly, Missouri charged with child porn possession 

Randolph County prosecutors charged Andrew Miller, 45, with felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A sex offender in Moberly was charged on Thursday with possessing child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender.

Andrew Ray Miller, 45, of Moberly, was arrested on Thursday and posted a $40,000 bond on Friday, according to court records. A hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29.

According to the probable cause statement, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force received multiple tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on June 8. NCMEC received information from Amazon’s Photos Trust and Safety Team about multiple images containing child pornography being uploaded, the statement says.

Amazon had provided law enforcement with an email address and IP address associated with the account uploading the illicit material, the statement says. A search warrant was executed on Thursday at Miller’s residence, where he allegedly admitted to being the sole owner of the Amazon account and associated email, according to court documents.

According to the probable cause statement, Miller did not register his email address when he last registered with the state’s sex offender registry on Dec. 11.

 

American paedophile of Florida arrested for possession of child pornography 

John Downing Jr. was arrested for 12 counts of child pornography 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Detectives with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) arrested 55-year-old John Downing Jr. for multiple counts of possession of Child Pornography on Thursday.

According to investigators, Downing’s arrest was the result of a lengthy investigation conducted by Detective Patrick Martin of the CCSO High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Detectives received a report from NCMEC identifying potential images of child pornography associated with a residence in Citrus County.

“Using cutting-edge investigative methods, he was able to confirm that Downing did possess multiple images and videos of child pornography,” said CCSO.

Based on these results, CCSO Criminal Investigations Division (CID) members served a search warrant on Downing’s residence. Investigators will still have to review multiple other digital storage devices that were seized during the search warrant to determine if more charges will be filed.

“Downing’s possession of this repulsive material has effects that reach far beyond the borders of Citrus County,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “By possessing and hoarding these images and videos, Downing is not only creating a market for child pornography, but he is re-victimizing the children who were already exploited by these monsters. CCSO’s High Tech Crimes Unit will continue to work with our state and federal partners to track criminals like Downing down and protect our communities’ most vulnerable victims”.

Downing was arrested for 12 counts of possessing Child Pornography. He is currently being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility with a bond set at $180,000.00 per the bond schedule.

 

American paedophile of Idaho charged for possession of child pornography Images 

Jonathan Douglas Mohr has been charged with four felony counts of distribution of child pornography and one felony count of possession of child pornography.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

An Idaho Falls man whose friend turned him in for allegedly having child pornography on his tablet has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Jonathan Douglas Mohr, 45, was indicted by the grand jury on Dec. 13. The local charges out of Bonneville County were dropped on Dec. 20.

According to the indictment, Mohr has been charged with four felony counts of distribution of child pornography and one felony count of possession of child pornography.

Mohr was also required to forfeit a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.

During his arraignment on Dec. 22, Mohr pleaded not guilty to all charges, and a jury trial was scheduled for Jan. 29 in Pocatello in front of U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison.

Background of the case

Court documents say on or around July 16, 2023, a man reported seeing child sexual abuse images at his friend’s house.

The man told Bonneville County deputies that on July 3, he was at Mohr’s home when he asked Mohr if he could use his tablet.

Mohr said yes and went to take a shower. When the friend opened the tablet, he reportedly saw a video of an adult man raping an infant.

The man says he closed the video and saw at least 10 more videos in a folder, also showing sexual abuse of a child.

According to the man, the tablet was connected to a media server.

Mohr returned to the room and realized his friend had seen the videos. He reportedly told the friend, “You’ll get me in trouble,” and took the tablet back as the friend left the home.

On Oct. 23, around 8:40 a.m., the Idaho Crimes Against Children task force, assisted by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Falls Police Department, executed a search warrant at Mohr’s home.

Mohr was detained and transported to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Ammon Field Office for an interview, where he declined to speak to investigators and asked for an attorney.

During the search of the home, deputies found the tablet in the bedroom, which reportedly contained over 1,000 images and videos of child pornography of children as young as infants being raped and abused by adults.

Also on the tablet were photos and videos of bestiality involving children, deputies said.

They also found a “bag of white crystal-like rocks” in a dresser drawer in the master bedroom, according to court documents.

The rocks later tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine. There are no current charges for methamphetamine possession.

 

American pastor of Illinois pleads guilty to felony sexual assault, sentenced to 6 more years

Mark Rivera, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex crimes last month, has pled guilty to raping his neighbor.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

 Mark Rivera, a former lay pastor at the center of several sexual abuse allegations in a conservative Anglican denomination, pled guilty to one count of felony criminal sexual assault on Wednesday, April 12. He was sentenced to 6 years in the department of corrections.

Last month, Rivera was sentenced to 15 years in prison in a separate felony child sexual abuse case. Today’s guilty plea is in connection to rape allegations made against him by his former neighbor, Joanna Rudenborg, who told Kane County police in December 2020 that Rivera had raped her in 2018 and in 2020.

“I’m just really relieved that this chapter in my life is over. This case has been in the system for almost two and a half years,” Rudenborg told RNS via email. “Him pleading guilty to one count is just a function of how plea deals work, and it’s unfortunate, but not unexpected.“

Rivera already received a 12-year sentence for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and three years for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, both in connection to crimes he committed against a child in his church community. Rivera will get credit for time already served in jail and spent under electronic monitoring and will be eligible for parole after serving about 14 of the 21 years.  

