A swim coach pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a 13-year-old swimmer this week.

Rick Curl, 63, from Washington, D.C. was one of the nation’s best-known swim coaches. He had trained Olympic athletes, along with thousands of other young hopefuls. Rick Curl pleaded guilty this week to sexually abusing Kelley Currin in the 1980s.

Rick Curl pleaded guilty to one count of child sex abuse, facing a maximum of 15 years in prison at his sentencing on May 23. According to ABC News, he will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Kelley Currin, now 43, traveled from Texas to attend Thursday morning’s hearing in Rockville.  Currin walked to the front row of the courtroom and immediately after sitting down, stared to her left to face her former swim coach. The former coach Rick Curl’s wife and three attorneys flanked him across the aisle from Currin.

Rick Curl answered a series of questions from judge Marielsa Bernard about his accusations of sexual abuse. He said he had been considering pleading guilty since December.

According to the Washington Post, Assistant State’s Attorney Debbie Feinstein made a statement concerning Kelley Currin:

“I’ve told her over and over again that she’s a hero. A true hero. … This is not a happy day for her. This is a difficult day.”

When Kelley Currin had turned 15, she began having sex with Rick Curl, and continued until 1987, when she left the area to swim at the University of Texas. She and her parents had agreed to a $150,000 confidentiality deal not to discuss the sexual abuse.

Since the allegations, Rick Curl’s namesake organization, the Curl-Burke Swim Club, has been ordered into a name change to Nation’s Capital Swim Club.

How do you feel about Rick Curl pleading guilty to sexual abuse?

Former swim coach of Olympics athletes pleads guilty to child-sexual-abuse case from the 1980s fb.me/110zp1xZx

— Kosnoff Fasy PLLC (@SexAbuseAttys) February 22, 2013

Swim Coach Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse is a post from: The Inquisitr

A British couple is being charged for allegedly pimping out their 11-year-old daughter. They were reportedly charging a 76-year-old man $15 per session to rape their daughter.

The girl, who is now 15, is said to have been pimped out by her parents over a five-year period. The girl’s parents and abuser were arrested on the Spanish island of Majorca, a vacation spot.

Authorities claim that the girl’s mother took her daughter to meet the man on each occasion, for which the mother charged between £12 and £16 — about $15 to $20.

The child was reportedly ordered to leave her home and join the elderly man, who would lock her in a room and subject her to sexual assaults. The Spanish newspaper Ultima Hora claims the victim was raped on these occasions.

The girl’s parents are suspected of corrupting a minor, sexual assault, and inciting their daughter to escape from home care. They were arrested and released on bail while an investigation continues.

The 76-year-old patron was also arrested and released on bail. He is suspected of child sexual assault. He allegedly suffers health problems related to his age.

Authorities in Palma Nova, Majorca, are looking after the couple’s children.

Sexual assault brings great harm to children, but cases in which parents are aware of — or even participants in — the abuse are even more unthinkable.

One woman shared her story of childhood sexual assault with The Daily Mail, admitting that her father and stepmother were present when she was assaulted by her father’s friends. She shares what happened when she tried to tell her mother about the abuse:

“I told her that a man Dad knew had touched my vagina when I was younger. She told me not to tell lies about Dad’s friends, and then told Dad. He got very angry, so I never told anyone again. The abuse by Dad’s friend … got worse. I was never raped, but I was seriously sexually assaulted, and he kept saying, ‘One day you’ll be mine.’ I was so traumatized, I wet the bed until I was 18.”

What do you think should happen to the parents who sold their daughter for sex?

11-Year-Old’s Parents Sell Her For Sex, Charge $15 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amarillo, TX — Stanley Marsh 3 is known for his eccentricities, such as putting up strange street signs and burying 10 Cadillacs nose-down on his property. He uses the number 3 in his name because he says that Roman numerals are “too pretentious,” and has the only windmill in Texas that wears a tie.

The oil fortune heir now finds himself in the midst of scandal, and is bringing his wife and several others down with him. Reports say that the 74-year-old millionaire is being accused of being a “serial abuser” of boys. In a series of law suits, eight teens have accused Marsh of bribing them with cars, money, and alcohol in exchange for sexual favors at his home and office. The boys allege that they were 15, 16, and 17 at the time of the abuse. Marsh suffered a series of strokes last year, and is now under the guardianship of his wife. The boys allege that she knew about the abuse, and even facilitated it.

This isn’t the first time that Marsh is being charged with acting inappropriately with teens. In the 1990s he was accused of locking an 18-year-old boy in a chicken coop for stealing one of his signs. He was also accused of molesting a 16-year-old.

Marsh’s former lawyer notes that Marsh is “brilliant, highly educated, very intelligent,” adding that “because he’s unusual, some people get the wrong idea about him.”

The lawsuit alleges that those close to Marsh, including wife Wendy and business associate David L. Weir, knew of the abuse and at times facilitated it. Weir reportedly required the teenagers to sign a document that waived any liability for Marsh while they were his employees or guests, reports claim.

The Marshes’ adopted son, Stanley Marsh IV were also named in this suits, and well as the company that manages the Chase Tower, and the company that handles the building’s security.

The teens are bringing forth charges of sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. They are additionally suing Marsh for unspecified monetary damages. The other defendants are being sued for negligence, among other allegations.

