ROCK CREEK — A 20-year-old Rock Creek man arrested earlier this month and accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl is wanted on more accusations of sex crimes, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said today. Jeffrey Erickson was lodged in the Washington County Jail following his arrest on first-degree rape, third-degree rape and first-degree sex abuse charges, said Sgt. David Thompson, sheriff’s office spokesman. He reportedly posted $25,000 bail on Oct. 22.

MUNCIE — A Muncie man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a mentally handicapped woman hopes his trial, which began Monday, turns out differently than his wife’s. Duane Ray Tackett, 51, is charged with rape, sexual misconduct with a minor, criminal deviate conduct and child solicitation. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeffrey Arnold told Delaware Circuit Court 1 jurors on Monday they would hear “an absolute horror story” about more than a decade of sexual assaults on the woman. The rapes allegedly began when the woman was in her early teens and went on for as long as 14 years, while she was in the care of Tackett and his wife, Patricia Ann, 49.

VERMILION — A 30-year-old Vermilion man, Louis Bernard, was arrested Sunday afternoon after being accused of raping a 9-year-old girl, according to Vermilion police Lt. Richard Labis. Labis said the girl told her mother about the alleged rape, and the mother contacted police. Police conducted an interview with the victim and an examination was conducted at the Nord Center’s Sexual Assault Unit.

Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls will be taking to the street in celebration of Halloween next week. Amidst the Halloween festivities, parents need to take steps to ensure the safety of their children and teens. Homeowners expecting to dole out treats — not tricks — also need to take steps to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters. Making sure your child follows a few basic safety rules and that your house is a safe haven for trick-or-treaters, will ensure that your Halloween is a safe and happy one.

BROWARD COUNTY: A South Florida mother has been arrested and charged with child abuse after she led her 3-year-old son into a busy intersection where the two were hit by a car, police said. Jasmine Simms, 41, was with her son at the intersection of Northwest 34th Ave. and Sunrise Blvd. in Lauderhill on Oct. 13 when the pair were hit by a car that didn’t have enough time to stop, according to police.

MOUNDSVILLE — Samuel Parker,19, of Moundsville, is accused of punching a two-month old baby in the head and fracturing its skull. Police said Parker was arrested Monday afternoon after he allegedly confessed to the crime while talking with a Child Protective Services worker. “He told a CPS worker that he was laying down, sleeping and the baby started to cry,” said Sgt. Darren Whipkey, of the Moundsville Police. “He says he reacted and punched the baby in the head, resulting in injury.”

EL MIRAGE, AZ – The parents of six children in El Mirage have been charged with child abuse after police report the couple’s children were living in a dirty, cockroach-infested home. Sabrina and Richard Garcia were arrested Sunday night and their six children, all between the ages of 4- and 12-years-old were taken into protective custody and later placed with a family member. Officers were originally called to the home on Windrose Drive, near 115th Avenue, after Sabrina and Richard got into a verbal altercation. However when the officers entered the home, they reported the house smelled of rotting food and trash, which was spread throughout the home.

PORTLAND, Ore. — A 3-month-old child was taken to a hospital in critical condition after his mother attempted to circumcise him at home, police said.Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson said officers arrived at a home at Northeast 127th Avenue and Burnside Street at about 2 a.m. Sunday to assist medics after a call of an injured child.Police said they learned the mother had attempted to perform a medical procedure on the infant.

Memphis TN – A woman has been arrested and charged with aggrivated child abuse after after she called 911 to report injuries to a 3 year old after claiming he fell after a bathroom accident. At the hospital, doctors took notice of injuries, including bruises over most of his body and face. The boy was also suffering from cuts on his legs, a fractured right thigh, and a cigarette burn on his shoulder. Upon questioning, however, Daniella Ramirez confessed to abusing the child.

VICTORVILLE, Calif. ( KTLA) — A 13-year-old Victorville girl who authorities say left home with a 22-year-old suspected sex offender, triggering an Amber Alert, has been found safe in Las Vegas. The missing girl and 22-year-old Ivan Lopez were found safe in Las Vegas Tuesday after leaving the girl’s home early Sunday morning. Lopez was taken into police custody. The girl’s father made an emotional plea for his daughter to come home in a YouTube video.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — A newborn is dead after being attacked by the family pit bull. Police say they were called to the baby’s home about a dog attack late Sunday. The child’s father, Mark Valentin says the dog attacked 4-day old Justin on the bed while the mother took a shower. The newborn died at a hospital. State Department of Children & Families spokesman John Harrell tells The Florida Times-Union that the state agency is working with police to investigate whether the baby was being supervised and whether the dog previously showed aggressive behavior.

ONTARIO — A Roman Catholic priest pleaded not guilty Tuesday to repeatedly molesting a 12-year-old boy. Jose Alejandro Castillo, 57, the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Ontario — known as “Father Alex” — was arrested Monday at his home. Prosecutors say Castillo molested a 12-year-old boy two years ago, and Ontario police say they suspect he molested at least two other teens. Castillo entered pleas Tuesday to eight counts of lewd acts against a child, according to the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office.

A 12-year-old boy pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the High Court at Gisborne this morning, making him one of the country’s youngest killers. The boy, who has name suppression, entered the dock with his father. The boy had been charged with murder but entered the plea on what was meant to be the first day of his trial. Heavy suppression surrounds the case, but it can be revealed the boy’s father was also to face a charge of being an accessory to murder after the fact.

Wilmington — A man accused of abusing his 2-month-old daughter is being held in the New Hanover County jail in lieu of a $2 million bond. James Matthew Beall, 48, was arrested at 8:11 a.m. Sunday at his apartment in North Chase Apartments on Enterprise Drive. He was charged with felony child abuse, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.