Rudenborg told RNS that waiting for resolution in this case has weighed on her for years, especially as she watched Cherin Marie and her daughter, who came forward with sexual abuse allegations against Rivera in 2019 at the age of nine, go through the “hell” of a lengthy and intense judicial process. Cherin Marie, who asked to go by her first and middle name to protect her family’s privacy, belonged to the same close-knit community in Big Rock, Illinois, where Rudenborg lived for years. 

“I’m forever indebted to Cherin and her daughter for going through an excruciating three-and-a-half year court battle against Mark. I have to assume that if their testimonies hadn’t resulted in a conviction he wouldn’t have taken a plea deal in my case,” Rudenborg said.

Rivera was a lay minister at Christ Our Light Anglican, a now-defunct Anglican Church of North America church plant in Big Rock, Illinois, from 2013 to 2019. He was also a volunteer leader at Church of the Resurrection — the headquarters of the Upper Midwest Diocese — in Wheaton, Illinois, from the mid-1990s until 2013. He was initially arrested in 2019 and charged in connection with his crimes against Cherin Marie’s daughter, who attended the church plant with her family. Rivera has since been accused of abusing more than 10 other alleged survivors.

“Mark Rivera’s time in prison will never give back to his victims all that they suffered from his abuse. However, it will mean that he will not be able to continue to harm those outside,” anti-abuse advocacy group ACNAtoo said in a statement. “The guaranteed protection of others is a measure of justice for which his victims have bravely sacrificed years of their lives and immense amounts of time and energy. Today they celebrate a victory.”

The Anglican Church in North America formed in 2009 after splitting from the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada over the two denominations’ acceptance of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage. Leadership in the denomination’s Upper Midwest Diocese, where the Christ Our Light Anglican Church plant was located, has faced accusations of mishandling sexual abuse allegations since the summer of 2021. 

Spokespeople for the denomination and diocese did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication, but Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Upper Midwest Diocese released a statement in response to Rivera’s initial sentencing. 

“I am thankful that a measure of earthly justice has finally been carried out and brings closure to a lengthy court proceeding. Please continue to pray with me for the Lord’s healing work in the lives of all who have been hurt, especially the child and her family,” it said.

Rudenborg left Christianity after high school and was not part of the church plant in Big Rock. She was, however, the godchild of the church’s priest, the Rev. Rand York, and lived in Big Rock for a number of years, where she knew Rivera as a neighbor.

In November 2020, Rudenborg reported to leaders at the church plant that Rivera had raped her once in February 2018, and then again in March 2020 while he was out on bond after being arrested in connection with Cherin’s daughter’s allegations. Rudenborg filed a criminal complaint against Rivera with Kane County a month later. 

She told RNS that, if she got the chance today, she would ask the Christ Our Light Anglican community to genuinely apologize and seek forgiveness. “I love you, you’ve been deceived by Mark, and you still owe a monumental apology to Cherin’s family and every other victim you brushed aside in favor of believing and supporting a sexual predator. There is forgiveness available for enablers, as I know from being one myself. But you have to own what you did and fully comprehend the harm it caused. There’s no way out but to face the shame and walk through it.” 

 

American administrator of Burlington Elementary School in NC arrested for sex crimes against a minor

Daniel McInnis was involved in misconduct with a student on school property

By Edward Era Barbacena 

On December 8, Burlington Police launched an investigation after being alerted to potential misconduct with a student on school property.

As a result of this, administrator Daniel McInnis from Eastlawn Elementary School has been charged with felony statutory sex offense.

McInnis, 43, was taken to the Alamance County Detention Center on Friday, and given a $500,000 bond.

Alamance-Burlington School System was told that an employee was the focus of an investigation and did fully cooperate with police.

Burlington Police are actively seeking out anyone with any further details into this case

McInnis, 43, was arrested and transported to the Alamance County Detention Center on Friday, December 29. He has received a $500,000 bond.

The Alamance-Burlington School System was made aware that the administrator was under investigation and cooperated fully during the Burlington Police Department’s investigation.

The department has not received additional reports of misconduct and continues the investigation.

ABSS released this statement:

We are troubled by the recent allegations and arrest of an administrator at Eastlawn Elementary, Dan McInnis, for alleged misconduct. Protecting students is our utmost priority.

We deeply regret these circumstances and the impact they may have on our students. Our counselors and support staff stand ready to assist any students impacted. While we must let the legal process unfold, any such allegations represent a breach of trust with our ABSS community.

We have been cooperating fully with law enforcement since they first contacted us and launched their investigation. McInnis was placed on administrative leave upon learning there was a report made with the BPD.

We also want to emphasize that the alleged actions of one individual should not reflect poorly on the many dedicated staff and administrators who work tirelessly to educate, nurture and support our students each day. ABSS remains committed to upholding the highest standards of care, integrity and professionalism. As we process this news, we remain focused on fostering a safe, caring, and supportive learning environment for all.

If any student or family has concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our support team stands ready to assist any member of our school community during this challenging situation.

 

A man who was sexually abused by a paedophile homosexual Catholic priest when he was still 5-years-old in the 80s  gets £500,000 settlement 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

BBC: A man who said he was abused by a priest at a County Down school will receive £500,000 in damages.

