4/1/14: Today’s Round-up of Child Sex Abuse in the News
LOCAL
Belmont, CA School district seeks dismissal of former student’s sexual assault lawsuit
The Belmont-Redwood Shores School District filed a motion Friday to dismiss a sexual abuse case brought about by a former student who claimed educators failed to fully investigate and report her 2001 sexual assault by school janitor Andre Edwards. Roxanne Pedro, now 25, filed a civil lawsuit Feb. 26 against administrators she said were complicit in her abuse, including San Mateo County Superintendent Anne Campbell, a former principal who announced her re-election bid last month. Read more here:
NATIONAL
Bennettsville, SC – Trial of pastor accused of sexual molestation starts Tuesday in Bennettsville
Testimony is slated to get under way Tuesday in the trial of a Pee Dee pastor charged with molesting a 12-year-old girl. Kenneth Jay Britt, 44, who was head pastor at the Clio Church of God at the time of his arrest, is charged with four counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Investigators allege Britt had sex with a 12-year-old girl in his home last March. Read more here:
Miami, FL – Youth pastor on trial for sexual abuse
A criminal trial is underway against a youth minister accused of raping young boys. Jeffrey London 50, appeared in a Broward County courtroom Monday as the first of several accusers took the witness stand. One of the alleged victims, now 20 years old, claims London sexually assaulted him during a period of 10 years. The boy, between 5 and 6 years old at the time, moved in with London because his mother was having financial difficulties. London was a trusted member of the community because he was a minister at a Fort Lauderdale area church and a youth counselor with the Boys & Girls Club. Read more here:
Wilmington, DE – Judge said du Pont heir ‘will not fare well’ in prison
A Superior Court judge who sentenced a wealthy du Pont heir to probation for raping his 3-year-old daughter noted in her order that he “will not fare well” in prison and needed treatment instead of time behind bars, court records show. Read more here:
Provo, UT – Man charged with breaking into apartment and abusing BYU student
A man accused of breaking into a BYU student’s apartment and fondling her had given her a ride home from the store earlier that day, according to court documents. Cyr Delinos Narcisse, 22, was charged late last week in 4th District Court with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony. Read more here:
Mundelein, IL – Trial delayed for Mundelein ex-teacher charged with sex abuse
A trial scheduled Monday for a former teacher at West Oak Middle School in Mundelein, accused of abusing a 14-year-old student almost four years ago, has been delayed again. Nicole Jacobsen, 42, of Barrington, faces charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in the case, which has seen several delays since her arrest in May 2010. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released following her arrest after paying $5,000 of a $500,000 bond. She also resigned after being charged. Read more here:
Louisville, KY – Trial set to begin for former priest charged with sexual abuse
The trial is set to begin Monday for a former Louisville priest charged with sexually abusing young boys. A judge rules that a former Louisville priest charged with sexually abusing young boys is competent to stand trial. The trial of a former Louisville priest charged with sex abuse was supposed to start Monday afternoon, but that’s not going to happen. James Schook had been diagnosed with terminal skin cancer and his attorney had argued he was too sick to appear. But last fall, a judge ruled Schook was competent to stand trial. Read more here:
Bridgeport, CT – Suspended Priest Charged With Sexual Assault
A Connecticut priest who was suspended last year has been arrested on several sexual assault charges. Rev. Paul Gotta, 55, of Bridgeport, was charged with five counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault. Read more here:
INTERNATIONAL
Singapore – Teacher, 32, charged with sexual abuse of 15-year-old student
A school teacher was charged in court on Monday with 10 counts of sexual abuse and committing an obscene act with a 15-year-old student. The 32-year-old bespectacled man is alleged to have had sex with her eight times and committing an obscene act with her twice, according to The Straits Times. The alleged offences occurred at various places including his home and hotels over a four-month period. Read more here: