Former Bluffton cop gets 4 years prison for child sex charges

By Greg Sowinski -

IMA — A judge told a former Bluffton auxiliary police officer he was troubled by the fact a police officer, who is supposed to guard against crime, violated the law by committing a sex crime against a child.

 “He’s in a position he’s supposed to prevent offenses like this from happening or bring others who commit offenses like this to justice,” said Judge Jeffrey Reed of Allen County Common Pleas Court.

Reed’s words came Monday just before he sentenced 24-year-old Andrew Probst to four years in prison on eight counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

Probst declined to make a statement but his attorney, Bill Kluge, said Probst accepts responsibility. Kluge said it cost Probst his career as a police officer.

Probst was 23 years old when he began a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. That relationship occurred between Sept. 1, 2012, and Jan. 20, said Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Terri Kohlrieser.

The crimes were unrelated to Probst’s job with the Bluffton Police Department, which he worked for as an unpaid auxiliary officer. Probst was hired Nov. 14, 2011, and resigned Feb. 17.

The girl told a staff member at the school she attends and that staff member, who is required by law to report such crimes, reported the matter to Allen County Children Services, Kohlrieser said.

Former Augusta cop convicted of sex crime could face lifetime supervision if he violates probation

A former Augusta police officer convicted of a child sex crime will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision, a Butler County judge ruled Monday.

But the supervision is just a “potential sanction” that would be imposed only if Jerry D. Ballinger violates his probation and is forced to serve his underlying prison sentence of 34 months, Butler County Attorney Darrin Devinney said.

Ballinger, 45, is in the early stages of serving five years’ probation after he was sentenced April 7 on one count of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with child. A defense motion asking the court to find lifetime post-release supervision unconstitutional prompted a Butler County judge to delay ruling on the matter until Monday.

Kansas law requires certain sex offenders to be supervised in the community for the remainder of their lives after serving the incarceration portion of their sentences. A person subject to lifetime post-release supervision could face life in prison if he or she is convicted of a new crime.

Post-release supervision, however, can not be imposed unless an offender serves prison time, Devinney said.

“If he is successful on his probation plan over the next five years, the post-release will dry up and not be an issue,” Devinney said.

He added: “The statue is pretty clear. It says if you are convicted of this type of offense, it’s lifetime. And that’s what was imposed.”

Ballinger, a longtime employee of the Augusta Department of Public Safety, was arrested and charged in July with two counts of aggravated indecent liberties after he was accused of having sexual intercourse with a middle-school-age girl at least twice last year.

In addition to the probation, he ordered to 59 days of house arrest and sex offender treatment at his April 7 sentencing.

Arkansas police officer fired after arrest

GUY, Ark. (AP) — The Guy Police Department has fired a part-time police officer after he was arrested last week on suspicion of Internet stalking of a child.

Chief Dave Martini says the department terminated Josh George's employment. Martini says he will ask the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training to decertify George as a police officer.

Faulkner County authorities say George was arrested after he allegedly tried to meet two children for sex. Police say it was a sting arranged by investigators and no children were involved.

George was also fired from the Arkansas Community Correction Department, where he was undergoing training as a correctional officer.

Neighbors shocked after former Lynden cop arrested on child porn charges

Hana Kim

LYNDEN, Wash. — A former Lynden police officer who also had been an activist in a nonprofit group fighting human trafficking was arrested Friday on child porn charges.

The Washington State Patrol said he was allegedly trading cell phone images with a 16-year-old girl in Texas.

Donald Glunt, 57, a 34-year veteran with the Lynden Police Department who recently resigned, was taken into custody without incident, the Washington State Patrol said.

Glunt described himself on his LinkedIn page as being a co-training coordinator for the church-based nonprofit group Hope4Justice, which is aimed at combating sex trafficking.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the investigation originated after officials with the Lynden Police Department discovered images on Glunt’s city-owned cell phone while conducting an internal administrative investigation. On Wednesday, Lynden Police Chief Jack Foster asked the State Patrol to conduct a criminal investigation into the matter.