The High Court hearing centred on alleged sexual and physical abuse over a five-year period in the 1980s, when the man was a pupil.

According to court papers, the plaintiff was sexually assaulted in a series of locations.

These included the vestry, priests' corridor and lounge, the nuns' chapel and the president's business office.

A statement of claim said he was targeted and groomed by the priest, who has since died, for the purposes of an abusive sexual, physical and emotional relationship.

The man, who is not being named, sued the diocese and the school's board of governors.

'A welcome vindication'

Claire McKeegan, of Phoenix Law, said the settlement is "a welcome vindication" for the man, who was "repeatedly sexually abused".

Ms McKeegan added that "there was no escape from [the priest's] campaign of terror".

"For three decades he acted under the protective cloak of the church.

"The pain and suffering is lifelong for children who have been violated in this grotesque manner by those in positions of trust."

Constant fear

The priest also allegedly choked the man, punched and slapped him on multiple occasions and told him not to tell anyone.

Lawyers for the man said he believed the priest surreptitiously put vodka in his fizzy drink before molesting him.

The court was told he lived in constant fear during his time as a student at the school, became suicidal and even considered burning down the priests' chapel.

It was alleged that the assaults became less frequent when the priest moved on to abuse another boy.

Since leaving the school, the plaintiff has spent several years unable to work due to his psychological injuries and trauma.

The priest was accused of a long campaign of child sexual abuse but was never prosecuted or questioned by police about claims made against him.

 

Deranged American trans-paedophile attempted child molestation in Indiana 

Aaron Clark thought he was meeting a 13-year-old girl from the 'Her' lesbian, queer dating app

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A 27-year-old white trans pedophile drove 70 miles across state lines to meet who she thought was a 13-year-old girl. Instead, a camera crew with "Predator Catchers" was there to meet her with the police.

Aaron Blaze Clark, who uses the name "Alice," was arrested on Nov. 4 at a Walmart in Winchester, Ind. Clark drove from Liberty Township, Ohio to meet who he thought was a child from the "His" lesbian, queer dating app. Clark was charged with child solicitation and attempted child molesting, both felonies. 

In the "Predator Catchers" sting video published on YouTube, Clark admits to being a pedophile.

"You said you were okay with having sex with a three-year-old," said one of the men from the "Predator Catchers" group, referencing alleged text exchanges.

"Yes, and it sounds so wrong, but there's grey areas to it," Clark responded. When questioned about her pornography habits, Clark says he is into "lolicon," a genre named after the Vladimir Nabokov novel character "Lolita," where prepubescent girls are placed in sexual contexts.

Later on, Clark tried to defend herself and said he didn't have intentions to abuse "Katie," the alias of the fake child decoy. "I really wasn't going to go through with anything unless she was okay with it... like, anything sexual."

According to court documents, Clark exchanged explicit, sexual messages with the decoy. He has pleaded not guilty and bonded out of Randolph County jail in Indiana on Nov. 16. He retained a private defense attorney and has a court hearing scheduled on March 7, 2024, with a speedy trial set on the calendar for April 8.

 

Ethiopia is facing the plague of famine 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

BBC: Ethiopia's war-scarred Tigray region is "on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe" comparable to the famine in 1984-85 that prompted the global fundraising music event Live Aid, a regional leader has said.

A starkly worded statement said "starvation and death" were hovering over the northern region.

The federal authorities have denied there is a famine.

Until November last year, Tigray and the central government were at war.

Hundreds of thousands are thought to have died as a result of the 24-month conflict between the federal army, its allies and Tigrayan forces.

The conflict also disrupted agricultural life, forced hundreds of thousands from their homes and destroyed vital infrastructure, leaving Tigray very vulnerable.

Following that, drought in some areas plus a locust infestation exacerbated the situation, said the president of Tigray's interim administration, Getachew Reda.

It has now left 91% of the region's population exposed "to the risk of starvation", according to his statement.

Mr Getachew's administration was set up after a peace deal was agreed last year.

Local officials had previously said hundreds of people had died of hunger in recent months. A recent UN report described an "escalating food security crisis" in Tigray.

In November, the US and the UN announced they would resumed food aid to Ethiopia, months after suspending it over allegations of theft.

The interim administration called on Ethiopia's federal government and the international community to intervene to save lives.

But Ethiopia's Federal Disaster Risk Management Commission has denied reports of famine in Ethiopia, adding the government is galvanising efforts to provide support those affected by drought.

 

American woman of Colorado wanted for the murder of her two youngest and attempted murder of the eldest.

Colorado Springs police now searching for Kimberlee Singler who murdered her own two children 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

We all have heard and encountered news about parents and legal guardians in the United States became responsible for the gruesome death of young children. Still, the usual culprits are white people and one just caught up before the year ends.

An initial burglary call earlier this month in southern Colorado led investigators to discover the bodies of two dead children. Their 35-year-old mother is the suspect for their killings, but she is now on the run. 

An arrest warrant was been issued for a white mother Kimberlee Singler, of Colorado Springs, in the deaths of her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, the Colorado Springs Police Department confirmed on Thursday. She remains a fugitive in these two murder investigations, as well as for the alleged attempted murder of her oldest child, an 11-year-old girl. 

