LYNN – A Lynn man is behind bars after he was allegedly caught photographing his uncle’s 4-year-old daughter in the nude. Carlos Filiberto Orozco, 28, of 262 South Common St., #1, was charged with rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, posing a child for sexual photographs and possession of child pornography. He was arraigned Monday at Lynn District Court by Judge Dominic Paratore and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Sept. 7.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2010/08/31/news/news05.txt

Hey you guys? Uh, this is a little awkward but just in case you have any 41-year-old male friends who’ve disappeared in Sweden recently, they might have been arrested on charges of rape, statutory sodomy, attempted sexual exploitation of a child and sexual misconduct – all involving a 14-year-old girl. Just in case you hear any crazy rumors.

READ MORE HERE:

http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/08/mysterious_kansas_photographer.php

In June, I had the opportunity to sit down with author, advocate and Dreamcatchers for Abused Children president Donna Kshir. Many of my readers don’t know this, but I knew Donna long before the books, the public speaking engagements and her work as a advocate.

Donna has always been a good person with a big heart. She would go above and beyond to help anyone. She has never feared away from hard work or a challenge.

The last time Donna and I sat down, I was impressed by her will and determination to make a difference.

Two weeks ago, Donna emailed me stating she was invited to attend the Paso Robles Film Festival with her Dreamcatchers co-workers; Sandra Dawn Potter, Laurie Ann Smith and Elizabeth Brawley. I couldn’t be more happier and prouder of my friend, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit it made me more curious to see what makes her tick, why she is so dedicated and what her future plans are to end this epidemic.

Saturday morning, I arrived in Pennsylvania at Donna’s summer-home. She greeted me at the door, I immediately noticed her short blonde hair and youthfulness. She was casually dressed in blue jeans and a white tank top. We chatted for a bit before I hinted I was anxious to jump right into the interview.

The last time we spoke you stated you were stepping back from writing to focus on Dreamcatchers for Abused Children.

Kshir: Correct.

What have you been doing since we last spoke?

Kshir: F or the last three months I have been serving as a grant writer. We have so many plans and goals but without the proper funding we can’t put anything into action, and the sad part is, the only ones that suffer is the children. Seeking these grants are my first priority, right now, because I believe ALL children deserve the right to live in a safe environment, not fearing the people who are suppose to love and protect them.

Why do you believe violence is an issue?

Kshir : Violence is a big issue. It’s everywhere…

What bothers you the most about child abuse?

Kshir: The fact society is in denial.

Are men more physically abusive than women?

Kshir: A majority of abuse is reported by women, but I believe it is because most abused men feel weak, ashamed and embarrassed so they hid in silence.

I understand your photograph and quote was used for a National Male Abuse Awareness Campaign?

Kshir: Yes, I was honored they chose me. I wanted men who have suffered from domestic violence to know that there is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of.

Has anyone reached out to you?

A majority of the people who have reach out to me are teenagers. Most are just looking for someone to talk to, but feel embarrassed to ask a friend or family member so they reach out to me.

Are you ever pressed for time?

Kshir: Time is always an issue, but I am more than happy to make time for someone who needs help or has questions. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to help. I only wish I could do more.

Have you reached out to anyone to help in your quest?

Kshir: Yes. I have reached to people that I believe could help make a difference. I believe the younger people are educated the better their chances of living an abuse-free life.

What’s your goal?

Kshir: I want people to stop turning a blind eye and pretending child abuse doesn’t exist. I want them to take the time and educate themselves and their children. There are a lot of sick people out there that feel they are their kids and they can do with them as they please. Even if that includes physical and sexual abuse, molestation, rape or murder. Think about it for just a second, if people didn’t think it was their right to hurt, abuse, molest, rape or kill their children there would be no such thing as child abuse.

What’s your next move?

Kshir: My girls (Sandra, Laurie Ann and Elizabeth) and I are going to California in November to attend The Paso Robles Film Festival. It is a great opportunity. I feel blessed to be a part of it.