Detective with the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force reviewed digital evidence and interviewed Glunt, which led to his arrest Friday.

“The investigation revealed the suspect was trading images with a 16-year-old girl in Texas,” a State Patrol news release said. “Law enforcement authorities in Texas assisted detectives by interviewing the underage victim. Additional forensic review of various digital media devices seized as evidence is ongoing.”

Neighbors of Glunt said Friday night the charges were shocking.

“I can’t even put it into words. When you are my age, 60, with a 16-year-old girl, I mean, you know, it’s hard to get your head around that,” neighbor Matt Magrath said. “It’s a small community. Everybody knows him. It brings a lot of embarrassment and shame.”

Neighbor Dan Dunnigan said, “You got to know anything you do these days online or on a cell phone, they are going to figure it out.”

Dunnigan said the allegations are even more disturbing because the accused is a former police officer.

“Being a police officer, it’s breaking the trust of the public when you do child pornography thing,” Dunnigan said.

Glunt was booked into the Skagit County Jail on charges of dealing and possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and viewing of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additional charges are possible pending the forensic analysis of the digital media devices.

Former Longmont cop must register as sex offender

  

Jason Pohl

A former Longmont police officer who pleaded guilty last year to taking photos of a sleeping woman while he sexually assaulted her must register as a sex offender, serve six months of jail work release and may be on probation for the next eight years, a judge ordered Tuesday.

Christopher Martinchick, 43, was arrested in July after the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office began investigating allegations that an assault had occurred against a woman who Martinchick knew. The victim alleged he raped her after she took medications to help her sleep. The Coloradoan is withholding her identity due to the nature of the case.

Martinchick pleaded guilty in November to an amended felony count of sexual assault and misdemeanor invasion of privacy for sexual gratification, which was tied to graphic photos later discovered on his cellphone despite his efforts to erase them.

“I know I violated (the woman’s) trust,” Martinchick told 8th Judicial District Judge Julie Kunce Field moments before the sentence was imposed. “I am truly sorry that I did that.”

Defense attorneys maintained the disgraced officer already was going through classes required as part of the Sex Offender Intensive Supervised Probation program. They argued he has progressed immensely and could complete the classes within two years, arguing that he also must deal with the “stigma” resulting from the case every day — something they said had taken its toll on Martinchick.

The Larimer County District Attorney’s Office, however, stressed that Martinchick needed longer than a two-year probation sentence, citing what they deemed a moderate-to-high risk of re-offending. Prosecutors also maintained that he “utterly” betrayed the woman, his children and the community he served as a police officer. Martinchick was assigned to the Longmont Police Department’s traffic unit where he had attained the rank of a master police officer — a higher rank than a standard patrol officer but below a sergeant.

“I do realize that I have an issue that I need to address,” Martinchick said, adding later, “I let a lot of people down. I would like the opportunity to make amends.”

Martinchick posted his $25,000 bond just days after being arrested in July. He is now permitted to spend time with his children but must not have any contact with anyone younger than age 18 without clearance from the probation department, the judge ordered, reiterating that his actions were a “betrayal of trust” and “a conduct that is, to put it mildly, dishonorable.”

“I think you’ve got a ways to go,” Field added.

Longmont police previously issued a statement that said “there was no threat to the general public during this investigation nor was it related to Mr. Martinchick’s employment as a police officer.”

Since his September resignation from the force, Martinchick has taken up work as a delivery driver. He declined to address reporters outside the courtroom.

Retired officer’s rape trial begins

The jury trial of a retired Troy Police officer began Monday at the Pike County Courthouse.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigations and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office arrested Willie Toney Aug. 1, 2012. He was accused of multiple sex crimes against a victim younger than 12. Charges include first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sodomy.