Amarillo Police are investigation the abuse claims.

Eccentric Texas Millionare Called ‘Serial Abuser’ Of Young Boys is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tyler Perry is primarily known for his film career, so it may surprise you to learn that he is actually a victim of sexual abuse himself, something he discussed in an emotional foreword to a new self-help book.

The book, Joining Forces: Empowering Male Survivors to Thrive by Dr. Howard Fradkin, deals with a touchy subject: sexual abuse among men. The tome aims to help men deal with the aftermath of sexual assault after being victimized. Perry wrote an emotional foreword to the book in which he admits that he was sexually abused as a child.

The actor and director did not receive payment for his work. Instead, he accepted the task of writing the foreword in an effort to encourage men and boys, themselves the victims of sexual abuse, to speak out about their experience and attempt to move on and heal.

In a post on his Facebook page, Perry wrote:

“There (are) a lot of boys who have been abused and hurt. … Most men never saying a word about it, just suffering in silence. … I know that this is difficult to talk about or even acknowledge, especially for men. That’s why I am so happy that Dr. Howard Fradkin has written a book called Joining Forces to help men who are adult survivors learn to cope, deal and most of all stop suffering in silence. … I know the pain and the darkness and the shame that we as men can carry when these evil acts have been put upon us. But I also … know the peace and comfort that comes along with healing from the horror. Healing can start by reading this book.”

We at IQ applaud him for his honesty and effort to help those who suffered sexual abuse. Are you a fan of Tyler Perry? Are you surprised to learn that he was a victim of sexual abuse?

Tyler Perry Writes Heartfelt And Emotional Foreword To Sexual Abuse Book is a post from: The Inquisitr

Thompson told Reuters in a phone interview in New York that his handling of the issue should not keep him beginning his new job with the Times.

Although the New York Times had given Thompson their full support, many are still skeptical about his fitness for his new position. Also British lawmakers still have questions for the new chief, the Associated Press reports.

The scandal surrounding Thomas involves the BBC’s decision during Thompson’s’ last days-to halt what would have been a massive story investigating allegations of the late Jimmy Savile, one of the broadcaster’s biggest stars, who is thought to have sexually abused nearly 200 children.

Thompson wrote a letter to lawmakers saying he had never known Savile’s story and had in fact never met the star.

The New York Times spokesman Bob Christie, said the scandal had obviously been discussed:

“Obviously been a topic that we’ve discussed [internally]…Mark has done an excellent job of explaining the matter, we’re satisfied with that.”

Savile’s scandal has alarmed Britain. The children’s television presenter is alleged to have coerced teens into having sex with him in multiple locations, including dressing rooms in the studio. Also, he is accused of sexually assaulting disabled children while in hospitals to raise money for charity.

Many BBC executives are being scrutinized to find out exactly how much they knew about Savile. Since 2004 until last month, Thompson had served as BBC’s director-general.

Thomas told the New York Times, the evidence which was presented by the”Newsnight” program to BBC executives was not sufficient enough and did not meet journalistic standards:

“I had no reason to believe that his conduct was a pressing concern. Had I known about the nature of the allegations and the credible allegations that these horrific crimes had taken place during his time at the BBC and in the building at the BBC, I of course would have considered them very grave and would have acted very differently.”

Although the New York Times does not want to mire itself in scandal, a new chief is necessary to replace Janet Robinson who resigned last December.

New York Times Stands By Incoming Chief Regardless Of BBC Scandal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Robbie Middleton was tied to a tree, doused with gas, and then burned alive on his eighth birthday. The child survived, but suffered from cancer caused by burns which covered 99 percent of his little body. Before dying 13 years after the horrific attack, Middleton named his attacker during a death bed video. Don Collins, 27, has been charged with felony murder for allegedly igniting the inferno which resulted in the third-degree burns and ultimately the young man’s death.

Doctors did not expect Robbie to survive the savage attack which resulted in the need for 200 operations and countless hours of physical therapy. Those close to the shocking medical case note the staggering amount of courage Middleton possessed throughout the ordeal, according to the Daily Mail. The burn victim died just days before turning 21 but not before he finally voiced the name of his alleged attacker.

During the 17-minute video, Robbie named the man he believed tied him to a tree and set him on fire during the 1998 Splendora, Texas incident. The young man also stated he had been raped by the then 13-year-old neighbor. Middleton believed that the attempted murder by fire act was meant to ensure his silence about the sexual abuse.

Montgomery County attorney, David Walker, had this to say about the felony murder case during an interview with the Houston Chronicle:

“It was done to prevent Middleton from talking. It provides the bridge that we needed for the delay, rather than saying we didn’t have sufficient staffing or something else.”

Collins, a convicted sex offender, may be charged as an adult even though he was still a juvenile when the crime as committed. When Collins was 16, he was arrested for sexually assaulting another 8-year-old boy.

Boy Tied To Tree And Burned Alive On His Eighth Birthday Names His Attacker During Death Bed Video is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nationally recognized Teacher of the Year, Raemon Matthews, was found guilty of taking risqué photos of a student and then sexually abusing the girl. The award-winning Samuel Gompers High School teacher was banned from his Bronx classroom after the sexual wrongdoing claims surfaced.

