Council approves suspension

Old Forge Borough’s municipal building was nearly filled to capacity for council’s vote to approve the suspension of Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza and Police Captain Jamie Krenitsky during its monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 16.

Council voted 7-0 in favor of suspending Semenza and Krenitsky without pay. The two men were both arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police earlier this month after being accused of allegedly sexually abusing a teenage girl beginning in 2004.

“The reason of the suspensions are they both have been arrested on felony criminal charges,” said Mayor Michele Avvisato.

Avvisato had suspended Semenza and Krenitsky, but that suspension would lapse after council’s meeting, which required council to vote on a suspension to finalize it.

Since Semenza and Krenitsky’s arrest, Officer Kim Buggey has been appointed as the officer in charge.

Avvisato described the current status of the police force as “stable” after the meeting. While Avvisato is satisfied with the current status of the Police Department, it’s past actions that have consumed the minds of many in the community, and they voiced their concerns last week.

Robert Hughes of Old Forge addressed council, asking Chairman Anthony Pero if “in 2005 did you,…or your council members, know anything about the sex scandal?” referring to the accusations made against Semenza and Krenitsky.

Pero replied “absolutely not” to the question.

Hughes then directed his comments to Avvisato, and questioned why she wasn’t aware of the alleged actions the victim claims were committed by the two members of the Old Forge Police Department.

“You’re supposed to run the Police Department. You’re supposed to know everything that’s going on in the Police Department,” said Hughes to Avvisato.

Attorney Gerard M. Karam quickly jumped to Avvisato’s defense, explaining the day-to-day operations of the Police Department are not the mayor’s responsibility.

“The mayor’s job isn’t to run the Police Department, that’s the chief’s job to run the Police Department. The mayor administers the scheduling of the Police Department, and the procedures of the Police Department, but the running of the Police Department is left up to the chief,” said Karam.

“Right now the running of the Police Department is left up to the officer in charge, Officer Buggey, but no mayor in any borough knows everything that is going on in a police department. It’s a part-time position, it’s an administrative position, and that’s it. The day-to-day work in a police department is the responsibility of the chief.”

During the meeting, council approved the hiring of Karam to act as special counsel for the borough. He will represent the borough in any matters related to Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office’s criminal investigation of the Police Department.

Council decided to bring Karam in after being informed that there could be a conflict of interest for borough solicitor William Rinaldi, who is a county assistant district attorney.

“When I was made aware of the conflict, I made a few phone calls to some people that are active in the law community and (Karam) was recommended as someone with both civil and criminal background, so that’s why he was our choice,” said council member Brian Rinaldi following the meeting.

Rinadi also said that he has been approached by members of the community concerning the current situation with the Police Department, and said the majority of the comments have been positive.

“I’ve had a lot of supporting comments in the community. I’ve had a lot of people approach me and say we love this town and we’re proud of it, and we don’t care what happens, we’re still proud of it and we’re going to wait the outcome,” said Rinaldi

Officer's Case of Sex Crimes With Minors Delayed

Officer's Case of Sex Crimes With Minors Delayed
Long Beach suspended officer Noe Yates faces charges ranging from molestation and intercourse to providing alcohol and false imprisonment.

The arraignment of Long Beach policeman Noe Yanez, who is charged with 39 felonies involving sexual acts with 13 female minors, was postponed this week. It is now scheduled for June 30.
Yanez remains in Los Angeles County Jail in lieu of bail, which was set at $951,000. At the hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Yanez, 40, was to answer to the 39 felonies and additional misdemeanors for which he's been charged in a criminal complaint.
Part of the June hearing will involve a review of the bail amount. Yanez posted bail following the first of two arrests by his employer, the Long Beach Police Department.
The department first arrested Yanez April 19 on charges of possessing child pornography and contacting a minor for inappropriate photos. He was jailed, posted bail, and earlier this month he was arrested again.
This time, the charges were numerous and 13 girls were named in the complaint as victims of molestation, of being approached by the officer, who met the alleged victims as part of his job. It has not been disclosed what his assigment had been.
Related Topics:Long Beach Police Department, Noe Yanez, Officer Accused of Sex Crimes 13 Victims, and Sex with minors

Royal Oak officer faces 20 child porn charges

Royal Oak officer faces 20 child porn charges

A Royal Oak police officer has been charged with 20 counts involving the alleged possession and distribution of child pornography. The charges made by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette reportedly result from an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The officer's employment in Royal Oak ended in January.

Michael Smith, 41, of Holly, was arraigned Thursday in 52-2 District Court before Judge Kelley Kostin on 20 charges, including:

  Fifteen counts of possession of child sexually abusive materials, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison;

  Two counts of distribution of child sexually abusive materials, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison; and

  Three counts of using a computer to commit a crime, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison based on the underlying felonies listed above.

No plea was entered, since the charges are felonies, according to a court spokeswoman. A pre-exam conference has been set for 8:30 a.m. May 18, also before Judge Kostin.

Bail was set at $50,000 cash, surety or 10 percent, the spokeswoman said. As of Friday afternoon, the court had no record as to whether bail had been posted.

According to Royal Oak Police Chief Corey O'Donohue, Smith's employment ended in January.

“I was notified of the investigation in January by the task force, which requested my assistance ... and I was present” when the computer was searched at Smith's house, O'Donohue said. The chief said that he told Smith during the search that he was suspended and the department was moving to terminate him.

“Before we left the house, he had resigned,” O'Donohue said.

The charges were filed after images reportedly were found on Smith's personal home computer during an Internet task force investigation, according to a press release.

From September 2011 through January 2012, according to the press release, it is alleged that Smith downloaded and possessed child pornography on his personal home computer. Smith allegedly distributed some pornographic images to other users through a public Internet file-sharing network, the press release said.

Noting that the investigation was an independent one, O'Donohue said that “all the alleged activity was at his home. Nothing was in Royal Oak.” He added that to his knowledge, Smith did not have interaction with children.

The images were discovered through an online investigation by the Flint Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which uses sophisticated technology to identify alleged purveyors of child pornography in Michigan. The Flint-area ICAC Task Force members include: Flint Police Department, Grand Blanc Township Police Department, Michigan State Police, U.S. Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

This case involved the Department of Attorney General, the Michigan State Police and members of the Flint area ICAC task force. The Michigan Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is part of a nationwide partnership of law enforcement agencies with the mission of protecting children online and holding offenders accountable.

Winston-Salem police dispatcher arrested in child porn case

A dispatcher with the Winston-Salem Police Department has been arrested after investigators found what they say was child pornography at his house.

Raymond Edward Kish, 34, an employee since November 2010, was charged with 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, city police said in a news release.

Kish was placed on administrative leave from his job as a communications operator and was being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $120,000 secured bond. Kish's annual salary is $30,550.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday and has a preliminary hearing set for May 25.

Police said county sheriff's investigators and the State Bureau of Investigation began an investigation of distribution of child pornography on March 27.

Investigators searched Kish's home at 2110 Independence Road on Wednesday, then arrested him.

According to arrest warrants, Kish is accused of having images of children as young as 3 to as old as 14 performing sexual acts. The images involved girls and boys, the warrants said.

Chief Sheriff's Deputy Brad Stanley declined to comment.

Kish has lived in Winston-Salem for six years and has no criminal record, according to a court document outlining findings for his bond.

Anyone with information on the case may call the sheriff's office or Crime Stoppers at (336) 727-2800.

Kish is the second city police employee to be arrested this week. Officer Rudolfo Zermeno, 33, was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault on a female.

Police said Zermeno got into an argument with his girlfriend, Maria Fedelina Aguilar, on Tuesday. Zermeno slapped her face with an open hand and threw a TV remote control at her, hitting her elbow, police said.

Zermeno is also on administrative leave. He has been with the department for three years. He is out on a $1,000 bond.

Officer's Arraignment on Sex Crimes Postponed

A Long Beach Police officer charged in a 39-count criminal complaint for "sexual involvment" with 13 minors appeared in court Friday, but his arraigment was postponed until Wednesday, the District Attorney’s Office announced.

Noe Yanez, 40, who was suspended without pay by Long Beach Police Department after his April arrest, will appear again May 16. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba set the defendant’s bail at $951,000.