Kelly Burns Hawkins of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case. She called the victim to the stand Monday morning.

The victim recalled two incidents where Toney had raped her. She said Toney threatened to kill her and her family if she reported the rape. She eventually did report it on Easter Sunday in a letter she wrote to a parent.

When asked what made her come forward, she said, “I wanted it to stop right then and there.”

The defense questioned the victim regarding a forensic interview she had done at the Child Advocacy Center about five months after reporting the crimes.

The victim recanted some of the accusations, most notably that Toney had sodomized her.

Toney served on the city’s police force for more than 18 years – part of that time as a school resource officer. His trial will continue today.

Sex abuse lands former cop in jail

A former Canton police officer was sentenced to 15 years in prison last week for gratification of lust involving a young girl.

Lester Calvin Williams, 66, of 11901 Highway 16 in Benton, is required to serve the full sentence without possibility of probation, parole, or early release.

According to law enforcement officials, Williams had molested the child of a woman visiting the state on June 16, 2013.

"The mother had discovered text messages between the defendant and Williams and confronted the child about the text," a release from Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest stated. "The child informed her mother that she had been inappropriately touched by Williams."

The Madison Police Department was contacted by the victim's mother and began an investigation. A forensic interview was conducted by the Child Advocacy Center and "disclosed the abuse."

In addition to the young victim, Madison police identified past victims 30 years ago.

"The victims disclosed that they had been abused by Williams as young children 30 years ago," Guest said.

From there, additional charges are being filed against Williams in Louisiana for sexual abuse.

"Williams is a true pedophile who has secretly been molesting children his entire life," Guest said. "To make Williams' crimes even more heinous was the fact that many years ago he was a police officer who had taken an oath to serve and protect the public."

Information on dates Williams served as a Canton police officer was unavailable.

"Williams is now going to prison for the next 15 years of his life," Guest said. "This sentence will assure that he no longer has the opportunity to prey on other children."

Questions about former Augusta police officer's sentence

Anne Meyer,

AUGUSTA, Kan. -

Questions in a Kansas town about a judge's ruling against a former police officer. Jerry Ballinger of Augusta was arrested last year and charged with having sex with a 14-year old girl.

He later pled guilty to a lesser charge. On Monday the Judge gave him to probation and 59 days of house arrest.

That caused many to ask questions on Facebook and other social media sites. Some said "Probation? Are you kidding me? Most people wondered why the Judge gave Ballinger a light sentence.

According to court documents, the former Augusta police officer was arrested last July. Ballinger was accused of having sex with a 14-year old girl on two separate occasions.

In February, Ballinger made a deal with the State and agreed to plead guilty to one count of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child. That is a level five person felony.

During his sentencing in Butler County court Monday, prosecutors asked the Judge to sentence him to 34 months in prison.

But Ballinger had no criminal history and according to a sex offender evaluation before sentencing, he had a very low likelihood of reoffending and was a good candidate for treatment.

Those factors allow a judge to give probation, instead of jail time. Which is what Judge David Ricke did. But also added some additional time.

Kansas sentencing guidelines show 36 months is typical for this situation, but Ricke increased the sentence to 60 months probation and added another 59 days of house arrest. A stiffer penalty under the guidelines.

Ballinger did not want to talk on camera, but said several times that what he did was wrong. He said he pled guilty to the charge instead of going to trial, so he could move on with his life and provide for his family.

Ballinger lost his job, and says his wife did too because of this. He repeatedly said he is not a predator, and just made bad choices at a difficult time of his life. He also wishes people would leave him be, especially on social media.

Ballinger will be back in court April 21st to find out if the Judge will give him lifetime post release. If that happens, Ballinger could go to jail at any time for the rest of his life if he commits another crime.

---

A former Augusta police officer was sentenced to probation Monday after pleading guilty to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Jerry Ballinger will serve 60 months probation with community corrections. He also has to enter a sex offender treatment program and register as a sex offender for life.