Former US Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, praised Matthews, 57, when he toured the Bronx high school in 2002. As a result of the visit, Raemon went on a trip to Washington DC to illustrate his interdisciplinary lessons and use of multimedia techniques in the classroom. He has also been cited in numerous books on effective teaching. He was named Teacher of the Year not once, but twice.

The NYC Department of Education found that the Bronx history teacher intimidated a female student and engaged in sexual activities with the young women including fondling her genitals and breasts, according to the Daily Mail. The renowned educator reportedly coerced the 17-year-old student into posing for racy pictures by telling her it would attract employers and college recruiters.

Raemon Matthews plead guilty to sexual abuse charges and was sentenced to one year of probation. He worked in the Samuel Gompers High School district for more than a decade. The married teacher enticed the student to participate in the private photography sessions by telling her she needed extra academic help and was in danger of failing, the New York Daily News reports.

The female student reportedly tried to get Matthews to stop the sex abuse and explicit photography sessions after a year. The Teacher of the Year allegedly stated, “No bo-boo, we’re just getting started,” according to victim statements.

The victim had this to say about the sexual misconduct by the Samuel Gompers High School teacher:

“It was hard for me, it was like a big trauma. I didn’t want anybody to know because I was embarrassed.”

The Bronx high school is located in an impoverished neighborhood which serves a predominantly minority student population. Matthews often offered students extra tutoring sessions and stayed late in his classroom after the school day ended. The investigation into the Raemon Matthews’ sex abuse claims began after a janitor found a CD containing photos of the student in various stages of undress.

Teacher Raemon Matthews from Daniel P. Tucker on Vimeo.

Raemon Matthews: ‘Teacher Of The Year’ Guilty Of Sexually Abusing A Student is a post from: The Inquisitr

Octomom, Nadya Suleman, decided to break her silence about the child abuse allegations levied against her after the story garnered massive media attention online. Suleman did not hold back when she answered statements uttered by her nannies, claiming she had turned a blind eye to physical and sexual abuse going on inside her home.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, former nannies maintain the octuplets were strapped to their beds with cheese cloth and at least one older sibling was caught touching a younger child inappropriately.

During an interview with Radar Online, Nadya had this to say about the child abuse claims:

“None of the allegations are true. This is a woman who became obsessed with the children and contacted me to help her write a book. Her and the other women claiming to be a nanny also are good friends with each other and are trying to make money.”

The Octomom’s representative claims that even though she moved away from the La Habra house, the woman making claims about sexual abuse will not leave her alone. During an interview with TMZ, Suleman said she had a bad feeling about the childcare workers, and called the claims bogus.

Nadya also had this to say when talking to TMZ:

“All of this is blatant lies. The woman wanted to do her best to keep my eight for herself. The [nannies] are hating because they can’t have what I have. I have nothing to hide.”

In reference to allegations about moving a chair to block the bedroom door, the Octomom said the children are the ones who moved the chair, noting they like to do that as a joke. Suleman maintains that she has not been contacted by police investigators and that when she spoke with Child Protective Services staffers, the officials could tell the octuplets were well taken care of in her home.

Octomom Fires Back At Nannies Who Claim The Octuplets Are Abused is a post from: The Inquisitr

Octomom, Nadya Suleman, is under investigation for allegedly allowing her older children to sexually and physically abuse the octuplets. Suleman’s former nannies claim that the toddlers have had bruises and black eyes, yet their mother has done nothing to stop the alleged child abuse.

The nannies initially did not voice their sexual abuse claims due to a non-disclosure agreement in their work contract. As the alleged violent actions supposedly escalated, the nannies placed notes in neighbor’s mail boxes begging them to ask Child Protective Services to investigate the goings-on inside Octomom’s La Habra home, Radar Online reports.

One of the nannies had this to say during an interview with CBS2 News:

“I feel like those children are in danger. I think something is going to happen to those children if nothing is done.”

Physical and sexual abuse claims uttered by the nannies include one of the older boys inappropriately touching his younger female sibling. The child allegedly led his sister to another room and touched her in a sexual manner. The nanny maintains that she told Nadya Suleman about the incident, but the mother reportedly did not take any action.

The unnamed nannies also told CBS2 News that the octuplets were strapped to their beds with cheese cloth and Suleman secured the door closed with a chair, so she would not be interrupted while napping. The Octomom has denied the child, sexual, and physical abuse claims, which so far, have only informally been levied against her.

La Habra police officers questioned at least one of the nannies during the course of their child abuse allegations investigation. A completed report is slated to be sent to the Orange County District Attorney’s office in the next few days.

Octomom Under Investigation For Allegedly Allowing The Sexual Abuse Of Her Younger Children is a post from: The Inquisitr

In an interview with TODAY’s Kathie Lee Gifford, Justin Bieber’s mother, Pattie Mallette, opened up about some difficult circumstances and decisions that she had to make when she was teenage girl.

According to TODAY, Mallette suffered sexual abuse prior to becoming pregnant with Justin Bieber. This is a subject that she discusses in her new book, “Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom.”

“I’ve learned it’s normal and natural for anybody who’s been through sexual abuse to carry that shame and that blame and feel like there’s something wrong with you. So I definitely carried that,” Mallette told Gifford.

Mallette then told Gifford that the shame of the sexual abuse was so much that she even tried to kill herself.

The suicide attempt was a “a culmination of, you know, built up over the years with the abuse and the pain and at the time I was messed up with all the drugs and alcohol. I was in a depression and the drugs and alcohol kind of spurred that on some more.”

Mallette became pregnant with Justin at the age of 17 and was greatly encouraged to abort the baby at the time. However, aborting the unborn child was an option that she could not consider.

“I just knew I couldn’t. I just knew I couldn’t. I just know I had to keep him,” she told Gifford. “And, do the best. I — you know, I didn’t know how I was going to do it. But I just knew that I couldn’t — I couldn’t abort. I had to do my best. I had to see what I could do. And I was determined to do whatever it took.”

Mallette then proceeded to tell Gifford on how she felt when she first heard Justin cry:

“I know this sounds crazy, but he sounded like he was singing. He did,” she said. “It was like this, like, ‘A hah, a hah.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it is so precious and amazing. I just want to squeeze him.”

The full length interview with Gifford will air on Sept. 18 and 19 on TODAY.

Pattie Mallette: Why She Chose Not To Abort Justin Bieber At 17 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rev. Benedict Groeschel, a prominent Catholic priest and television personality, recently made controversial statements suggesting some priests who committed sexual abuse may not have been 100 percent responsible for their crimes, but now the Arch Diocese of New York, as well as the publication in which the remarks appeared and Groeschel’s priestly order have swiftly condemned the offensive comments, and Groeschel himself has apologized.

Joseph Zwilling, Communications Director for the Archdiocese of New York, released the following statement:

“The comments made by Father Benedict Groeschel that appeared on the website of the National Catholic Register are simply wrong. Although he is not a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, what Father Groeschel said cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. The sexual abuse of a minor is a crime, and whoever commits that crime deserves to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” read the statement on the Archdiocesan website. “The harm that was done by these remarks was compounded by the assertion that the victim of abuse is responsible for the abuse, or somehow caused the abuse to occur. This is not only terribly wrong, it is also extremely painful for victims. To all those who are hurting because of sexual abuse or because of these comments, please know that you have our profound sympathy and our prayers. The Archdiocese of New York completely disassociates itself from these comments. They do not reflect our beliefs or our practice.”

ABC News reports that Jeanette R. De Melo, editor of the National Catholic Register website that initially posted Groeschel’s interview, also posted a statement.

“Child sexual abuse is never excusable,” she wrote. “The editors of the National Catholic Register apologize for publishing without clarification or challenge Father Benedict Groeschel’s comments that seem to suggest that the child is somehow responsible for abuse. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

The backlash caused a response from both Rev. Groeschel and his order, the Community of the Franciscan Friars of Renewal. The National Catholic Register reported their statements.

“The Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal sincerely apologizes for the comments made by Fr. Benedict Groeschel,” the order’s statement read. “In that interview, Fr. Benedict made comments that were inappropriate and untrue.”

Finally, in his own words, Groeschel apologized.

“I apologize for my comments,” Groeschel said. “I did not intend to blame the victim. A priest (or anyone else) who abuses a minor is always wrong and is always responsible. My mind and my way of expressing myself are not as clear as they used to be. I have spent my life trying to help others the best that I could. I deeply regret any harm I have caused to anyone.”

Priest Who Suggested Victims Were Seducers Denounced, Apologizes is a post from: The Inquisitr

Memphis, TN – Lakeshia Richmond faces aggravated assault charges for hitting her sons’ youth football coach with a baseball bat. The Memphis mom apologized for not controlling herself when she confronted the coach she believes molested her children, according to the New York Daily News. Richmond told WREG that one of her sons told her on Saturday that his football coach, Tony Masssey, touched him and other boys inappropriately.

Lakeshia Richmond saw Tony Massey walking later the same afternoon and took a baseball bat from the trunk of her car and hit the football coach. Richmond told WMC-TV that, when she looked at Massey’s face, all she could see were her sons being hurt. When Memphis area police officers found the youth football coach, he was bleeding from both the face and head and was shirtless.

Tony Massey remains in a local hospital in serious condition. Police officers have not yet arrested Massey but are investigating the sexual abuse allegations.

“I did what I had to do, I put it in God’s hands,” Lakeshia Richmond stated about the football coach bat attack, according to The Blaze.

Richmond also stated during media interviews that she did call the police and report her son’s claims that his football coach was sexually molesting him and other young boys. The Memphis mom also noted she was hoping police officers would come across Tony Massey before she did. Lakeshia Richmond also maintains that Massey kept telling her he did not sexually molest her son but was also allegedly saying he was sorry at the same time.

The local district attorney noted that, while it is understandable how Lakeshia Richmond felt about football coach Tony Massey allegedly sexually molesting young boys, nothing good comes from taking the law into your own hands, according to The Blaze.

Memphis Mom Attacked Coach With Bat After Child Sex Abuse Allegations Surface is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kayla Harrison earned the first Olympic judo gold medal in United States history. The judo gold medalist trained both physically and mentally, working to enhance both her fighting abilities and to overcome the years of  sexual abuse she endured as a child by her former coach.

Kayla Harrison defeated British judo fighter Gemma Gibbons to bring home the gold for America, the Daily Mail reports. Unable to control her emotions, Kayla Harrison wept with pride and joy as the first note of the National Anthem was played in her honor.

