Tower Hill , Salesianum and the Simmons Delaware AG Sex Case
Let’s hope there is finally some progress from institutions in reporting abuse and in supporting the victim. According to the News Journal it was someone from Salesianum, the victims’s school, who reported the crime. If so, one must assume a that all the prior abuse scandals and lawsuits that surrounded that school have finally made a difference. I wonder, however, if Tower Hill gets it. In its recent letter to the parents about the latest case of abuse by someone associated with Tower Hill, the school notes as of yet none of the victims are associated with Tower Hill- only the abusers.
Sexual Abuse of Children is everyone’s problem and everyone must do their part to maintain a policy of zero tolerance. If Simmons is guilty, and according to the press account he has confessed, I would hope he is appropriately punished. Lawyers have a special responsibility to obey the law and prosecutors even more so. Finally we can never forget the victim or victims he must be adequately compensated and protected..
Arrest of Deputy AG for Rape of a 16 Year Boy
If the allegations are true we have sadly more proof that childhood sex abuse involves all classes of society, the rich and poor the powerful and the weak are all involved. Once when I was interviewed for a nationally syndicated radio show I was asked why there were so many cases now ,was it that society had gotten worse, I said no I thought the victims were now starting to fight back as finally society was paying attention.
I applaud this young man and his family. Taking on an alleged abuser who works for the Attorney General’s office (the very office charged with prosecuting abuse )takes a lot of courage. Although I have every confidence the AG’s office will prosecute this case with vigor, some consideration should be given by the family and their supporters to hiring a private attorney. All too often victims of crime come to private civil attorneys only after they are disappointed with the results of the criminal proceedings. If they had retained the private civil attorney early on,that attorney could be advocating for the victim’s rights during the entire criminal process. One often overlooked provision of criminal sentencing is “restitution.” There is no reason why for instance a sentencing judge could not order the defendant as part of plea bargain to make certain payments to the victim. Many civil attorneys would be willing to take on such a case on a contingent basis (being paid out of the restitution award or a subsequent civil suit)
It must be remembered the prosecutor represents the State and sometimes for various reasons they may not have the exact same interests as the victim-hence the need for the victim to have his or her own advocate.
3 Teachers Arrested For Sexual Abuse Of Children In 9 Days!!!
Since April 26, 2014 3 teachers in Delaware public schools have been arrested for sexually abusing/raping public school children!! This is an epidemic.
See below for the News Journal’s reporting of the latest two incidents.
Teacher Sexually Abuses Student In Classroom
Smyrna High School teacher and coach Jennifer Suarez was charged Friday after investigators say she sexually abused a 17-year-old boy inside her classroom. The News Journal reported the story here:
Smyrna High School teacher Donovan Garvin was arrested in January 2013 for sexually abusing a student in his classroom, as well.
Supervision of teachers is critical when child sexual abuse is as rampant as it is in public schools and other schools. Unfortunately, sometimes people who are in child related professions are child abusers. You have to be on the lookout for signs and opportunities!!
Pennsylvania State Rep. Mark Rozzi Fights for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
We need more like him. Please see attached article which details Rep. Mark Rozzi and the fight in Pennsylvania for justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
http://news.yahoo.com/alleged-victim-targets-accused-pedophile-priest-30-years-later-014011517.html
Lawsuit Filed Against Robert Richards IV For Sexually Abusing Children
Today, as reported by Cris Barrish of The News Journal, WDEL, and other news media, Jacobs & Crumplar filed suit under the 2007 Child Victims Act in Sussex County Superior Court on behalf of plaintiffs Tracy Richard and her children for the sexual abuse inflicted upon them by their father Robert Richards IV.
The lawsuit alleges that the Defendant is a diagnosed pedophile with a sexual disorder. It alleges that in 2005 when his daughter was just three years old at the time of the childhood sexual abuse and that he also sexually abused her little brother who at the time was only 19 months old.
This abuse of both of his children continued until 2007 when his daughter reported her abuse to her maternal grandmother. After allegedly failing a lie detector test in 2008, the Defendant then pled guilty in Superior Court to one count of intentional rape in the 4th degree, sexual penetration of a victim less than 16, a felony. He received no jail time at all for this felony conviction and instead was put on eight years probation and ordered to stay away from children.
Furthermore, in 2010 the Defendant then admitted to the probation bureau that he believed he may have also had abused his son, Robert V. No additional criminal proceedings were forthcoming even after these new revelations. The purpose of the lawsuit is to obtain adequate compensation and medical care for these two innocent little children for problems which will last their lifetimes. In addition, it is hoped that their lawsuit will send a clear signal to child abusers and their enablers everywhere that such outrageous conduct will not be tolerated.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawsuit-du-pont-heir-convicted-of-rape-abused-2nd-child/
The Morse Trial-Abuse in Families
According to the press account this young girl has been living a nightmare that is reminiscent of grim fairy tale. The evil step-parent who favors his natural child. As an attorney who does child sex abuse lawsuits I have seen many cases of child who have been abused by a stepfather or guardian.
It is especially tough with the aggressor is someone who command society’s respect i.e. a doctor (we have this type of case also)
Chicago Diocese Covered Up Years of Abuse
The cover-up. Be it in politics or business, the problem of the cover-up is constant. Admitting that you made a mistake and failed to stop bad behavior is such an easy thing to do; but so often, instead of admitting mistakes, people and organizations try and cover up their mistakes. Recently in Chicago news broke that for decades the Catholic Diocese of Chicago hid evidence that many priests in its Diocese were abusing children. March Pearlman, another attorney who has represented victims of sex abuse summed it up best when he said, “The issue is not when the abuse happened; the issue is what they did once it was reported.”In Chicago Diocese officials did worst than do nothing, they covered up evidence and allowed sexual predators further opportunities to abuse children. Sadly, what happened in Chicago also happened in countless other dioceses around the country including Wilmington where Jacobs & Crumplar represented many individuals who were abused by priests employed by the Diocese of Wilmington. Jacobs & Crumplar has fought and continues to fight to hold institutions accountable for their cover-ups.
For more information about the cover-up in Chicago click on the below link.
http://news.msn.com/us/chicago-archdiocese-hid-decades-of-child-sex-abuse
Child Abuse Enabler Freed on a Technicality
As reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer on December 27, 2013 Msgr. William Lynn who was serving a three to six year jail term for child-endangerment was released on a technicality. The Superior Court panel, a Pennsylvania appellate court, held that the endangerment law in existence at the time Lynn permitted and enabled child abuser priests to remain in positions which gave them access to children, without warning to children or parents, only applied to people who directly supervised children. Even a member of Lynn’s defense team told the Philadelphia Inquirer on December 27, 2013 that “Under the new [child endangerment law enacted in 2007] there was little douubt that Lynn potentially could have been held legally responsible for the actions of other priests.”
If the Superior Court’s interpretation of the law is correct, then this shows the need for strong laws to protect children such as that enacted in 2007, as well as the importance of civil actions. In a civil action there is a lower burden of proof, preponderance of the evidence v. beyond a reasonable doubt, and there is less risk that an enabler will escape liability because of a technicality.
A champion of the rights of victims: Kelly Clark.
Jacobs & Crumplar is proud to work with countless other attorneys across the country in the fight against childhood predators and the institutions and organizations that cover-up their actions. Kelly Clark, a Portland based attorney, was one such attorney. He recently passed away.
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/12/portland_attorney_kelly_clark.html