CLINTON COUNTY, Ohio – A former police chief in Clinton County was sentenced to life with parole for the rape of a child. According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Larry Casey will be eligible for parole after 25 years. A jury convicted Casey, 48, on charges of rape of a child under 13, sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and failure to register as a sex offender. READ MORE HERE

Police arrest couple of dead newborn for murder

ABILENE, Texas – Abilene police took 18-year-old Amber Craker into custody in connection with the dead newborn found in a south Abilene house Monday. Craker is the birth mother of the dead female baby, police said in a news release. Police said she was arrested shortly after her release from the hospital at about 4:15 p.m. She has been officially charged with first degree felony murder and second degree felony tampering with evidence. Her bond was set at $300,000 and she remains in the Taylor County Jail.

Damian Scott Cate, 22, was arrested late Monday and charged with murder in connection with the homicide as well. Court documents say additional family members may face charges. READ MORE HERE

The number of U.S. children victimized by abuse and neglect increased by nearly 3 percent in the latest annual reporting period, according to new federal data. According to the report released Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services, the estimated number of victimized children in the 2014 fiscal year was 702,208 — up from 682,307 in 2013. The report estimated fatalities attributable to child abuse and neglect at 1,580 — up from 1,530 in 2013. READ MORE HERE

2014 Children’s Advocacy Center Statistics Highlights 

2014 Full Child Advocacy Center Statistics

Among the over 315,000 children served by Children’s Advocacy Centers around the country in 2014, some startling statistics include:

• 116,940 children were ages 0 to 6 years
• 115,959 children were ages 7 to 12 years
• 81,025 children were ages 13 to 18 years
• 205,438 children reported sexual abuse
• 60,897 children reported physical abuse
• 211,831 children participated in on-site forensic interviewing at a Children’s Advocacy Center

Among the over 244,000 alleged offenders investigated for instances of child abuse in 2014, some startling statistics include:

• 154,529 were 18+ years old
• 26,294 were ages 13 to 17 years
• 20,040 were under age 13 years
• 95,913 were a parent or step-parent of the victim
• 127,358 were related or known to the child victim in another way
• 23,696 were an unrelated person the victim knew

¹ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children & Families. Child Maltreatment 2013.http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/resource/child-maltreatment-2013  

² National Children’s Alliance 2013 and 2014 national statistics collected from Children’s Advocacy Center members and available on the NCA website: http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/cac-statistics

Britax Child Safety is recalling more than 71,000 infant car seats because the carrying handles can break. The recall covers the B-Safe 35, the B-Safe 35 Elite and the B-Safe 35 Travel System made from Oct. 1, 2014, to July 1, 2015. Documents posted Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the seats have handles that can develop cracks that can lead to fractures. READ MORE HERE

A television director with credits on Law & Order and other shows has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in New York. Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore says 51-year-old Jason ‘Jace’ Alexander pleaded guilty Tuesday to promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing an obscene performance by a child. Prosecutors say digital files showing minors engaged in sex acts were found on computers at the director’s Dobbs Ferry, New York, home. The married father-of-two could face up to seven years in prison when he is sentenced on May 3. READ MORE HERE

Pedophile who repeatedly raped baby dies after being found unresponsive in cell

A pedophile who repeatedly raped a baby has died after being found unresponsive in his prison cell. Robin Hollyson, 31, was part of a gang that attacked babies, toddlers and pre-school children in abuse that was streamed over the internet. The men, described as “beyond human instinct” by a judge, preyed on the families of youngsters to gain access to them, in one case grooming a mother and father before their baby’s birth. READ MORE HERE

One of Britain’s most notorious paedophiles who was part of a gang of seven who filmed themselves abusing children is found hanged in jail 

JONESBORO, Arkansas – Scott Ellington, District Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District of Arkansas, announces that a Jonesboro man convicted of raping a minor child who was in his custody will spend the next 30 years in prison after jurors found him guilty early Saturday morning. Ellington said that Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Gina Knight charged Richard Raymond Ressler, 47, 1210 Haltom St., Jonesboro, of rape and tried him before a Craighead County jury for two and a half days. Jurors took the case Friday afternoon and deliberated late into the night until 1 a.m. Saturday before returning a guilty verdict, arriving at a 30-year prison sentence at about 2 a.m. Circuit Judge Victor Hill of West Memphis followed the jury’s recommendation and ordered Ressler to serve 30 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. READ MORE HERE

OHIO – A woman’s ex-boyfriend forced his way into her apartment early Tuesday and fatally stabbed her and her two children before being critically injured in a knife fight with her current boyfriend, police said. Officers were called to the sprawling apartment complex on the north side of Columbus just before 1:30 a.m. and found the woman and children already dead and the two men with stab wounds, police Sgt. Rich Weiner said. The slain victims were identified as Erveena Hammonds, 32, and her daughters, 10-year-old Anaesia Green and 7-year-old Breya Hammonds. READ MORE HERE

SEATTLE — The Archdiocese of Seattle has published a list of 77 child-sex abusers who served or lived in Western Washington over the past several decades. Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain apologized for the actions by the nearly all-male list of priests, brothers and deacons, and at least one sister, who abused minors. He said in a letter released Friday that he is disclosing the names “in the interest of further transparency and accountability” and to continue to encourage victims of sexual abuse by clergy to come forward. READ MORE HERE

Why Seattle archdiocese published the names of 77 sex abusers

Archdiocese of Seattle Publishes Names of Child-Sex Abusers

LOUISIANA – A Baton Rouge man who planned to abduct a 5- to 6-year-old girl and turn her into his sex slave was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison by a federal judge who said the man’s stated intentions are horrifying. Pierre A. Moosebroker Jr., who pleaded guilty in June to possession of child pornography and lying to FBI agents, also will be on supervised probation for the rest of his life once he completes his federal prison term. READ MORE HERE

ROSWELL, New Mexico —Authorities have arrested a third man suspected in connection with the kidnapping and rape of a teenage girl. The incident is reported to have happened Friday. Two men, Fabian Palma-Gabaldon, 29, and Steve Carroll, 51, were arrested earlier this week. Daniel Ridge Madison, 46, was arrested Wednesday. READ MORE HERE

Search crews continue to canvas areas of Pinson, Tennessee in search of a two-year-old boy who went missing Thursday. Noah Chamberlin was last seen while hiking in the woods with his grandmother and older sister. His grandmother said she was distracted for a minute and turned around to discovery he was gone. READ MORE HERE

MINNEAPOLIS — A 21-month-old girl is clinging to life after suffering injuries police say appear to be intentional. Rae’Ana Hall was left with her father while her mother went to work on Sunday morning. Hours later, her mother says she got a call from the hospital saying her child was in critical condition. Rae’Chelle Hall has not left her daughter’s side since the incident. She says her child’s father kept their baby often, but this time something happened that put her child into critical condition. READ MORE HERE

ST. CHARLES, Missouri — Two adults are facing charges in the death of a toddler found deceased in his crib in St. Charles on December 20, 2015 in the 3700 block of Baden Street. According to court records, Kathleen Peacock and Lucas Barnes are both charged with endangering the welfare of a minor. Police said 2-year-old Braydon Barnes was put in his crib on Friday and a space heater was turned on. The boy was left in the crib for 38 hours, according to police, with no one checking on his well-being. On December 20, 2015 Braydon was found dead in his crib. READ MORE HERE