Judo champ Kayal Harrison, 22, publicly revealed her inner struggle with childhood sexual assault after witnessing Joe Paterno supporters on television. In 2007, the aspiring judo athlete from Middletown, Ohio helped prosecutors put her former coach behind bars.

Kayla Harrison’s childhood judo coach, Daniel Doyle, plead guilty to sexual abuse and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The judo gold medalist’s mother had taken her to a local sports center so she could learn how to protect herself when she was just eight.

“I was almost disheartened by my country, to hear that kids at Penn State we protesting for Paterno but not for the victims. What kind of world do I live in? Are students really doing that? When that happened, when the victim was that far away from people’s minds, I was in shock,” Kayla Harrison stated during an interview with Fox Sports.

Kayla Harrison ran away from home when she was 16 to a town in the Boston area to chase her dream of becoming an Olympic judo wrestler. Harrison studied the sport she loves under the United State’s only four-time judo Olympian, Jimmy Pedro, USA Today notes.

Today Kayla Harrison showcased both her extreme physical abilities and her mental strength to overcome the tragic years of sexual abuse as a child. The judo gold medalist is now a happily married woman and recently joined the fire department so she could help others in her Boston area community.

Kayla Harrison Captures First Judo Gold Medal In U.S. History is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sarah Jones used to be known as the captain of the Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleading squad. Lately,  however, she’s been in the news for allegedly sexually abusing one of her students.

Jones recently spoke out against her critics today saying that the public has unfairly judged her.

Jones said:

“I read on a blog that I was the female [Jerry] Sandusky. To read those things and not be able to comment, not be able to stick up for myself is not fair…People don’t know the real me. There’s blogs and postings out there that I have slept with numerous people. I married my high school sweetheart… I just asked the general public to maybe hold their judgment a little bit longer until the truth comes out.”

ABC reports that the Cheerleader, who was also a teacher at Dixie Heights High School, was accused last November of having sex with a 17-year-old students. Her mother, Cheryl Jones, a middle school principal in the same district, is being accused of tampering with evidence.

Jones resigned from her position but insists that she and her mother are both innocent.

Jones said:

“The hardest thing has been having not only me go through it, but to have my mom go through it with me… It’s almost kind of guilty feeling that she is even involved in this because what has happened to her is not fair. My goal is for her charges to be dismissed.”

Sarah Jones may have had a sexual relationship with a student at her school, but calling her the “female Sandusky” seems like a little bit of a stretch.

What do you think about cheerleader Sarah Jones?

Cheerleader Sarah Jones: I’m Not The Female Sandusky is a post from: The Inquisitr

Philadelphia McCaskey High School teacher Christy Lee Smith was convicted on 18 counts of having sex with two male students. The jury needed only two hours to convict Christy Lee Smith on all but four counts of the sexual abuse related charges, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Smith engaged in a sexual relationship with the students from 2008 to 2010.

Both of Christy Lee Smith’s victims testified in her trial at the Lancaster County Court. Both young men gave similar accounts of their sexual relationship with the teacher, according to prosecutor statements to the media after the verdict was read. The students the teacher was convicted of having sex with are now 19 and 20. One of the victims met Christy Smith, 34, at the high school where she taught, the other at a local dance class. Both of Smith’s students gave “specific details” about her and her apartment which prosecutors and apparently the jury as well, believed could not be fabricated.

One male student was a sophomore at McCasky High School when the teacher initiated a sexual relationship with him. The other student as a senior (still a minor) at nearby Solanco High School when the sexual encounters with teacher Christy Smith began. The McCasky High School victim testified in court wearing handcuffs and guarded by two county deputy sheriffs; the teen is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges.

The Lancaster Gazette reports Christy Smith showed “no emotion” when Judge Dennis Reinaker announced the guilty verdicts. Smith’s sentencing will reportedly take place in approximately three months. Christy Smith’s attorney Merrill Spahn declined to comment on the guilty verdict in the sex with students case. If Smith is handed the maximum sentence possible for a teacher having sex with minors, she could be in prison for the rest of her life.

Philadelphia Teacher Convicted For Having Sex With Two Students is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Campbell Lodge Boys’ Home in Kentucky was closed after reports of physical abuse of the at-risk youth surfaced – repeatedly. Alexandria police officer Mark Branham who also served as a Campbell County School resource officer, became a voice for the boys who had no one left to speak for them, The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Branham claims the students at Campbell Lodge Boys’ Home were being beaten, choked and bruised by staff. Branham admits to crying on his way home from the Kentucky boys’ home for two weeks as he prayed for guidance on how to help the boys after his reports were dismissed as unsubstantiated.

Officer Branham maintains that some of the children at the Campbell Lodges Boys’ Home confided in him that the had been violently punished by staffers. One boy told Branham he and other children at the lodge were used as punching bags while a Campbell Lodge Boys’ Home employee used them as punching bags. Another child from the boys’ home told officer Branham that a male staffer forcibly attempted to make him kiss another male student.

“It weighed on my mind. All this bad stuff was happening to them, but because they were labeled bad kids, no one was listening. Some of these kids have nobody. They needed a voice, so I became their voice,” Branham told The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Discouraged but not defeated by the alleged lack of investigation by Campbell County authorities, Branham made plans to speak with the Kentucky State Police about the incidents he considered abusive at the Campbell Lodge Boys’ Home. Before the state police were informed, inspectors visiting the lodge on a separate complaint from several female workers at the home for at-risk youth ordered the lodge closed, according to Northern Kentucky News.