After Yanez was arrested for possession of child pornography, and released on bail the next day, the Long Beach Police Department said the employee of nine years had met the alleged victim during the course of his work, but did not divulge his assignment.

Yanez is charged with 10 counts of child molesting; eight counts of contact with a minor for a sexual offense; seven counts of false imprisonment by threat of violence; and four counts each of meeting a minor for lewd purposes, and arranging meeting a minor for lewd purposes.

He also faces one count each of possession of matter depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct; sale of or providing an alcohol beverage to a minor; sexual penetration by a foreign object; oral copulation of a person under 18; unlawful sexual intercourse; and using a minor for sex acts. In all, there were 39 felonies and 15 misdemeanors.

Yanez was originally arrested on April 19 by LBPD and by the D.A.'s special unit that prosecutes police, public officials and attorneys. He was rearrested just weeks later, on May 9, on a felony complaint filed in support of an arrest warrant, the D.A.'s office said.

The alleged crimes involve 13 victims, some of whom were girls with first names in the complaint, and allegedly occurred over more than four years, between Jan. 1, 2008, and April 13, 2012.

Patch has opted to not run the officer's photo, at the police department's request, due the under-age alleged victims.

Manito police officer charged with child porn

A Manito police officer accused of having sex with a 17 -year-old girl he met while on duty has been charged with possessing child pornography.

Nicholas W. Butler, 27, of Delavan was initially arrested by Illinois State Police officers April 24 for criminal sexual assault and official misconduct after he admitted that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl he met while performing his official duties as a part-time Manito police officer, court records said.

However, rather than charge Butler with either of those allegations, Mason County State’s Attorney Kristen Miller has charged the man with two counts of child pornography, according to court records.

Butler allegedly possessed two lewd photos of a girl that he reasonably should have known was under the age of 18, according to the charges against him.

Butler posted $2,500 in bail April 26 and waived his preliminary hearing through his attorney Thursday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Eighth Circuit Judge Alan D. Tucker set the matter for jury trial, with the pre-trial hearing set for June 29 in Havana before Eighth Circuit Judge Scott Butler.

He has been placed on the trial calendar for the week of July 9.

Long Beach police officer re-arrested for more sex-related crimes involving minors

Long Beach police officer re-arrested for more sex-related crimes involving minors

LONG BEACH — A nine-year officer with the Long Beach Police Department who was arrested last month for possession of child pornography was re-arrested Wednesday afternoon for several sexually-based offenses, including arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes, a police spokeswoman said.

Officer Noe Yanez, 40, was arrested and booked at 12:36 p.m. and is being held at Los Angeles County Men's Jail on $951,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department website.

Yanez was re-arrested after Long Beach police continued their initial investigation and interviewed additional victims, said LBPD spokeswoman Lisa Massacani.

Massacani said she wasn't authorized to release additional information on Yanez's booking.

Yanez is scheduled to appear at the Long Beach Courthouse on May 11.

Yanez was first arrested and booked April 19 for possession of child pornography following an investigation into his alleged inappropriate contact with a minor, which, according to police, began with text messages and the solicitation of inappropriate photographs.

Police launched an investigation after the minor reported the alleged conduct to a school resource officer in April. School resource officers are only placed at high schools.

Yanez was suspended without pay following his initial arrest, police officials said. He posted bond April 20 and was released.

He remains on suspension pending the outcome of the internal and criminal investigations, officials said.

Wichita PD Officer Charged With More Sex Crimes

 Wichita PD Officer Charged With More Sex Crimes

Joseph McGill worked for three years on the Wichita Police force. In January, he was convicted of inappropriately touching two 16 year-old girls while on the job. Today, he's charged with fondling as many as two 5 year-olds.

Capt. Brent Allred tells KAKE News the newest suspected crime happened as much as two years ago while the girls lived with him. He will not disclose the address.

It's believed the allegations were uncovered through McGill's probation process for the previous crimes. Detectives found McGill at a relative's home in Hutchinson on Tuesday.

"There could be additional charges later on," Allred explained, "but right now we know of possibly two victims. There could be more, but we booked him for one count at this time."

