Stephen Collins — who played the pastor/dad on “7th Heaven” — confessed to his estranged wife he was a child molester, and it’s all on tape … a tape obtained by TMZ. And the New York Police Dept. is now conducting an active criminal investigation involving sexual contact with multiple children.
Collins — who is in the middle of a nasty, prolonged divorce with actress Faye Grant — revealed to her in 2012 he had molested and/or exposed himself to several underage girls years before. Collins and Grant went to a therapist where she peppered him with questions about the incidents … and he not only answered, he was specific. Here’s what Collins didn’t know at the time. Grant taped the therapy session. We’re told her lawyer advised her it was legal to secretly record the conversation because in California you’re allowed to secretly record conversations to gather evidence the other person committed a violent felony … and molesting a child under the age of 14 qualifies.

A 24-year-old baby sitter has been charged with murder after the death of a 4-month-old who had been suffering from traumatic brain injuries, Palm Bay police said Monday. Joseph Kyle Lamay faces one count of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s baby, Lorenzo Hernandez, Palm Bay police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez said. “The investigation revealed the child died from blunt-force trauma. However, the exact circumstances are still being investigated,” Martinez said.

ABINGDON, Virginia – In what the judge called a “reprehensible” case, an Abingdon man was ordered to serve two life sentences plus 10 years on Wednesday for raping of a child. Washington County Circuit Court Judge C. Randall Jones sentenced Hursel Harold Elkins Jr., 44, of Abingdon, for rape involving his 11-year-old stepdaughter. Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Price said the Washington County Sheriff’s Office began investigating in December 2012, after the victim, who was 14 at the time, said Elkins, her stepfather, raped her on a regular basis.

SOUTHBRIDGE — Gregory Lewis continues to elude capture, and the police are asking for the public’s help in the search. Friday morning, police issued a statement saying that Lewis is considered to be armed and dangerous. The department is working with other police agencies in their search, but asked that if anyone should see either Lewis or the blue 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee to call the department immediately. They do not know whether the Jeep still has the Massachusetts registration plates affixed to the body; it’s a possibility he has changed plates.

Lt. Col. Cliff W. Gilmore said in a statement Monday that 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Robert J. Myers of Randolph County, Indiana, is being held by civilian authorities in Jacksonville. Police accuse Myers of attacking the same 12-year-old girl repeatedly between May 1 and Aug. 22. Myers faces more than two dozen counts, including first-degree rape of a child, first-degree rape, second-degree rape, first-degree sexual offense, second-degree sexual offense, sexual offense with a child, sexual battery, indecent liberties with a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

PORTLAND, Oregon — The woman prosecutors claim tricked doctors into performing unnecessary surgeries on at least three of her children will be released from jail, pending trail. Katherine Parker, who also goes by the name Kate Parker, has posted bail, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Her specific release time is not being released, the sheriff’s office said, citing security concerns. On Friday, Parker and her defense attorneys successfully argued before Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric Bloch that her bail should be lowered now that she has stable housing.

Pinellas County deputies have arrested a sheriff’s employee and accused him of beating a teenager so badly the boy was scarred. Willye Shaw, 41, was charged Monday with one count of child abuse on a 16-year-old boy, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Shaw, a technical support specialist for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, is on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of an administrative investigation.

German brothers and sisters are on the verge of being able to have sexual relations without worrying about breaking the law and going to jail. A government committee has said laws that ban incest are a violation of right to sexual self-expression. The case centres on a Liepzig man, Patrick Stuebing, who was adopted as a child and later met and married his biological sister and together have had four children. Stuebing has been in violation of German law and jailed. While in jail, all of his children except one were removed from his wife. Two of the children are disabled.

Police have captured a man wanted for raping a 9 year old girl. Richard hall was apprehended last night in Pittston. Officials say the abuse by Hall reportedly started back in January at several locations in Moosic including a hotel, cemetery, and gas station bathroom. The young victim also told investigators Hall would snort crushed pills in front of her. Hall is locked up this morning in the Lackawanna County Prison.

KISSIMMEE, Florida —Several more alleged victims came forward after a Kissimmee man was accused of raping a 12-year-old boy, according to detectives. Jorge Ramos, 49, was previously charged with sexual battery on child under 12 years old after the victim told police Ramos raped him numerous times over a two-year time span, according to the Kissimmee Police Department.

MAHANOY CITY — A man is accused of raping a boy and a girl for years in Schuylkill County. Authorities arrested David Rivera, 21, from Minersville on Friday. According to officials, Rivera is charged with multiple counts of rape of a child and other related charges. Police said he’s accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy. Authorities said Rivera is locked up in Schuylkill County.

SYDNEY – Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced an independent inquiry into allegations that Nauru Offshore Processing Centre guards have abused women and child asylum seekers. According to Canberra officials, at least one refugee advocacy group, Save the Children, which has support staff located at the Australian-funded facility on the South Pacific island-nation of Nauru, claim that female asylum seekers were forced to have sex with guards before being allowed to shower.

A national child abuse investigation unit to co-ordinate inquiries into online grooming and child sexual exploitation is to be launched by Police ­Scotland. The move comes amid growing concern about the kind of systematic sexual abuse of young teenagers recently uncovered in Rotherham. Child protection authorities believe the problem is far more widespread than previously thought. As revealed by Scotland on Sunday in August, 23 people in Scotland, including a significant number from ethnic minorities, have been reported to the Crown in connection with 53 alleged offences. One offender is due to be sentenced on Thursday.

A pediatric nurse accused of molesting a six-week-old boy who was born prematurely allegedly sent indecent photos of the baby to a counselor. Michael William Lutts, who is also a foster parent, brought the infant to his home on August 4 and texted Stephen Schaffner, saying ‘Hey I have a baby for us’, court documents show. Lutts, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente care group, sent several images and videos of a sexual messages to Schaffner, a counselor from Greensboro, Maryland. Schaffner, who was charged yesterday with conspiracy and nine counts of sexual exploitation of a child, replied with messages including, ‘That’s hot’ and ‘nice pic’. Lutts sent the images and messages to Schaffner, 34, immediately after being granted care of the baby and the two made plans for the nurse to abuse the child, according to federal prosecutors.