sex and the law

The parents of an 8-year-old Liberian girl who was allegedly raped by four boys have been arrested on felony child abuse charges. The girl's 59-year-old father and 47-year-old mother each face eight counts for a series of abuse and neglect incidents dating back to 2005. The Associated Press is not naming the parents to avoid identifying their daughter, who police say is a rape victim.  

Richard O'Neal Matthews, 58, 1901 Virginia Ave., Muscle Shoals, was indicted on charges of first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree sodomy, according to Franklin County court officials. The indictments were returned during the recent November grand jury session. Authorities said an investigation into the case began in March after the woman, who is 24, reported the incidents to law enforcement officials.  

A Watsonville man is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail on charges kidnapped and raped a woman he had befriended, the Sheriff's Office reported. According to deputies, Edgar Espinoza, 26, got to know a 32-year-old South County woman and gained her trust through several visits. "He, over a period, of time groomed her, so to speak," Sgt. Dan Campos said.

He, over a period, of time groomed her, so to speak   -Dan Campos

 

A Butte man was charged with felony incest Friday for allegedly having sexual contact with a child over a nearly 12-year period. Benny R. Stewart, 48, of Butte faces a possible life sentence if convicted. Stewart made an initial appearance in Butte justice court before Justice Bob Lee Friday morning.  

The city woman accused of engaging in a pattern of inappropriate sexual behavior with a 14-year-old neighbor earlier this year waived her probable cause hearing Friday. Martha Thibodeau, 29, of 8C Cold Spring Manor was due in District Court Friday for a probable cause hearing. She waived the hearing and her case will now be bound over to Strafford County Superior Court, where a grand jury will consider indicting her.  

Some issues make us so uncomfortable that we don't want to dwell on the right and wrong way to handle them we just want them to go away. That's certainly the case with sex offenders. Most people don't want to be bothered with details about where sex offenders end up after being released from prison.  

Madera police detectives are looking for five convicted sex offenders who are not living at their last registered addresses within the city limits, and who have not re-registered, as required by law, with police in other jurisdictions. Francisco Alvarado Gomez, Augustine Espinoza, Jaime Mueller, Nemeso Alba and Bernardo Rodriguez have outstanding warrants for their arrest for failure to register or re-register and otherwise comply with terms of their release as sexual offenders. Police also suggest re  

Secrets, nearly 10 years old, are coming out tonight surrounding the only state-run psychiatric hospital for children in Washington. Two adult women are now going public to say they were raped as young, mentally ill girls in that hospital, by a trusted counselor. The women say hospital staff had warnings, but didn't do enough to protect them.  

He was accused of fondling a 14-year-old girl on a team he coached. A former East Central High School girls softball coach who had been charged with molesting a teenager received a two-year probation Friday. Tommy Rogers, 55, of Tulsa pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, a misdemeanor.  

Your "Our View" editorial on Nov. 15 covered many issues surrounding the recent placement of a large number of sex offenders to the 900 Block of Washington Avenue in Bremerton. For decades this problem has been discussed and various solutions to this very complex issue have been brought forward. The current central concern about the Washington Avenue situation is DENSITY, not just a repeat of the age-old problem.