The report Branham filed notes that a child claims a Campbell Lodge Boys’ Home staffer “grabbed him around the neck” in a head lock and “dragged him through a hallway.” The boy told Branham he had written grievances to the Kentucky boys’ home administrator about the incidents but staff ripped the papers up in front of him and then poured coffee on them.

“My reporting of the incident just made it 10 times worse on the kid. I know it did. In my heart, I know it did,” Branham, who is also a father, told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The at-risk boys’ home director Barry Jones, who told Campbell County police officers that boys were not choked at the Kentucky facility, has been fired. Jones had previously told the officers he would send the allegations the staff hurting students at the Campbell Lodge Boys’ Home to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but no such report was ever filed. All the children were removed from the home and sent to other care facilities, one at least 216 mile away in Bowling Green.

Campbell Lodge Boys’ Home In Kentucky Closed After Abuse Claims Surfaced is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jose Baez, lawyer for acquitted murder suspect Casey Anthony, has written a tell all book about his time with Casey and the case that he won.  In it he makes some startling revelations.  One of them was that Casey Anthony suspected that her dad was the father of her dead daughter Caylee.  Baez argued in court that Casey’s father sexually abused her.

Baez said that he wondered in the father had actually killed Caylee to hide evidence of the abuse.

Baez’s book, “Presumed Guilty, Casey Anthony: The Inside Story.”, is the most in depth picture of the case form the only person this close to it other than Casey herself.

Baez first made the allegation that George Anthony  had abused Casey during his opening statement of the trial where Case was charged with murder.

Baez had said,

“It all began when Casey was eight years old and her father came into her room and began to touch her inappropriately and it escalated … She could be 14 years old….and go to school and play with the other kids as if nothing [had] happened,”

George Anthony  vehemently denied the accusations against him.  DNA testing ruled out Casey’s father and brother as being Caylee’s father.

Baez’s theory as to what had happened to Caylee was that her death was accidental and that Casey may have stupidly concealed the body and lying about it.  He said Casey was afraid of being accused of something wrong.

Baez said in open court.

“Caylee Anthony died on June 16, 2008, when she drowned in her family’s swimming pool,”

Casey Anthony Thought Her Father Was Caylee’s Father is a post from: The Inquisitr

Black women who experienced abuse during their childhood and teenage years are more likely to suffer from obesity as adults, says a new study published in the August 2012 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or having a waist that is significantly larger than the hips. Being obese puts an individual at an increased risk for myriad health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Although childhood abuse has been linked to an increased risk for obesity in previous studies, few studies have been conducted regarding the impact of severity of abuse during childhood on the risk for obesity during adulthood.

In the present study on obesity and childhood abuse, researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine focused on the association between physical and sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence with risk of adult obesity among black women in the United States.

A total of 33,298 black women participated in the study. All of the participants were enrolled in the Black Women’s Health Study, which is an ongoing prospective cohort study that began in 1995. In 2005 for the present study, the women completed a self-administered questionnaire about early life experiences of abuse.

Nearly 58 percent of the women reported at least 1 instance of abuse during their childhood or teenage years. The abuse ranged from mild physical abuse (18 percent) to moderate physical and/or sexual abuse (27 percent) to severe physical or sexual abuse (11 percent) to severe physical and sexual abuse (2 percent). Women who reported suffering from severe abuse were more likely to suffer from depression and to smoke.

Furthermore, severe abuse was positively associated with body weight. Women who were abused as children and teenagers were more likely to suffer from obesity as adults. Additionally, the risk for obesity increases with the severity of the abuse during childhood. In other words, the more severe the abuse was, the more likely a woman is to be obese.

Even after controlling for compounding factors including reproductive history, diet, physical activity, depressive symptoms, and socioeconomic status, the researchers discovered a positive association between childhood abuse and obesity.

As the researchers commented:

“Our findings are consistent with previous research that has investigated the association between early life abuse and obesity risk in adulthood and are the first such findings in a large group of US black women.”

The results of this study are important for the treatment of obesity among women who experienced physical and/or sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence. Treatment will need to include addressing the past trauma as opposed to just treating the current obesity.

As the researchers conclude:

“Our findings suggest that efforts to prevent child abuse have implications for current and future health. Moreover, for survivors of abuse, behavioral patterns associated with cardiovascular risk may emerge in childhood and require tailored interventions that address trauma history in addition to modification of health behaviors.”

Although the researchers speculate that lifestyle is a large factor causing the link between obesity and childhood abuse, further research needs to be conducted to investigate alternative mechanisms through which early life exposures influence adult obesity.

Are you surprised by the results of this study linking childhood abuse and obesity?

Obesity Linked To Childhood Abuse Among Black Women, Says Study is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Texas jury has decided not to indict the man who killed the man he found in the process of raping his small daughter in Lavaca County.

The traumatic incident occurred in Shiner, Texas on June 9th, when ranch hand Jesus Mora Flores, 47, walked off with an unnamed child during a family barbeque, ostensibly to feed chickens. But a member of the family Flores worked for witnessed the worker forcibly moving the child, alerting her 23-year-old father to the possibility of an assault in progress.