Back in January, McGill was charged with sexual battery while on duty as a Wichita Police Officer. After pleading guilty, he was given probation and fired from his job. But Sedgwick County Jail records show McGill was arrested again this past Tuesday. He's being held on suspicion of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Allred trusts that McGill won't be treated any differently because of his law enforcement history.

"They put every effort and energy they have into investigating these cases," Allred said. "I don't care who the suspect works for or (where he) lives. It's important for us to get these predators off the street and in jail where they belong."

Mcgill was sentenced in March to three years probation on the previous case. If he's found guilty of the probation violation, he will be forced to serve about four years in prison in the first case. That's on top of what he would get if he's convicted for this new crime. He's currently being held on $600,000 bond.

Provo police officer on paid leave after alleged misconduct at school

“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”

A Provo School District official … advised that a Provo police officer may have been involved in inappropriate behavior while on duty as the school resource officer. The alleged misconduct occurred at Provo High School when the officer participated in a birthday celebration for one of the school’s employees," Siufanua said.

The purported misconduct was described as "the officer wearing inappropriate attire and engaging in inappropriate behavior that, if true, directly violates our policy, high expectations of professionalism and department ethical standards," the lieutenant added.

Siufanua said the officer’s actions were not believed to have been illegal. Asked specifically if the alleged activity involved a "strip tease," Siufanua said he would not describe it that way — but he could not discuss further details pending a departmental investigation.

The officer, whose identity was not released, has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the probe.

In a statement issued Friday, Provo Police Chief Rick Gregory, alluding to his department’s past image woes stemming from officer misbehavior, expressed concern over the latest allegations.

"We have worked very hard to overcome past perceptions of our department. We have also worked very hard to gain the trust and respect of the citizens we serve," he said. "While this incident has the potential to drag us backwards, I am confident that the hard work of our department coupled with the many great things we do each day and our swift and serious handling of this incident will help us to maintain the support and confidence of our community."

Gregory’s predecessor, Craig Geslison, stepped down in January 2011 in the wake of the city’s hiring of an independent auditor to scrutinize the department’s operations and, specifically, misconduct by three Provo officers.

In December 2010, one Provo officer pleaded no contest to reduced misdemeanor charges after he allegedly held a gun to his girlfriend’s head, and another officer pleaded guilty to fondling a woman during a traffic stop. Earlier in 2010, a third officer resigned under pressure after he was accused of stealing prescription pills from a Provo home during a 911 call.

Had enough?  Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal hearings into the police problem in America.  Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a permanent  DOJ office on Police Misconduct.

Disgraced Vt. state trooper gets 30 days for sex charges

NEWPORT, Vt. — A former Vermont state trooper has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting his stepdaughter and committing prohibited acts against her will.

Fifty-four-year-old Mark Beezup of Derby was sentenced Friday in Orleans Superior Court. He will serve his sentence on weekends, beginning Saturday.

The former trooper was accused of molesting his stepdaughter and taking photos of her bare chest. He resigned from the Vermont State Police force last year.

The Caledonian Record reported that Beezup will serve 60 days of home confinement after his jail sentence is up.

The girl was 12 when the illegal acts started.

She told investigators the abuse went on for two years, often occurring when she would help Beezup clean his uniform. "He'll go into the room while I'm still polishing the brass (on the uniform) and he'll throw me onto the bed and he'll lift my shirt," according to WCAX TV.

Beezup was orginally charged with sexual assault, a felony that could have carried a life sentence.

But the Vermont Asst. Attorney General said it best to avoid a trial for the victim's sake, and the girl— who's now 15 — was satisfied with the outcome.

"When you have the case resting on the testimony of one, there's always risks. And this was a resolution where we could avoid those risks and still meet all of the state's objectives and get some vindication for the victim," Maguire said.

Beezup will never be allowed to serve as a police officer again, according to the Caledonian Record.

Cop charged with assaulting girl, 14, posts bail

“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”

A Philadelphia police officer charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a Bucks County motel was released from custody Friday after posting $50,000 bail.

Anthony Dattilo, 36, a seven-year veteran of the force, also was suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss by Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.