SOURCE:

http://newsblaze.com/story/20100831110921zzzz.nb/topstory.html

OCEAN PINES – Police charged an Ocean Pines man with child abuse and several sex offenses after an incident this spring involving a four-year-old Salisbury girl. Daniel Alan Kerstetter, 24, was charged with second-degree child abuse, second-degree assault, second-degree sex offense, third-degree sex offense and fourth-degree sex offense after the four-year-old recently told her parents that he had tried to make her perform oral sex.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100831/OPI01/8310365

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles County officials aren’t following a state law that requires them to publicly disclose child fatalities resulting from abuse or neglect, according to an independent audit released Monday. The audit by the County Office of Independent Review found violations involving dozens of child fatalities, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said.

Germany’s Catholic Church unveiled on Tuesday tougher guidelines on investigating and preventing child sex abuse that it hopes will stop a repeat of the hugely damaging scandals of this year.

“The dreadful findings and experiences of recent months have shown us that the (previous) guidelines of 2002 were imprecise in some areas,” said Stephan Ackermann, bishop of Trier, as he presented the new rules.

READ MORE HERE:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/german-church-gets-tougher-on-child-sex-20100901-14fse.html

CHICAGO — Police are investigating allegations that a 3-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a 12-year-old boy on a school bus. The incident, part of which was captured by bus surveillance-cameras, allegedly happened Friday afternoon. The 12-year-old was taken into custody Sunday evening, according to Gurnee police.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-boy-bus-assault,0,472750.story

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville nanny caught on camera swatting, slapping and kicking an 11-month-old boy has been sentenced to eight years in prison. A Duval County judge sentenced 53-year-old Jeannine Marie Campbell on Friday.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-nannycam-arrest,0,7859954.story

Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened, and the legal procedure for validating an episode is difficult. The problem should be identified, the abuse stopped, and the child should receive professional help. The long-term emotional and psychological damage of sexual abuse can be devastating to the child.

Child sexual abuse can take place within the family, by a parent, step-parent, sibling or other relative; or outside the home, for example, by a friend, neighbor, child care person, teacher, or stranger. When sexual abuse has occurred, a child can develop a variety of distressing feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/child_sexual_abuse

The odds a child will be a victim of neglect in a year are 1 in 136.4—it is the most common type of child abuse, more than four times likelier than the next-most common, physical abuse.

The CDC estimates that in 2008 more than 772,000 children were victims of maltreatment in the US—about one in every 97 children. Seventy-one percent of those victims suffered some form of neglect, whether it was parental absence, malnourishment, lack of supervision, dangerous or inadequate living conditions, insufficient education or emotional support, or any combination thereof—and more.

For some unfortunate children, neglect is the lesser evil. Every year, some children are tallied more than once by the CDC because, in addition to being neglected, many are also actively abused. In 2008, 1 in 601.4 children were victims of physical abuse, 1 in 1,064 of sexual abuse, and 1 in 1,333 of emotional abuse.

Most child maltreatment comes not from strangers or even acquaintances, but from family. In 2008, 80.1% of those maltreating children were their parents, and an additional 6.5% were relatives. In cases of child maltreatment, neglect and abuse alike, fewer than 1 in 4 will be removed from a home by Child Protective Services in a year—in 2008, 1 in 4.78 victims of child maltreatment were removed from their home by CPS.

Plenty of children aren’t so lucky. They can wait to grow up, hope for circumstances to change, ask or pray for help, or run away—as Oprah Winfrey did after a half-decade of sexual abuse.

All maltreated children, rescued or not, are at increased risk for physical and psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, self-harm, suicidal tendencies, aggression, and substance abuse.

Or worse. Of the three quarters of a million maltreated children in the US, 1,740 of them, or 1 in every 335.4 , died from it in 2008.

Nearly twice as many people under 20 die from maltreatment than they do from drowning.