By all accounts, the family member’s instincts were correct. When the young man, whose identity is also being withheld to protect his daughter, he says he found Flores in the process of molesting his daughter. Intending to stop the assault, the young man began striking Flores about the head and neck.

Despite the fact that Flores’ pants were still down from the rape, the distraught father then called emergency services to try to save the worker’s life, and 911 tapes reveal that the man was urging 911 dispatchers to respond quickly so Flores wouldn’t “die on [him.]”

On the tapes, the man who attacked his daughter’s rapist explains:

“I need an ambulance. This guy was raping my daughter and I beat him up. And I don’t know … I don’t know what to do… The guy’s dying on me!”

Lavaca County District Attorney Heather McMinn explained the DA’s decision in the case:

“Under the law in the State of Texas, deadly force is justified in order to stop and aggravated sexual assault or a sexual assault. All of the evidence that was presented showed that, that was in fact what was occurring when the victim’s father arrived at the scene.”

A lawyer for the young father explains that her client is a “peaceable man” who now must live with the incident day to day.

Texas Jury Does Not Indict Man Who Killed Young Daughter’s Molester is a post from: The Inquisitr

A jury in Oakland, California, has decided that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are partially responsible for the alleged sexual abuse of a young girl by one of its members, forcing the religious organization to pay her $20 million.

After being awarded $7 million in compensatory damages on Wednesday, the Alameda County Superior Court jury awarded Candace Conti, the 26-year-old plaintiff, an additional $21 million in punitive damages on Thursday to be paid by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York (legal entity of the Jehovah’s Witnesses) are responsible for paying all of the punitive damages, and 40% of the compensatory damages. Jonathan Kendrick, the man accused of sexually molesting the plaintiff, has to come up with the other 60%.

Conti sued the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Kendrick in 2011. “The ultimate goal of the lawsuit was to have a change in policy, to be able to ID these people, child molesters, to the congregation to protect children,” Conti told MSNBC. “Secondarily, to have silent ones come forward and tell their stories and to bring to light that overall issue of violence and the hush-hush policy.”

Jim McCabe, attorney for the Jehovah’s Witnesses was floored by the verdict and plans to appeal. “This is the first case I know of where a church has been hit with liability involving a rank-and-file member,” he said. “Mr. Simons has his twist on the facts and we will see how a court of appeals views the trial court rulings and the evidence.”

Kendrick is a registered sex offender and was convicted in 2004 of molesting another girl in Contra Costa County.

“Nothing can bring back my childhood,” said Conti. “But through this (verdict) and through, hopefully, a change in their policy, we can make something good come out of it.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses Found Guilty In Unprecedented Molestation Case, Must Pay $21 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr

A father in Texas may face charges in the death of a man he says was abusing his daughter.

The man, who has not been named, in order to keep his 4-year-old daughter’s name protected, told police that the family was at a social gathering on Saturday when the girl went inside the family’s home in Shiner, Texas.

The Huffington Post reports that Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon stated that the father caught a 47-year-old man, who is a family acquaintance, attempting to molest his daughter. He allegedly punched the man in the head until he died.

Harmon stated, according to CNN, when asked if the Sheriff’s department would press charges, that:

“You have a right to defend your daughter. He acted in defense of his third person. Once the investigation is completed we will submit it to the district attorney who then submits it to the grand jury, who will decide if they will indict him.”

The deceased man’s name has not been released, pending notification of his family, according to CNN. Harmon also noted that the girl’s father was “very remorseful” about the killing, not knowing that the injuries would lead to his death.

The Long Island Press notes Harmon reported the investigation, including toxicology reports, will take about six weeks to complete. Once they receive the results back, the police will submit their findings about the case to the district attorney, who will then submit it to the grand jury to see if the father will face charges in the killing.

Father Allegedly Kills Man Molesting His Daughter, Texas Police Report is a post from: The Inquisitr

More than a decade before Jerry Sandusky was arrested and charged with more than 50 counts of sexual abuse against children, a psychologist said that the former Penn State coach’s behavior fit the profile of a pedophile.

Sandusky was accused of molesting a boy in 1998. State College psychologist Alycia Chambers, who offered counseling to Sandusky’s alleged victims, wrote in her report:

“My consultants agree that the incidents meet all of our definitions, based on experience and education, of a likely pedophile’s pattern of building trust and gradual introduction of physical touch, within a context of a ‘loving,’ ‘special’ relationship.”

The case was eventually dropped and Sandusky was not charged at the time.

Four years later Sandusky found himself embroiled in another controversy when graduate assistant Mike McQueary saw him in the shower with a young boy. The incident was reported to Joe Paterno, who reported it to school officials, but no police investigation was ever conducted.

Chambers talked publicly for the first time about the 1998 report last night to NBC News. Chambers said:

“There was very little doubt in my mind (Sandusky) … was a male predator, someone that was in the process of grooming a young man for abuse. I thought…my report was strong enough to suggest that this was somebody who should be watched.”

Joe Amendola, Sandusky’s lawyer, said that a second psychologist said that Sandusky did not display the habits of a pedophile in 1998 and that he would call his own expert psychologists to the stand to disprove Chamber’s report. Amendola said:

“I understand that there are some people who could look at this behavior and say it’s a pedophile problem. But there are others who will say, ‘This is somebody who loves kids and loves to be around them’ … It’s the old story, you get your expert and I’ll get my expert.”