Police investigating the possible abduction of a 14-year-old girl found Dattilo with the teenager and a 21-year-old woman in a room at the Lincoln Motel on Lincoln Highway in Bensalem Township about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Police have alleged the woman called Dattilo to arrange a get together and that she brought the girl, who is her cousin, after Dattilo offered the pair $100 each to have with sex with him.

He had sex with the woman in front of the girl in the motel room and was naked and fondling the girl when police knocked on the door, according to the criminal complaint.

The two officers, members of the Special Victims Unit, heard the girl crying, the complaint said. After dressing and washing his hands, Dattilo opened the door and told the investigators he was an officer assigned to Philadelphia’s Second District in Northeast Philadelphia.

Police said the woman and the girl met Dattilo in North Philadelphia and he drove them to Bensalem.

During the ride, the girl texted family members saying she being held against her will, police said. They alerted authorities to her location.

Dattilo, of the 7200 block of Gillespie Street in the Tacony section, was charged with a dozen offenses, including aggravated sexual assault, promoting prostitution, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors.

His bail was set at $500,000 Thursday and, after spending a night in jail, he was released Friday after posting the required 10 percent.

Had enough? Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal hearings into the police problem in America. Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a permanent DOJ office on Police Misconduct.

Philly cop facing sex rap with girl, 14

 “It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”

A PHILLY COP was behind bars on prostitution charges Thursday night after allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl in a Bensalem hotel room earlier this week.

Anthony Dattilo, 36, a 12-year veteran police officer who works in Northeast Philadelphia’s 2nd District, also offered to pay the girl for sex, police said.

Dattilo faces a bevy of charges, including aggravated indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault of a person younger than 16, unlawful contact with a minor, promoting prostitution, and related offenses.

Dattilo, whose family owns a deli by that name in Northeast Philadelphia, was caught at a Bensalem motel by police responding to a possible abduction of a 14-year-old girl about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Bucks County Courier Times. Officers reportedly found him in a room at the Lincoln Motel on Lincoln Highway with the teen and a woman who sources said may have been his 21-year-old girlfriend and who may solicited the teen to join them at the motel.

When police arrived at the motel room and banged on the door, Dattilo opened it and told them he was a Philly cop. Later as police questioned the teen, she tearfully said that Dattilo had touched her, according to the Courier Times.

After Dattilo picked up the teen and the woman in Philadelphia before driving them to the motel, the teen reportedly sent a text message to relatives saying she was being held against her will and that the man was trying to force her to have sex with him.

Dattilo offered to pay the teen $100 for sex before he allegedly had sex with her while the other woman watched, the newspaper reported. It’s unclear if the teen took any money.

Philadelphia police spokesman Lt. Raymond Evers confirmed that an officer was arrested but declined to provide additional details, referring the Daily News to the arresting agency.

A police source said Dattilo, of Gillespie Street near Wellington in Tacony, had been released from custody and was at police headquarters in a disciplinary capacity when detectives and officials from the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office arrived Thursday night to formally charge him.

Dattilo’s preliminary arraignment in front of Judge Michael J. Burns was held Thursday night, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 10. He was being held at a county jail after failing to post 10 percent of $500,000 bail.

Had enough? Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal hearings into the police problem in America. Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a permanent DOJ office on Police Misconduct.

Philly Cop Sexually Assaults Teen Girl

“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”

 A Philadelphia Police officer is in custody after allegedly being found at a Bensalem Motel with a 14-year-old girl.

On Wednesday, around 12:30 a.m., police arrived at the Lincoln Motel on Lincoln Highway in response to a report of the possible abduction of the teenage girl, according to the Bucks County Courier Times.

When they arrived, police say they found Anthony Dattilo, 36, along with a 14-year-old girl and another woman. Dattilo is a 12-year police veteran in Northeast Philadelphia’s 2nd district. Dattilo’s family also owns a deli in Northeast Philadelphia. The Daily News reports the other woman who was with Dattilo and the teen may have been his 21-year-old girlfriend who may have solicited the girl to join them at the motel.