Singler originally called police to her home in the 5300 block of Palomino Ranch Point on Dec. 19, where police found her and her 11-year-old daughter with injuries. That's according to the CSPD, which stated that first responders then discovered the bodies of her two youngest children in the home, located in northeast Colorado Springs. Singer and the 11-year-old were both treated on scene, and there was no update for the status of the 11-year-old.

Investigators eventually determined the claims of a burglary to be unfounded, and an arrest warrant was issued for Singler on Dec. 26; however, Singler had not been found by CSPD as of Thursday, and she was last seen on Dec. 23. 

Singler faces charges for the following: 

>2 counts - 18-3-102(1)(a), Murder in the First Degree, Class One Felony (F1)

>2 counts - 18-3-102(1)(f), Murder in the First Degree, Class One Felony (F1)

>1 count - 18-2-101, Criminal Attempt - Murder in the First Degree (18-3-102(1)(a)),Class Two Felony (F2)

>1 count - 18-2-101, Criminal Attempt - Murder in the First Degree (18-3-102(1)(f)),Class Two Felony (F2)

>2 counts - 18-6-401(7)(a)(i), Child Abuse, Class Two Felony (F2)

>1 count - 18-6-401(7)(a)(iii), Child Abuse, Class Three Felony (F3)

>1 count - 18-3-202, Assault in the First Degree, Class Three Felony (F3)

Bond was already set by the court at $10 million, but the details of Singler's arrest warrant remained sealed by the court at the time of the press release. 

There was no information provided in the release regarding another parent or legal guardian of the children. 

 

American State Trooper of Alaska sentenced for high-profile child sex abuse 

Vance Peronto, 63, was sentenced on one count of attempted child sexual abuse in the 2018 case

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A former Alaska State Trooper has been sentenced to eight years in prison with four years suspended, after being caught by his own colleagues in a high-profile child sexual abuse sting.

Vance Peronto, 63, was sentenced on one count of attempted child sexual abuse in the 2018 case, according to a Thursday statement from the Alaska Department of Law. The prison term was handed down by Superior Court Judge Andrew Peterson.

Charging documents say Peronto — then a Soldotna-based trooper with 16 years on the force — met his intended victim during an April 2018 traffic stop for driving with her headlights off. Although he knew she was underage, Peronto exchanged text messages with the 16-year-old girl in which he offered to be her “personal trooper.”

Peronto eventually tried to end the escalating online relationship due to the risk it posed to his career, as the girl’s father learned of the messages and contacted troopers. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation took over the case, leading to his arrest.

“Eventually, an ABI investigator, posing as the victim, used a social media account to arrange for Peronto to meet ‘her’ at a hotel,” prosecutors said Thursday. “On the designated day, Peronto arrived at the hotel and was immediately arrested. A search of Peronto during his arrest revealed recently purchased Victoria’s Secret underwear.”

The charges against Peronto said he arrived at the hotel in his patrol vehicle.

Troopers ended Peronto’s employment after his arrest. They also conducted a wider investigation of his contacts with the public, after a lawsuit accused him of sexual harassment over disturbing text messages he allegedly sent to a state prosecutor’s personal cellphone.

A jury took nearly three days to convict Peronto on the attempted-abuse count in March. It didn’t reach a verdict on additional charges of possessing child pornography, based on explicit images Peronto allegedly requested from the teen.

At his sentencing Wednesday, the Department of Law said Peronto’s defense presented him as a “least serious” offender, arguing for probation to two years of prison time. But Peterson imposed the full sentence sought by prosecutors, the department said, emphasizing the “twin sentencing goals of general deterrence and the reaffirmation of societal norms.”

“Judge Peterson pointed out that general deterrence should be especially effective in this case as it is likely every trooper in the state will learn of Peronto’s sentence,” prosecutors said. “And he emphasized that the particular sentence was necessary at least in part because the Alaska community must be able to trust that members of law enforcement will not, themselves, violate the law.”

Under the terms of Peterson’s sentence, Peronto will spend seven years on probation after his release. Upon leaving probation, he must then register as a sex offender for the following 15 years.

 

Canadian pastor of Ontario megachurch faces 2 more sexual assault charges, police say

Bruxy Cavey was previously charged with sexual assault in June 2022

By Edward Era Barbacena 

The former pastor of one of Canada’s largest megachurches is facing two new charges of sexual assault, according to Hamilton police.

Bruxy Cavey, the longtime pastor at The Meeting House, is awaiting trial for sexual assault charges laid last year after a former congregant came forward alleging she was abused.

The new charges, filed Dec. 22 and sworn in on Dec. 28, are related to a second complainant and are part of a separate investigation, according to court documents and Hamilton police. The new charges are related to two alleged assaults of the same person, one in 1997 and another in 2007. 

"It is unfortunate that a new and unrelated allegation has surfaced on the eve of Mr. Cavey's trial," said Cavey's lawyer, Megan Savard.

"Mr. Cavey maintains his innocence and will vigorously defend against the new charges in court. In the meantime, he remains focused on and committed to clearing his name at his upcoming trial."

Cavey was the unconventional and popular pastor of the Meeting House for 25 years before allegations of sexual misconduct were brought to the church’s attention in December 2021.

