Whether it’s the stress of hard times or heightened awareness of the issue, reports of child abuse in Los Angeles County shot up 10 percent in the first half of this year, officials say.

Calls to the Child Abuse Hotline jumped from 39,611 in the first half of last year to 43,693 in the same period this year.

Department of Children and Family Services Director Trish Ploehn said she believes the increase in calls is a combination of two factors: the economic stress on families being taken out on children and greater awareness of abuse from news coverage of child deaths.

Durham, N.C. — Gina Marie Watring, who was a teacher’s aide at Durham’s Creekside Elementary School, pleaded guilty Thursday to having sex with a 10-year-old student. She was sentenced to up to six and a half years in jail, following by three years probation.

CRESTVIEW – A 20-year-old woman was recently arrested with felony child abuse after she allegedly broke a 1-year-old boy’s arm earlier this year.

About 5 p.m. March 20, Crystal Ann Williams of the 2900 block of Cosson Circle brought the child into the emergency room at North Okaloosa Medical Center, saying he wouldn’t move his left arm, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. A doctor asked her what caused the injury, and Williams said she didn’t know.

SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (KABC) — A Van Nuys man has been sentenced to death for torturing and killing his girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter and abusing the girl’s 6-year-old brother.

In July, a jury convicted 29-year-old Antonio Rodriguez of the first-degree murder of Desarie Saravia. She died on Nov. 12, 2004, after being sexually assaulted and beaten in the women’s restroom at Hasley Canyon Park in Castaic.

While those of us who love animals see all cruelty toward them as disturbing, a growing body of research shows that there is very good reason for everyone to be concerned. It turns out there is a strong link between animal abuse and serious crimes, including drug trafficking, domestic violence, rape and homicide.

VietNamNet Bridge – The number of cases of child abuse has increased this year and the more worrying problem is that the number in reality is much higher because many families do not report cases of abuse to the police, said Dam Huu Dac, standing deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

A total of 704 children were abused in the first six months of this year, an increase of three times compared with the same period three years ago, Dac said. As many as 13.5 per cent of abused children were under six years old, and 37.2 per cent of them between six and 13 years old.

Along with the joys of parenthood also come stress, frustration and feelings of being overwhelmed when things don’t go as planned. But child advocates want parents to know they are not alone.

“Throughout every community, there are a lot of people who are available to help,” said Connie Skillingstad, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota. “If you are feeling like you are losing it, it’s time to look for resources.”

The York County minister arrested last week on three child abuse-related charges could face a return to federal prison, where he served seven years for stealing millions in a religious investment scam.

Federal prosecutors who proved The Rev. Johnny William “Bill” Cabe swindled churchgoers out of more than $8 million have confirmed they know Cabe was arrested on new charges.

A survey has found that only 34 per cent of respondents would contact child protection authorities or the police if they knew a child was being harmed.

Fairfax says the survey by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect found only 34 per cent of 22,000 respondents would call police if a child disclosed sexual abuse.

A 51-year-old Catholic priest wanted in Texas for four counts of sexual abuse of a child was arrested Friday in Lawrence.

The U.S. Marshals Service tracked down John M. Fiala, 51, after receiving a tip on his whereabouts. Fiala was charged Tuesday in Edwards County, Texas, with the abuse, said Matt Cahill of the U.S. Marshals Service.

SANTA ANA — A notorious convicted child molester, who became the public face of Megan’s Law in the 1990s, is making another bid for freedom.

Sid Landau, 70, has filed a petition for another trial. It would be the fourth such trial for Landau in two years.

A judge will decide this month whether to grant the petition.

Laramie Torres’ promises of love and threats of abandonment kept his child victim silent for four long years as he groomed, manipulated and ultimately raped her.

The 17-year-old victim was not in Jackson County Circuit Court Wednesday to watch the man who was supposed to be a father figure in her life plead guilty to two counts of first-degree rape.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 1 (UPI) — A Kentucky woman has been charged with sexually abusing seven children while babysitting them between 2001 and 2009, court records indicate.

Tiffany Taylor, 27, was formally charged last year with rape, sodomy and sexual abuse, The Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal reported. Details of the charges were released during a court hearing Tuesday.

MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio – A Madison Township father is facing multiple charges after authorities said he cut his children off from the rest of the world and abused them.

According to the Lake County court clerk, 47-year-old Jeffrey A. York was indicted Friday of two counts of rape, five counts of gross sexual imposition, six counts of endangering children, one count of aggravated menacing and five counts of domestic violence.