Other parts of Ballinger's sentence include paying for all of the victim's therapy, paying all attorney fees, having no contact with children under 16-years-old and submitting DNA to KBI.

---

An Augusta police officer has been arrested and stands accused of  indecent liberties.

Police confirm Jerry Ballinger was arrested after an internal police investigation earlier this week.

According to court documents, Ballinger engaged in intercourse with a 14-year-old female at least two times, once in April and once in June.

He was originally charged with two counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child.

Cop Arrested for Internet Stalking a Child

CONWAY, AR -- The Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) arrested Josh D. George, 30, earlier today for Internet stalking of a child in the Kroger parking lot on Salem Rd in Conway.

The investigation started this week when Mr. George and an undercover investigator acting as a mother of two children ages 9 and 12 started chatting online.

After a couple of days of chatting, Mr. George asked to meet up with the mother and her children for sexual purposes.

The undercover investigator met with Mr. George at the Kroger on Salem Rd where he was arrested.

Mr. George is currently employed with The Department of Community Corrections in Little Rock as a Correctional Officer and a part time Patrol Officer at Guy Police Department. 

He was also employed at the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in 2007 until he was later terminated May, 2013.

He was rehired in 2013 as a Detention Officer and quit one month later in October, 2013.

The Investigation is ongoing and Mr. George is being held with No Bond until his first appearance on Monday, March 14.

Former Kansas police officer sentenced for child sex crime

AUGUSTA, Kan. -- Friday, July 12, 2013

A former Augusta police officer has been sentenced in connection to a child sex crime.

Last July, Augusta Public Safety Officer Jerry Ballinger was arrested on two counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child. The alleged crimes happened in Butler county between April and July of 2013.

He was bound over for trial in August, but pleaded guilty in February to one count of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Monday morning, a judge sentenced Ballinger to 60 months of probation with Community Corrections. Before probation begins, he will serve 59 days under house arrest.

He must also register for life as a sex offender and enroll in a sex offender treatment program. If Ballinger violates probation, he will go to prison for 34 months.

He had been an officer in Augusta since 1997.

Rocky Point Lacrosse Coach Arrested on Child Porn Charges

SeanMichael Pagano, the assistant coach for the Rocky Point High School boys lacrosse team, has been arrested on child pornography charges, according to a Newsday report. Pagano, who is also a New York State Police investigator, is accused of downloading several videos of young girls engaged in sexual acts, the report says, citing an FBI complaint against Pagano.

John Geer

Long Beach police officer arrested on sexual battery charges

By KATE MAGANDY

HARRISON COUNTY -- A Long Beach police officer has been arrested on three counts of sexual battery of a juvenile.

Sheriff Melvin Brisolara said in a press release Patrick Anthony Klis, 44, of Pass Christian, was arrested Friday after an investigation that stemmed from information officials received Thursday. According to the Sheriff's Office, Klis is charged with having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl.

John Geer

Ex-Tremonton officer charged in secret video recording of teen in her bedroom

Tim Gurrister, Standard-Examiner staff

BRIGHAM CITY -- Former Tremonton police officer Jeremy Rose has been charged with 15 offenses in the collection of thousands of photos of a teenage girl in various stages of undress.

Rose was arrested and booked into the Box Elder County Jail Thursday, said Utah Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Missy Larsen, and is scheduled for arraignment April 7 before 1st District Judge Ben Hadfield.

Rose, 37, is charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and two counts of voyeurism, a third-degree felony. He's also charged with single counts of dealing in material harmful to a minor, communications fraud, obstruction of justice, and stalking, all felonies but the stalking, a class A misdemeanor.

While employed by the Tremonton force, Rose convinced a then-15-year-old Tremonton girl to pose semi-nude for photos he said he would sell for her on the Internet and to private buyers, according to charging documents. That was a ruse in order to collect the photos for himself, the charges say.