The 14-year-old told police Dattilo and the other woman picked her up in Philadelphia and drove to the motel. The teen claims she sent a text message telling relatives Dattilo and the other woman held her against her will. Dattilo also allegedly offered the girl $100 to have sex with him. He then allegedly began to fondle the teen right before police arrived.

Dattilo was arrested and charged with aggravated indecent assault without consent, unlawful contact with a minor, patronizing of prostitutes, corruption of minors and other related offenses. He was being held at a county jail after failing to post 10% of 500,000 bail, according to the Daily Times. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 10.

New Orleans Cop Raped 13-Year-Old Girl Seven Times

A New Orleans Police Officer was arrested for raping his girlfriend’s 13-year-old daughter. It all began when she told her mother. She was ready to witness at court when the officer pleaded guilty himself. He admitted seven rapes against this girl. Two years passed by before they started on the case because the officer refused that he had anything to do with the raping, and the girl’s mother believed him. She said that her daughter trusted her boyfriend and that she almost saw him as a father figure.
Before the officer admitted the crime the girl was on a rape exam where they found clear signs on sexual abuse. The officer resigned immediately after arrest and he can get a life time in prison, for now he remains jailed with a $2,8 million bond in lieu.

Female Sheriff Sexually Abusing Two Young Girls

Two girls have been sexually abused by a 45-year old female Florida sheriff. She handcuffed the girls to a desk and used a leather paddle to spank their legs, backs and buttocks. Another thing she did was to videotape the situations on her phone and send it to her boyfriend that she met over a website for people with different fetishes.

The Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that she was shocked when she heard about the sheriffs behavior. The girls that were tortured on homemade spanking bench was between 10 and 18 years old. The female sheriff was immediately arrested.

rmer Moorestown cop, ex-girlfriend convicted on child sex charges

Former Moorestown cop, ex-girlfriend convicted on child sex charges

MOORSETOWN — A former southern New Jersey police officer and his ex-girlfriend have been convicted on several child sex assault charges.
Robert Melia Jr., who was suspended from the Moorestown police force after his April 2008 arrest, was found guilty Friday on 22 counts, including official misconduct.
In 2008, Melia also was charged with animal cruelty after investigators said a video found in his home showed him sexually molesting cows. Those charges were dismissed in 2009 because bestiality is not a crime in New Jersey.
Heather Lewis of Pemberton, Melia's ex-girlfriend, also was found guilty Friday, on 26 counts.
Their convictions included multiple counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, child endangerment and invasion of privacy.
But the Burlington County jury could not reach verdicts on 19 counts that both defendants faced. The charges stemmed from alleged assaults against the same victim, and prosecutors did not say whether they will retry them on those charges.
Melia and Lewis both face more than 50 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13.

Cop facing sex assault charge now accused of animal cruelty
Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 8:34 AM Updated: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 8:35 AM
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (AP) -- More legal trouble for Burlington County policeman charged with sexually assaulting three girls.
Authorities have charged Moorestown Officer Robert Melia Jr. with cruelty to animals. Authorities say Melia engaged in sex acts involving cows in 2006.
Melia and his girlfriend, Heather Lewis, were charged last week with three counts of sexual assault and one count of criminal sexual contact involving three girls at his home in Pemberton between 2003 and 2006.

Introducing the Fairfax County Police Officer Robert M. Bauer I'll lie and keep my job award

Police officer faces sex allegation

Police officer faces sex allegation

A part-time Manito police officer made his initial court appearance in Havana Thursday, after being arrested Tuesday for criminal sexual assault and official misconduct.

 Illinois State Police officers arrested Nicholas W. Butler, 27, Tuesday after he admitted to them during an interview that “he had met a 17-year-old girl through his official capacity as a police officer,” according to court records.

 “They subsequently developed a relationship and eventually had sex (consensual) on one occasion,” the records said.

 Mason County State’s Attorney Kristen Miller said she has not filed formal charges but she requested that Butler’s bail be set at $50,000, which is an amount she typically seeks for people charged with serious felony charges. Eighth Circuit Judge Alan D. Tucker set the bail at $25,000, so Butler can get out of jail if he pays 10 percent of that amount.

 Butler — who has a Delavan address listed in the court records — was arrested for criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony that carries a possible prison sentence of four to 15 years upon conviction, and for official misconduct, which is a Class 3 felony with a possible prison sentence of two to five years.

 Miller told Tucker there is no allegation of Butler using physical force, nor was she aware of any allegation of the incident involving any drugs or alcohol.

 Butler said he was born and raised in central Illinois, but that he had left to serve in the military and had returned to the area in September.

 Manito Village Board President Tim Sondag told GateHouse News Service that Butler was sworn in as a part-time police officer Oct. 3. He was still in training when Manito officials learned of the ISP investigation and was placed on administrative leave until his arrest, according to Sondag. He was terminated from the village’s employment upon his arrest.

 Miller said she intends to file formal charges against Butler before his scheduled appearance with counsel, set for 10 a.m. Thursday.

 Tucker appointed Mason County Public Defender Roger Thomson to defend Butler.

 

Pair guilty of child-sex assaults in Burlington

After deliberating for two days, a Superior Court jury in Mount Holly found a Moorestown police officer and his former girlfriend guilty Friday of sexually assaulting juveniles over eight years.

Robert Melia Jr., 42, who was suspended from his patrol job after his arrest in April 2008, was found guilty on 22 of the 47 counts listed in the indictment, including official misconduct for committing a crime while employed as a police officer. He was found guilty of sexually assaulting two girls.

Heather Lewis, 36, of Pemberton, was found guilty on 26 counts involving three girls and a boy. The conviction included multiple counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and invasion of privacy.

The jury hung on 19 counts against each of them, all involving the same victim, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office. The office will review the case to determine whether to retry the defendants on those charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13. Melia and Lewis both face more than 50 years in prison, according to the prosecution.

Melia will appeal, his attorney Mark Catanzaro said Friday.

"There was a litany of problems in the way the evidence was presented," Catanzaro said. He declined to elaborate.

Lewis' public defender, Bonnie Geller-Gorman, could not be reached Friday evening for comment.

The initial indictment - which included counts of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, invasion of privacy, and endangering the welfare of a child - accused Melia and Lewis of repeatedly assaulting three girls, one of whom was a babysitter for Lewis' son, and videotaping some of the attacks.

The girls, two of whom were sisters, gave statements to police in April 2008 and said the incidents began in 2000. They said then that they were assaulted separately by Melia and Lewis. They told police the couple used vibrators on them and forced them to engage in sex acts with the adults.

A graphic, 35-minute video taken in August 2005 was shown to the jury. It had been extracted from Melia's computer, authorities said.

The prosecution had argued that the girl on the tape, who along with the others was between age 12 and 17, was incapacitated during the encounter.

Lewis testified that the girl in the video was 18 and had consented to the sex acts. Lewis also testified that she enjoyed bondage and that she was giving commands to the girl, and the girl responded. At one point, when the girl's body writhed, Lewis said, it was not out of pain but pleasure.

Lewis also was charged with sexually assaulting a boy, 14.

Police were notified after one of the girls told her stepfather.

The jury of eight men and four women began deliberating after closing statements Wednesday in the nearly three-week-old trial. Attorneys for Melia and Lewis argued that the accusers had lied and that prosecutors were overzealous, in part because of the case's notoriety and the alleged involvement of a Moorestown officer.

Bail was revoked for both.

Protective Order Filed Against Tulsa Officer Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

TULSA, Oklahoma -

An emergency protective order was filed against a Tulsa police captain accused of sexual misconduct with a minor.

 The new allegations come just weeks after he was suspended for sex acts on the job that happened three years ago.

Captain Shawn King says he is not ready to get into the details of the allegations made against him. But his attorney says they're false. He says it's all part of a plan by an angry ex-girlfriend to ruin King's name.

 An Osage County judge granted an emergency protective order against Captain Shawn King on behalf of Keena Roberts and her minor children. The order was filed late Friday.

 "What's happened today is evidence of Ms. Robert's ongoing and continuous vendetta against Capt. King since their break up," wrote King's attorney Scott Wood.

 Wood says King and Roberts ended their relationship sometime in the past six months. And says that ever since, Roberts has gone to great lengths to "attack" his client.