Hamilton police laid sex assault charges six months later. In an interview with the Star, the congregant, whose identity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban, accused Cavey of abusing his position of power to pressure her into having a secret sexual relationship.

Cavey described the relationship as “an extramarital affair” when he resigned from the church in early 2022.

In a blog post, Cavey said he could not comment publicly on the allegations brought forward by the congregant, but said: “At the core of these allegations there is truth.” In the post, titled “My confession,” Cavey refers to his actions as “my greatest failure, my darkest sin” and said he takes full responsibility.

“I was also irresponsible in my role as a spiritual leader and Christian clergy, which involves dynamics of power and influence and an expectation of exemplary conduct that makes me doubly accountable. I accept this responsibility, with deep regret for my actions.”

In August 2022, the Oakville megachurch said they “substantiated” additional allegations against Cavey, including one case involving a minor.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, there is no consent if sexual interactions are induced by someone abusing a position of trust or authority. The criminal charges against Cavey have not been proven in court.

 

American paedophile and Baptist pastor pleads guilty to sexual battery of minor

Dakota Austin Kennemer faces sexual battery charges after police say he fondled a girl in 2021 when she was 16 years old.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A white American paedophile and former Twin Falls youth pastor pleaded guilty to sexual battery of a minor Tuesday in a case in which he was indicted by a grand jury.

“I solicited a 17-year-old minor to commit a sexual act,” Dakota Austin Kennemer, 31, told Judge Roger B. Harris.

As part of a plea deal, Kennemer agreed to plead guilty to one count of sexual battery while another count of sexual battery was dropped. Prosecutors will recommend a sentence of six years fixed and six years indeterminate, with Kennemer and his attorney retaining the right to argue for retained jurisdiction.

Kennemer worked at Grace Baptist Church in Twin Falls and the church’s pastor told police that after reports of an improper relationship came to light, he and three church deacons met with Kennemer in December 2022 and he was fired that month, court records say.

A previous case against Kennemer was dismissed in August because it involved the same victim and was superceded by the grand jury indictment, court records say.

In that case, the victim, now an adult, told investigators that she and Kennemer began texting each other, and he started to ask for inappropriate pictures, and inappropriately touched her.

Investigators examined Kennemer’s phone and found a dozen photos of the girl, court records say. While investigators deemed the photos inappropriate, none showed explicit nudity.

Kennemer’s sentencing is set for March.

 

Famous American hypochondriac released from prison 8 years after fooling her autistic boyfriend to kill her abusive and manipulative mother for her

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the Missouri woman who persuaded an online boyfriend to kill her mother after she had forced her to pretend for years that she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses, was released Thursday from prison on parole.

Blanchard was released early in the day from the Chillicothe Correctional Center, said Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections. Blanchard was granted parole after serving 85% of her original sentence, Pojmann said.

Blanchard's case sparked national tabloid interest after reports emerged that her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, who was slain in 2015, had essentially kept her daughter prisoner, forcing her to use a wheelchair and feeding tube.

It turned out that Gypsy Blanchard, now 32, was perfectly healthy, not developmentally delayed as her friends had always believed. Her mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the exaggerated or made-up illnesses of their children, said her trial attorney, Michael Stanfield.

"People were constantly telling Dee Dee what a wonderful mother she was, and Dee Dee was getting all of this attention," he said.

Through the ruse, the mother and daughter met country star Miranda Lambert and received charitable donations, a trip to Disney World and even a home near Springfield from Habitat for Humanity.

Stanfield said Gypsy Blanchard's mother was able to dupe doctors by telling them her daughter's medical records had been lost in Hurricane Katrina. If they asked too many questions, she just found a new physician, shaving the girl's head to back up her story. Among the unnecessary procedures Gypsy Blanchard underwent was the removal of her salivary glands. Her mother convinced doctors it was necessary by using topical anesthetic to cause drooling.

Gypsy Blanchard, who had little schooling or contact with anyone but her mother, also was misled, especially when she was younger, Stanfield said.

"The doctors seem to confirm everything that you're being told. The outside world is telling you that your mother is a wonderful, loving, caring person. What other idea can you have?" Stanfield said.

But then the abuse became more physical, Stanfield said. Gypsy testified that her mother beat her and chained her to a bed. Slowly, Gypsy also was beginning to understand that she wasn't as sick as her mom said.

"I wanted to be free of her hold on me," Gypsy testified at the 2018 trial of her former boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn of Big Bend, Wisconsin, who is serving a life sentence in the killing. She went on to add: "I talked him into it."

When she took the stand at his trial, prosecutors already had cut her a deal because of the abuse she had endured. In exchange for pleading guilty in 2016 to second-degree murder, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The first-degree murder charge she initially faced would have meant a life term.

"Nick was so in love with her and so obsessed with her that he would do anything," Godejohn's trial attorney Dewayne Perry argued in court, saying his client has autism and was manipulated.

Prosecutors, however, argued that he was motivated by sex and a desire to be with Gypsy Blanchard, whom he met on a Christian dating website.

According to the probable cause statement, Gypsy Blanchard supplied the knife and hid in a bathroom while Godejohn repeatedly stabbed her mother. The two ultimately made their way by bus to Wisconsin, where they were arrested.

"Things are not always as they appear," said Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott as the strange revelations began to emerge.