He also allegedly hid a camera in the girl's bedroom to record video of her dressing and undressing.

Rose is being held in lieu of $145,000 bail. The case was handed off by the Box Elder County Attorney's Office last year to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest since prosecutors there had worked with Rose for years.

Rose resigned from the Tremonton department in July after investigation began by the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which was assisted by Tremonton police.

The case features a 15-page probable cause affidavit, a document rarely longer than a page.

It details Rose's apparent obsession with the teen beginning in early 2012 and continuing through much of last year until his initial arrest in June. Due to the complex investigation detailed in the affidavit, the charges weren't filed until Thursday by the attorney general's office.  Rose was a 12-year veteran on the Tremonton force.

Rose set up fake email accounts and links to a bogus online company where he told her he was selling the photos, the affidavit says.

He sent emails under assumed names from the fake company encouraging her in her nude and semi-nude posing for photos with Rose, as well as those she took herself and sent to the fake Internet site, according to the affidavit.

They told her she could make more money by wearing less clothing, one of the emails said.

Investigators were informed last June by Rose's wife that he had confessed to her and other family members, according to the affidavit.

The thousands of images of the minor were found on Rose's several cell phones "as well the laptop computer he was assigned through his employment at the Tremonton Police Department," it reads.

The document refers to Rose paying the girl $300 for her pictures and buying her an iPhone for her picture-taking.

New York state police investigator arrested on child pornography charges; case began in Alaska

MINEOLA, New York — An FBI investigation that began more than a year ago with the arrest of a child pornography suspect in Alaska has led to federal charges against a New York state police investigator who has worked as a high school and college lacrosse coach.

SeanMichael Pagano, 37, of Mount Sinai, was being held without bail following his arrest Thursday on charges he downloaded videos depicting young girls engaged in sexual acts with adults. His attorney, Brian Davis, said his client has pleaded not guilty, but added he had just been retained Friday and was still investigating the allegations.

Davis said he hoped to present a bail package to a judge in federal court in Central Islip on Monday.

When he was arrested, Pagano told an FBI agent that he had downloaded the videos as part of an investigation he was conducting on behalf of the state police.

The complaint against Pagano, however, said he "was not authorized to conduct child pornography investigations as part of his employment, and had never reported receiving or accessing child pornography."

Darcy Wells, a state police spokeswoman, said Pagano, a 14-year veteran assigned to barracks in East Farmingdale, on Long Island, was suspended without pay.

Pagano also was fired from his position as an assistant lacrosse coach at Rocky Point High School. Superintendent Michael Ring said Pagano was hired for the part-time position in December and had cleared all background checks.

Pagano coached the Briarcliffe College men's lacrosse team from 2009 to 2013. Briarcliffe spokesman Mark Spencer said there was no indication the coach had any contact with minors; he declined to say why Pagano was no longer coaching there, citing personnel reasons.

A 13-page criminal complaint indicates the FBI investigation of Pagano began in March 2013 with the arrest of an unidentified suspect in Anchorage, Alaska, on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography. That suspect later agreed to cooperate with investigators, and turned over records of those with whom he had exchanged child pornography.

In June 2013, investigators uncovered evidence that Pagano had contacted a website run by the suspect in Alaska. Pagano allegedly downloaded or previewed five videos involving young girls being molested by adult men. Search warrants were later issued for Pagano's email accounts, which uncovered evidence that he had allegedly responded to numerous online adult sex advertisements by sending pictures and videos of himself, both clothed and nude.

Authorities arrested Pagano at his Mount Sinai home on Thursday.

Fairfax County Police Watch: OKC Police Arrest Cop Impersonator For Child Sex C...

Fairfax County Police Watch: OKC Police Arrest Cop Impersonator For Child Sex C...: By Lacie Lowry OKLAHOMA CITY - A metro man accused of impersonating a police officer was arrested today on new charges. He was b...