Wood says the protective order is another example of that. But the accusations in that order are serious.

Roberts' attorney alleges that King molested one of Roberts' underage children. In the protective order, the attorney confirms that King is accused of groping, kissing and forcibly raping the child with his fingers.

 Roberts' attorney alleges the incidents happened many times over a period of several years. The allegations surfaced after the child spent time in therapy.

 King's attorney calls the allegations false and outrageous.

 "Another example of how desperate Ms. Robert's is to wreck havoc on Captain King's life," Wood said in a statement.

 Earlier this month, King was suspended a week without pay after TPD Chief Chuck Jordan says King engaged in sexual activity in his patrol car. That incident happened in 2009.

An interoffice memo from Chief Jordan's classifies the activity as "Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer."

"No allegation was made to the police department regarding any criminal activity, including activity involving children," Scott Wood said.

A hearing for a permanent protective order is set for May 22, 2012, in Osage County. But King's attorney is hoping to get a quicker hearing.

He says depending on the outcome, his client make take legal action against Roberts. As of now, Captain King is still reporting to work as a shift supervisor in the Gilcrease Hills Division.

Police Officer Arrested For Harassing Teenage Girl

Story Updated: Apr 26, 2012

The Laredo Police Department has arrested one of it's own, accused of harassing a 13-year-old girl.
Police say the cop was sending inappropriate messages to the teen.
Our Annette Garcia spoke to the chief of police about the matter.
“I’m certainly disappointed. We expect our officers to act in a certain fashion and if they don't we are going to take action against that.”
Disappointed at the embarrassing arrest of one of their own.
Ten-year-veteran officer Victor Raul Rodriguez, arrested for harassing a 13-year-old girl by repeatedly calling the teen and sending her unwanted text messages.
“ It was a 13 year old and even that in and of itself is troubling.”
Authorities say the messages were inappropriate in nature and were all sent on April 1st by the 35-year-old officer who is known to the victim.
“The victim wanted the person to stop and she wanted the person to stop the harassing phone calls but they continued.”
The next day a report was filed with police.
“That was reviewed by the district attorney's office who ultimately decides what charge will be filed.”
The chief of police says the case will not be taken lightly and says their investigation is far from over.
“From my perspective this person can loose his job. But it doesn’t necessarily require a conviction I’ll leave it at that.”
Officers he says, are held to the highest standards.
“I want the community to be rest assured that the organization is one they can be very, very proud of. We’ve done a lot in the community over the last few years and years before that in terms of protecting the community and we will continue to do so.”
Rodriguez was taken to jail this morning, where his bond was set at $30,000 dollars.
He will remain on administrative duty pending the outcome of the case.

NJ Cop Arrested For Allegedly Trying To Lure 12-Year-Old For Sex

A New Jersey police officer has been arrested for allegedly attempting to spark a sexual
relationship with a 12-year-old girl. Woodland Park Police Officer Steven Vigorito Jr., 39, has been charged with attempted aggravated sexual assault as well as luring and enticing a child—he met the alleged victim while assisting her family in an unrelated police matter. "What is so disturbing about this, is the person who was to assist the family, ends up preying on the family," said Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes.

Vigorito, a married father of two, is a 12-year-veteran of the Woodland Park police department (which only has 25 officers). The girl’s mother complained to the police department Monday that the officer had made inappropriate comments to her daughter, had given her his private cell phone number and had asked her to text him when he visited their home on the other matter (it's not clear what that other matter was).

Woodland Park Police Chief Anthony Galietti said they immediately contacted the prosecutor’s office, whose detectives posed as the girl and started exchanging texts with Vigorito. “Officer Vigorito’s texts became increasingly sexually explicit. Eventually, the officer attempted to have the child meet with him for a sexual purpose,” Valdes said. “The texts—from what I was able to see—were fast and furious and more explicit as they went.” She said he texted the girl photographs in which he exposed himself while wearing his police uniform, and arranged to meet her for a sexual encounter.

Vigorito faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Galietti, a father of five, was very disturbed by the accusations: “Something that’s alleged like this is very upsetting and I can assure you that’s not the way my department is run,” Galietti said.