Even Gypsy's age was a lie. Her mother had said she was younger to make it easier to perpetuate the fraud, and got away with it because Gypsy was so small: just 4 feet, 11 inches (150 centimeters) tall.

Law enforcement was initially so confused that the original court documents listed three different ages for her, with the youngest being 19. She was 23.

Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson described it as "one of the most extraordinary and unusual cases we have seen."

Stanfield recalled that the first time he met Gypsy, she got out of breath walking the 75 yards (69 meters) from the elevator to the room where he talked to her. He described her as malnourished and physically frail.

"I can honestly say I've rarely had a client who looks exceedingly better after doing a fairly long prison sentence," Stanfield said. "Prison is generally not a place where you become happy and healthy. And I say that because, to me, that's kind of the evidence to the rest of the world as to just how bad what Gypsy was going through really was."

Gypsy Blanchard later said it wasn't until her arrest that she realized how healthy she was. But it took time. Eventually, she got married while behind bars to Ryan Scott Anderson, now 37, of Saint Charles, Louisiana.

The bizarre case was the subject of the 2017 HBO documentary "Mommy Dead and Dearest," the 2019 Hulu miniseries "The Act" and an upcoming Lifetime docuseries "The Prison Confession of Gypsy Rose Blanchard." Daytime television psychologist "Dr. Phil" McGraw interviewed her from prison. The novel "Darling Rose Gold" draws upon the story for its premise and Blanchard's own account, "Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom" is set for publication next month.

Amid the media storm, corrections department spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said no in-person coverage of her release on Thursday would be allowed "in the interest of protecting safety, security and privacy."

 

Before the deadly Prague mass shooting, gunman kills a man and his baby 

David Kozak Left Letter Confessing to a Father and Child's Murder

By Edward Era Barbacena 

The student shooter who gunned down more than a dozen people at a Prague university on Dec. 21 wrote a letter in which he confessed to killing a 2-month-old baby and her father just days before the rampage, Czech police have revealed.

David Kozak, who died by suicide in the aftermath of the mass shooting, left the letter at his home in the village of Hostouň, police spokesman Jan Daněk told the Czech daily newspaper Deník N.

“I can confirm that we secured a letter in Hostoun where the perpetrator wrote that he committed the attack” on the 32-year-old father and his infant daughter, Daněk said. “The contents of the document cannot be made public at this time due to the ongoing investigation into the entire incident.”

Authorities had earlier identified Kozak, 24, as a suspect in the double murders, with police chief Martin Vondrasek saying they are investigating his involvement in the killings “very seriously” after the mass shooting.

The remains of the two victims, who appeared to have been targeted at random, were discovered in the Klánovický les National Forest on Dec. 15, less than a week before Kazak killed 14 people and injured 25 at Charles University in central Prague.

 

American Paedophile Pastor of Tennessee charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography Materials 

Grand jury says Richard Sentell found with more than 100 child sex abuse images

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Cleveland Police say they got a lead from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of child sexual abuse material online.

Their detectives got a search warrant for Richard Sentell’s home.

They say their forensic analysis of his personal laptop found a “large amount of images depicting the sexual abuse of children.”

Sentell was indicted by the Bradley County Grand Jury for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor over 100 Images.

Richard Lee Sentell was arrested on Tuesday for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor with greater than a hundred images.

Sentell is the pastor at Cornerstone Church of God.

Bradley County officers arrested him on Capias Warrant which is generally issued to ensure a suspect will appear before a judge.

We are working today to get more details on the charges.

 

Another incident of mass shooting in the United States leaves five people shot at a gospel concert in Manchester 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Five people, including a woman, were shot during an attack at a Gospel Concert in Christiana in Manchester on Tuesday night.

Head of the Manchester Police, Superintendent Shane McCalla, told Observer Online that the incident, which happened shortly before 11:00 pm, was an “unprovoked and senseless act”.

“It is a yearly event that is always peaceful with a fun day. The information that we have so far is that two men on a bike rode up minutes to 11:00 pm and opened fire indiscriminately at persons standing outside the venue,” said McCalla.

The annual gospel concert, conceptualised by Lennox “Peter” Powell, was held in memory of his passing in June.

McCalla said a motive has not yet been established for the shooting.

The five people were rushed to hospital where they have been admitted in stable condition.

“There is a strong possibility that there will be a ban on events from now leading to New Year's Eve. This will be done on a case-by-case assessment. Intelligence will have to be assessed, reassessed and we will do a review of the decision within the first week of January,” said McCalla.

 

American couple of South Carolina arrested for the murder of an entire family 

Rosmore "Ross" Vilardi and Amy Vilardi charged with four counts of murder in Anderson County, South Carolina. 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

PURE WHITE EVIL

FOX: A husband-and-wife, both white allegedly slaughtered four family members on Halloween 2015 and made pointed, emotional comments directed at the supposed "killer" just days after the quadruple murder.

The bodies of Cathy Taylor Scott, 60, Violet Taylor, 82, Mike Scott, 58, and Mike's mother, Barbara Scott, 80, were found dead in their Pendleton, South Carolina, home.

"Whoever did this, I don’t see how you can live with yourself," Amy Vilardi told local news outlet WYFF-TV a couple of days after the murders and thanked the community for their support.