Sandusky has plead not guilty to all the charges against him.

Sandusky Labeled A ‘Likely Pedophile’ In 1998 Report is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Netherlands- The Telegraph is reporting that in the 1950′s, the Dutch Catholic Church, used castration on at least 10 young boys who were suffering from the “disease” of homosexuality.

Dutch journalist Joep Dohmen, reporting for the NRC Handelsblad found a shocking amount of evidence that at least 10 young boys were castrated for homosexuality.  One of the boys was a minor who was castrated for reporting sexual abuse by the clergy.

The evidence in record shows the minor was transported to the hospital and castrated for homosexuality, and even more upsetting, it was in the report that one of the crimes he was castrated for was tattling on the clergy.  The clergymen involved in abusing him were disciplined .

Three months ago a report was published in the Netherlands by the Deetman Commission.  The report explicitly detailed reports of sexual abuse in the catholic church.  The Commission acknowledged that they had reports of the castrations but specifically left them out of the report because they felt they had insufficient evidence to include them.

The castration reports show that the clergy decided that the parents of the boys who were to be castrated were to not be told of the decisions, even for the minors.  Government officials were present at these meetings.

The Deetman Commission, led by Wim Deetman, was founded by the Catholic church in 2010 following widespread reports of sexual abuse in the church.The report found that more than 10,000-20,000 children were abused by the church while they were in church institutions.

Do you think this scandal is going to hurt the Catholic Church any further than it already has?

Dutch Catholic Church Castrated Men To Cure Homosexuality is a post from: The Inquisitr

A third man has come forward to accuse Syracuse basketball assistant coach Bernie Fine of sexual abuse. The first two men were molested more than 10 years ago which meant prosecutors could not file charges against Fine however the third man, Zach Tomaselli, 23, says he was molested just 9 years ago.

According to Tomaselli the basketball coach was introduced to him by Tomaselli’s father and was then invited to watch a road game when he was just 13 years old. According to Tomaselli Bernie Fine molested him in a Pittsburgh hotel room where they traveled for the away game.

The Post-Standard also reveals in a twist that Tomaselli is currently being brought up on sexual assault charges himself after he acted inappropriately with a 14-year-old boy.

Fighting against this newest claim is Tomaselli’s own father who says his son concocted the Bernie Fine story while also pointing out that there is no eye-witnesses or evidence involving the alleged crime.

Writing on his Facebook page Tomaselli says he stepped forward because:

“I wanted to announce this to encourage all sex abuse victims to come forward as tough as it is because we can stop other kids from this abuse.”

In the meantime District attorney William Fitzpatrick has waged a war against Syracuse police and police chief Frank Fowler who he says botched an initial Bernie Fine investigation in 2002 and then worked to sabotage the current investigation into new molestation accusations against the Universities assistant coach.

Whether or not Tomaselli’s recent allegation will move forward is still not known.

We have reached out to Mr. Fine for his reaction but have not received a response at this time.

Third Man Accuses Syracuse’s Bernie Fine Of Sexual Abuse is a post from: The Inquisitr

In a television interview, Jerry Sandusky, former defensive coordinator for Pennsylvania State University’s football team denied that he is a pedophile. The interview may have agitated other victims as The New York Times revealed that 10 additional victims have come forward as well against him.

This will be an additional problem for Sandusky who was indicted earlier this month on 40 counts of sexually abusing eight young boys.

During the TV interview, Sandusky said:

“I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids, I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact. I shouldn’t have showered with those kids.”

Sandusky has been formally charged already in the sex abuse of eight children. The acts were reportedly to have taken place as early as 1994. The scandal led to the firing of legendary coach Joe Paterno and three university officials.

10 More Victims for Jerry Sandusky is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ashley Billasono spent six hours on Twitter sending messages about being molested by a family member and then forced into prostitution before taking her own life.

The 18-year-old sent out messages to her 500 Twitter followers in what has been largely seen as an attempt for her to reach out to anyone willing to listen and talk about her ordeal.

According to Fox News Houston none of the young girls followers sought help for her as she sent out 144 messages relating to her rape and forced prostitution.

Billasano spoke with authorities in 2010 about her sexual abuse at the hands of a family member however officials didn’t have enough evidence to press charges, that’s what led Ashley to tweet:

“That’s when I changed … I didn’t care anymore and the people I was meeting gave me no reason to.”

Before taking her own life she announced her suicide on the social network Tweeting:

“I’d love to hear what you have to say, but I won’t be around.”

Her last tweet read:

“I hope I get this right.”

Billasano killed herself with a suffocation technique she read about on the internet.

According to a police spokesman:

‘It’s obvious she needed somebody to talk to and that’s what I believe those tweets were.” The rep continued, “She was trying to communicate and trying to get people to talk to her.”

It’s still unclear if any further efforts can be taken to uncover the truth about her sexual abuse at the hands of her family member. What the issue does reveal is that suicide hotlines and other teen outreach programs need to push more into the 21st century and discover new ways to find and reach out to teens and other internet users in need who spend an increasing amount of time using social media as their main means of communication.

Teen Sends 144 Tweets About Sexual Abuse, Kills Herself is a post from: The Inquisitr