When you grow up in a dysfunctional family, you experience trauma and pain from your parents’ actions, words, and attitudes. Because of this trauma you experienced, you grew up changed, different from other children, missing important parts of necessary parenting that prepare you for adulthood, missing parts of your childhood when you were forced into unnatural roles within your family. For some of you, it has led you to attempt to flee the pain of your past by alcohol or drug use. Others of you feel inexplicably compelled to repeat the abuses that were done to you on your own children or with your own spouse. Others of you have felt inner anxiety or rage, and don’t know why you feel as you do.

COVINGTON, TN – The Action News 5 Investigators are on the case of a man convicted of sex crimes against children, who just won’t stop contacting those children. He does it through the mailbox. “Happy birthday, I hope you have a wonderful day and following year. I cannot believe my little tot-tot is already a teenager. You might be tired of me writing this but I can’t get over how fast you are growing up,” read Donna Turner with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department. Turner was reading from birthday and Christmas cards sent from by sex offender from jail to his young victims.

Edward Avery, Charles Engelhardt, Bernard Shero, and James Brennan face rape and other charges in connection with the sexual abuse of boys between 1996 and 2000. Monsignor William Lynn was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Three priests, a Monsignor and a Catholic school teacher are all facing criminal charges after a Philadelphia grand jury found a pattern of child sexual abuse.

OLYMPIA – Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin was among victims of child sexual abuse urging the Legislature on Wednesday to drop the statute of limitations that they say shields pedophiles from justice. “It took me years to be able to call what happened to me between age 10 and 18 rape,” said McLaughlin , who told members of the House Public Safety Committee about years of sexual abuse by her father. “You shouldn’t lose the ability to bring about justice just because some years have elapsed.”

PITTSFIELD, Mass.- A Berkshire County Superior Court jury has found former Roman Catholic priest Gary Mercure guilty of raping two boys. According to a news release sent to 22News from the Berkshire District Attorney’s office, the jury deliberated about two hours over a two day period before returning the verdict against 62 year old Mercure.

Greece, N.Y. —A sergeant with the New York State Park Police was charged Feb. 8 with endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree sexual abuse charges. Greece police say Todd M. Johnson, 41, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., allegedly sexually abused a victim under the age of 16 in the town of Greece. Johnson is facing two counts of sexual abuse.

AFRICA–Boys as young as 13 are still being used as soldiers by the Chadian national army and armed groups on the border with Sudan, Amnesty International said in a report. “It is tragic that thousands of children are denied their childhood and are manipulated by adults into fighting their wars,” the 55-page report quoted Erwin van der Borght, the rights group’s Africa director, as saying.

LAS VEGAS — A Nevada jury has found a 67-year-old Las Vegas special education teacher guilty of abusing autistic children in her class. Mamie Hubbard-Washington could face up to 30 years in state prison following her conviction Wednesday on five felony child abuse and neglect charges. Clark County District Court Judge Abbi Silver set sentencing for June 16.

New Jersey — A Florham Park CPA is facing more charges of luring and attempted endangering of a child after being arrested for second time after an online sex sting. Stephen V. Bubniak, 56, had been sexually chatting with officers posing as a 14-year-old girl online. He wanted to meet for sex. The same officers chatted with him again, this time as a 13-year-old girl, who he tried to hook up with as well.

Porter Ranch, CA— A youth counselor at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch has been arrested after allegedly having a six month sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female parishioner. Marcelino Tinajero, 33, has been charged with 30 felony counts of sex crimes against a minor. He had volunteered with the church for almost a year and a half.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A high school gym teacher is accused of having sex with 5 boys in 5 months. Police say all were members of the Mason High School football team. Authorities began investigating the allegations against Stacy Schuler last month following an anonymous tip. The 32 -year-old has been indicted on 16 counts of sexual battery and three misdemeanor counts of serving alcohol to minors.

PICO-UNION– A local high school dean is accused of distributing child pornography. 53-year-old Brad Ratcliff, of West Adams Prep High School in Pico-Union, was arrested last week at his home. He was in possession of numerous photos and videos of child porn containing male victims, according to LAPD spokeswoman Officer Norma Eisenman.

It is the first major Child Abuse Survivor Monument in the world AND while it offers peace, solace and closure to some it also has great educational and awareness qualities to help prevent further abuse. Dr. Irving’s epic “Reaching Out” monument incorporates the artistic contribution of 276 survivors of child abuse and their supporters through sculpted quilts. Measuring 11 feet tall by 30 feet wide, the bronze sculpture is a vignette of two figures with arms spread out and upward in victory and presence.

SILVER SPRING, Md.– An elementary school teacher has been charged with kicking, punching, scratching and even choking students in her first grade class, Montgomery County Police said. Wednesday, she was released on $75,000 bond. Susan Lee Burke, of Laurel, Md., a teacher at Greencastle Elementary School in Silver Spring, is accused of assaulting 9 of the 16 children in her first grade class.