SOURCE:

http://www.bookofodds.com/Relationships-Society/Articles/A0873-Child-Abuse

A 19-year-old Dallas mother couldn’t get her infant son to be quiet. So, police say, she bit him all over his body. Danielle Patrice Lewis faces a felony charge of injury to a child. She was being held at the Dallas County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail Friday.

According to police documents, Lewis took her 5-week-old son to Children’s Medical Center Dallas on Aug. 17 about 9 p.m. The boy was treated there for “human bite wounds to both shoulders, upper back, middle back, left buttocks and left thigh.”

Fayetteville, AR - Police say registered sex offender Brandon Hutson is back behind bars after allegedly raping a 3-year-old child in a WalMart bathroom last week. According to the police report, the child and her brother were playing alone in the toy department when Hutson “helped” the little girl find the bathroom. Once inside the bathroom, Hutson reportedly masturbated while the child was in a neighboring stall before molesting her twice in a span of ten minutes.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.dreamindemon.com/2010/08/30/registered-sex-offender-accused-of-raping-child-in-walmart-bathroom/

BARTOW, Fla. — Timothy Hammerstone, 22, is facing 16 counts of possessing child pornography after he convinced a 10-year-old boy to send him nude pictures in exchange for Xbox Live points. He explained he needed the pics because he was gay and that his mother would not let him look at pornography. the boy agreed and Hammerstone bought him a separate, secret Live account the boy would use to send pornographic images of himself.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.dreamindemon.com/2010/08/30/man-charged-with-using-xbox-to-solicit-naked-pictures-from-boy/

INGLEWOOD– Two young children were found abandoned in an apartment complex Saturday, and after a day, police say they have found their mother. After the children’s pictures were aired on television, family members recognized them and called authorities, police said. Now officers say they have made contact with the children’s mother and are investigating the matter.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-children-abandoned,0,7816330.story

LOS ANGELES — Police are searching for a suspect responsible for killing a 15-year-old boy and wounding an 11-year-old girl in an apparent attempt to steal the boy’s bicycle. At around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a call of shots fired at Mission Road and Broadway in the Lincoln Park area and found 15-year-old Miguel Machuca lying on the ground with a gunshot wound in his upper torso.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-teen-killed-for-bike,0,963785.story

Gunman Kills 5, Takes Kids Before Committing Suicide in Rancho Cucamonga

The victim had a restraining order against the alleged gunman.

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – A man entered an Arizona home and fatally shot five people, including the mother of his two children and her new boyfriend, before fleeing with the kids to Southern California where he turned the gun on himself, police said.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-az-murder-suicide,0,3450676.story

Maybe you already think that child abuse in the United States is a major problem, maybe you don’t, but the statistics don’t lie: 80,000 children in the U.S. are victims of abuse.

Check out the infographic below to learn more about the reality of child abuse in America, and get some tips on how not to be a neglectful parent. If knowledge is power, and you can use that power to help prevent and end child abuse.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/12/child-abuse-by-the-numbers/

A 48-year-old Pearl River man, who already pleaded guilty to 300 counts of possessing juvenile pornography, has been convicted of repeatedly raping a 11-year-old boy and molesting and attempting to rape a 14-year-old girl.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/08/pearl_river_man_convicted_of_r.html

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The trial of a man charged in a Memphis dismemberment slaying has been pushed back after a child rape charge was added.

James Hawkins had been scheduled for trial in November in the February 2008 killing and dismemberment of 28-year-old Charlene Gaither in the apartment they shared.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.wreg.com/news/sns-ap-tn–memphis-headlessbody,0,5131633.story

MELBOURNE, Aug. 27 (UPI) — A British man has been sentenced to four years in prison for publishing up to 100,000 pictures of sexual child abuse on Facebook, officials say.

Ian Green, 45, used the Internet social networking site to swap child pornography with people in the United States, Australia and Canada, the Melbourne Herald-Sun reported Friday.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/08/27/British-man-sentenced-in-pedophile-sting/UPI-97961282929446/