Eight years later, Vilardi and her husband, Rosmore "Ross" Vilardi, were arrested and charged with the gory crime that "rocked the Anderson County community to its core," the Anderson County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post on Dec. 15, 2023.

Cathy Scott was Amy Vilardi’s mother, and Violet Taylor was her grandmother. Mike Scott was the husband of Cathy Scott and son of Barbara Scott.

Amy called 911 on Nov. 2, 2015, after allegedly finding her family dead, each with at least one gunshot wound, but investigators said the victims were likely dead for several hours, "maybe several days," per USA Today.

The couple has maintained their innocence for years, but Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride said during a Dec. 15 press conference after their arrests that they've been on police radar.

McBride declined to answer questions about what evidence finally allegedly connected Amy and Rosmore to the crime.

"Some things have to be preserved for our day in court," he said. "Anything I say, as far as details, the other side can use against us.

But the sheriff, who took over the case less than two years after the murders, acknowledged that the arrests are a step in the right direction toward closure.

"I think we knew this day would come," McBride said during the press conference. "We were praying this day would come. … We've had some really good prayers answered."

Law enforcement didn't discuss a potential motive for the grisly crime. 

But the Vilardis sued the sheriff’s office in May 2016 after the murders, "seeking the return of vehicles and electronics and nearly $90,000 in cash that were taken from the two homes by investigators," according to USA Today, which cited court documents.

That property had "no evidentiary value" and was worth "well in excess of $100,000," according to the lawsuit. Amy Viladi asked the court to recognize her "ownership interest" in that property and "grant the immediate claim and delivery" of the property.

 

American paedophile pastor of Ketchikan Church in Alaska sentenced to 20 years for raping of a minor.

Dwight “Chris” John was arrested on June 6 by Alaska State Troopers on multiple sex abuse-related charges.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

On Dec. 21, a former Ketchikan church leader was handed a 20 year prison sentence for sexual abuse of a minor.

Earlier this year, Dwight “Chris” John was charged with 14 counts of first, second, and third-degree sexual abuse of a minor, and three related felony charges. 

John pleaded guilty to consolidated charges. On Thursday, Ketchikan Superior Court Judge Katherine Lybrand did the sentencing. She stated that the final sentence of 20 years in prison and 30 years suspended will protect the community. If John, who is 72, is ever released from custody, Lybrand said, he will be a very elderly man subject to strict probation.

Judge Lybrand also recognized that the impacts to the victim and community were profound and the ruling appropriately accounts for that impact.

The victim’s father took the stand at sentencing. He told the court that they have only just begun to fully realize the pain, sorrow, and damage John caused. 

The victim, who is now a teenager, originally reported the abuse to their father. They said John had been abusing them since the age of nine. The father then  reported it to Alaska State Troopers

The victim’s father went on to explain that the faith leader’s crimes “tore apart their family and caused them to leave the state to start fresh elsewhere.” 

According to John’s original charging documents, the former congregation leader of Clover Pass Community Church told the child’s father during a phone call monitored by law enforcement that he almost decided not to take the leadership position because of the abuse. But he said he decided to because he felt God had forgiven him. 

 

American man of Florida charged with attempted murder after road rage incident 

Jacob William Poppleton, was arrested late after he and the victim were engaged in a reckless road rage incident.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

FOX: A Pinellas County man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after authorities said he shot into someone's car at them in an alleged road rage incident over the weekend.

According to an affidavit, Jacob William Poppleton, 24, of Largo, was arrested late Saturday night after he and the victim were engaged in a reckless road rage incident.

Poppleton allegedly slowed down to drive behind the victim and then accelerated to match the victim's driving speed. He then shot out of his passenger side window at the driver through their driver's side window.

According to the report, if not for the b pillar on the car, separating the driver's side window and left rear passenger window, the bullet would have struck the victim's head as he was driving. 

Law enforcement stopped Poppleton and found a 9mm handgun underneath a backpack on his passenger seat. The handgun had a 15-round magazine, but officials only found 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine with one round in the chamber.

Officers then found multiple used 9mm casings on the floorboard of the car, indicating the handgun was discharged inside the vehicle. 

Poppleton was arrested and charged with attempted felony murder. His bond has been set at $150,000. 

 

American woman of Florida arrested after killing a woman and injuring a man in Christmas Day Walgreens shooting over custody dispute

Amanda Marie Janzen faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder following a shooting on Christmas Day

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Amanda Marie Janzen, 38, was arrested in Alachua yesterday following a 13-mile high-speed chase after allegedly killing a woman and injuring a man at a Gainesville Walgreens over a custody dispute.

According to the arrest report from Gainesville Police Department (GPD), Janzen and the male victim have been together since September 2021 and have an 11-month-old child. However, after the baby was born, Janzen came to believe that her baby’s father and another woman, the female victim, had been involved in an extramarital affair for years. Janzen reportedly told the female victim’s husband that she was having an affair, and several weeks later, her baby’s father filed paperwork in Putnam County for custody of the baby.

On December 20, a court ordered Janzen and the baby’s father to share custody 50/50, and the parents agreed that Janzen would turn over the baby at Walgreens at 3909 NW 13th Street at 2 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Janzen reportedly drove from her home in Alachua to the Walgreens store with her five children in her car. On the way, she reportedly pulled into a nearby store and gave her oldest son her debit card, food stamp card, and instructions on how to pay his cell phone bill. Her son reportedly told officers that she had never done this before.

Janzen reportedly arrived at the Walgreens store first and took a gun from her bag while still sitting in her car.

The victims arrived in the female victim’s car, with the woman driving and the man in the front passenger seat. The man got out of the car, then Janzen reportedly got out of her car with the gun in her hand but hidden behind her back and walked toward the driver’s side of the female victim’s car. Janzen allegedly shot at the female victim three times, then went around the back of the car toward the passenger side, where the male victim reportedly jumped into the car before Janzen allegedly shot him three times. Janzen reportedly said, “You made this happen!” while shooting the male victim. The incident was reportedly captured on surveillance video at the store.

The female victim died; the male victim’s condition has not been made public.

Janzen reportedly returned to her car and drove northbound on NW 13th Street at high speed. A GPD officer nearby reportedly heard the gunshots and saw the car leaving Walgreens. GPD officers, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Alachua Police Department officers reportedly pursued Janzen for 13 miles with her five children in the car at speeds of up to 100 mph.

During the pursuit, Janzen reportedly called 911 and said she had just shot two people, giving their first and last names, and said the police were following her. Her children could reportedly be heard pleading with her to pull over during the call.

Janzen was arrested near the Taco Bell in Alachua, where officers reportedly found a discarded firearm. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced two additional loaded magazines.

Post Miranda, Janzen reportedly said the police already knew what happened because they had reviewed surveillance video.

Janzen has no recent criminal history but was convicted of passing worthless checks in 2004 and convicted of assault and resisting arrest in 2005. Bail information will be added later today.

 

American paedophile Baptist pastor facing 30 felony charges including indecent liberties with a child, aggravated sexual assault

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A former pastor of an independent Baptist church in the town of Warsaw in Richmond County is facing 30 felony charges relating to multiple incidents the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office alleges occurred at the church between 1981 and 1997.

Albert Benjamin Wharton, 86, of South Carolina, was arrested in South Carolina at 8:42 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 by investigators from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and South Carolina’s Pickens County Sheriff’s Department.

On the same day, Wharton was extradited to the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Richmond County.

Sheriff Steve Smith of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said Wharton’s arrest was the culmination of a 15-month investigation into more than two dozen alleged incidents that occurred while he was a preacher at Berachah Academy between 1981 and 1997. The academy has since closed.

Wharton was charged with 22 felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child under the age of 13 while in a custodial position and eight felony counts of aggravated sexual assault.

“Wharton has lived and served seven churches in Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama and Florida over the past four decades,” Sheriff Smith said.

 

American paedophile pastor of Oregon arrested for multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse of minors 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

In a shocking event that has rocked the Oregon community, a pastor, whose identity has been withheld due to ongoing legal proceedings, has been arrested and charged with the rape and sexual abuse of multiple juveniles. The allegations, that span over an unspecified period, have left the community in disbelief as it grapples with the serious accusations leveled against a once trusted and influential figure.

Unveiling the Alleged Crimes

The pastor, now under arrest, is alleged to have committed these atrocious acts over a period. The law enforcement officials are currently conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the full extent of the alleged crimes. The gravity of the charges, coupled with the possibility of additional victims, has prompted authorities to urge anyone with information about the case or potential victims to come forward.

Community Reeling From the Shock

The news of the arrest has sent shockwaves through the community, with many struggling to reconcile the heinous allegations with the pastor’s erstwhile reputation as a trusted spiritual guide. The incident underscores the importance of vigilance and thorough investigations into such serious allegations, regardless of the perpetrator’s social standing.

Implications and Ongoing Investigations

As the investigation unfolds, the community waits with bated breath to learn the full extent of the pastor’s alleged actions. The case serves as a stark reminder of the need for constant vigilance, regardless of the social standing of the accused, and the importance of supporting survivors and encouraging them to come forward.

 

American James Riley Grant and Australian Gideon Hayes 

Philippine Bureau of Immigration denies entry of two paedophile white men due to history of sex crimes

Australian Gideon Hayes and American James Riley Grant were denied entry to the Philippines for being convicted of sexual exploitation of children 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) barred two white from the United States and Australia from entering the Philippines for being convicted in cases related to sexual exploitation.

American James Riley Grant and Australian Gideon Hayes were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on December 22 and 20, respectively, according to the country's BI.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they were stopped at the airport because, under the Philippine Immigration Act, foreigners charged and convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude should not be allowed to enter the country.

The BI said Grant is a registered sex offender in Jacksonville, Florida. He was convicted of sex crimes 25 years ago.

“A Florida court reportedly convicted Grant on two counts of attempted Rape in the first and second degree as well as on two counts of taking indecent liberties with children, also in the first and second degree,” it said in a statement.

Hayes, meanwhile, was convicted in Australia in 2004 for two counts of indecent treatment of children. He received a two-year probation sentence, the BI said.

It likewise noted that Hayes admitted to sending money to Filipino children whom he met online or during his previous trips to the Philippines.

“He was said to be traveling to the county to meet with minors offering sexual services,” the BI said.

Tansingco said Grant and Hayes are included in the BI’s blacklist.

In the same release, Tansingco lamented the upsurge in the arrival of foreign sex offenders