November 5, 2009
Reproduced in its entirety with permission from the authors.
Source: University of New Hampshire
Newswise — Law enforcement officers who are exposed to child pornography as part of their investigative work report experiencing mental health problems that impact both their work and home lives, according to new research from the University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center.
“Many people may not be aware of how many law enforcement personnel are exposed to disturbing images of children being sexually victimized when they investigate child pornography crimes. This is a new kind of stress for police that needs to be addressed,” said Janis Wolak, senior researcher at the UNH Crimes against Children Research Center.
The research is presented in the bulletin “Work Exposure to Child Pornography in ICAC Task Forces and Affiliates.” The research was conducted by Wolak and Kimberly Mitchell, also a senior researcher at the UNH Crimes against Children Research Center.
“Some law enforcement executives may not realize how distressing it can be to view the evidence in these cases; it can include hundreds of pictures and videos. This bulletin is designed to raise awareness and understanding and provide some helpful suggestions from agencies that are confronting this problem,” Wolak said.
Researchers surveyed more than 500 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force commanders and liaisons to ICAC affiliates. Participants represented local, county, state, and federal law enforcement from across the United States. All respondents had been exposed to child pornography during investigations of crimes involving child sexual exploitation.
The researchers found:
• About half of the survey participants were concerned about the psychological impacts of work exposure to child pornography.
• 35 percent of ICAC Task Force participants and 10 percent of those from affiliates had seen problems arising from work exposure to child pornography.
• Close to 40 percent of participants thought more mental health services were needed in their agencies.
• Few agencies gave information about possible related stresses to personnel who viewed child pornography.
• Some participants said their work was not supported and respected within their agencies.
• Lack of forensic capacity, obsolete equipment, and training were concerns for some agencies.
• Most participants found their work satisfying, but with some reservations.
A number of respondents reporting experiencing personal, family, and marital, and work-related problems as a result of their exposure to child pornography.
Personal, family, and marital problems included insomnia, stress, depression, and weight gain that seemed related to exposure to child pornography. Some had seen effects on family relationships, including relationships with children. One respondent reported being hyper-vigilant around children and always suspicious of adult males, while another reported a colleague, who was about to become a father, crying after viewing child pornography.
Others said seeing explicit, disturbing sexual images affected sexual and marital relationships.
Work‐related problems included anger, loss of objectivity, and drops in productivity. One respondent said, “In general, everyone seems to be shocked and disgusted at what they have to view. This usually turns into anger at the suspect.”
“We need to find out more about who is most at risk for negative affects and what agencies can do to alleviate distress for those doing this important work,” the researchers said.
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, through the ICAC Training and Technical Assistance Program.
Created in 1998, the UNH Crimes against Children Research Center (CCRC) works to combat crimes against children by providing high-quality research and statistics to the public, policy makers, law enforcement personnel, and other child welfare practitioners. CCRC is concerned with research about the nature of crimes including child abduction, homicide, rape, assault, and physical and sexual abuse as well as their impact. Associated with the CCRC is an internationally recognized group of experts who have published numerous books and articles concerning the incidence and impact of violence against children. Visit the center online. (http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/index.html)
The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state’s flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.
November 1, 2009
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s deputies conducting a search warrant found thousands of child sexual assault images on Brian E. Demarest’s Blackberry. Demarest, 41, who lives in Ypsilanti Township and works as a handyman in a mobile home community, had images, including ones that appear to have been produced by him, of adults raping children. Some of the children depicted were as young as 5- and 6-years-old.
As is very often the case, Demarest has children of his own. 42% of all child pornography possessors according to a study by the University of New Hampshire (2005) had their own children. Department of Justice statistics (1999) tell us that 96% of child molesters are people within a child’s circle of trust – like parents, siblings, relatives, family friends, teachers, coaches, clergy, etc. Since on average about only 1% or less of child predators and molesters ever get caught by the system, it comes as no surprise that deputies say they don’t believe Demarest has a criminal record.
According to AnnArbor.com, Sonny Gonzales, who lives in the neighborhood, said Demarest has twice worked on his mobile home. He said he was surprised at the allegations.
“How can you tell?” he asked. “You can’t look at somebody and say, ‘Oh yeh, this guy’s doing this.’ It’s very disgusting.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Tom Boivin at 734-973-4625 or Det. Kevin Parviz at 734-484-6740.
October 30, 2009
William Smithson, 44, of Thornbury Township, Pennsylvania has had 24 months added on to his life sentence for possessing child sexual assault images. He was already in jail for killing Jason Shephard, 23, who came to work as an intern for Daktronics, where Smithson was a supervisor.
The illusion that child pornography posssessors are not harmful to society is a dangerous and delusional one. Not only does the Butner Redux Study point to a one-to-one correlation between posssessing child sexual assault images and being a child molester, but tracking the digital trail of child sexual assault images can be incredibly useful for finding killers and capturing them before they strike. Unfortunately, as in the case of David Westerfield,
who had a large collection of child sexual assualt images, and consequently kidnapped, raped, and killed Daniel VanDamm, police did not have enough resources to hunt and capture a killer like Smithson before he struck.
There are probably hundreds or thousands more killers out there who have large collections of child sexual assault and torture image collections in their possession. We have the technology but not the resources to capture them.
We need your help to get law enforcement officers the resources they need so they can keep us and our children safe. Please choose a team in need and help them with any size donation so that they can get the job done.
October 29, 2009
Ralph Lee Aaron, 54, a former Baptist pastor in Andalusia, Alabama, was arrested on October 21 on 152 counts of child sexual assault image possession and child sexual abuse. According to the Associated Baptist Press, Aaron was investigated while at his former church in 2005 for allegedly making a verbal sexual advance to a youngster. No charges were filed, because it was a misdemeanor and the statute of limitations had run out by the time the complaint was filed.
Although most of the charges are for production of child sexual assault images, three counts are for sexual torture, three are for first-degree sodomy and eight are for sexual abuse of a child younger than 12.
Aaron is being held in the Covington County Jail, and shows no remorse, say officials.
Stephen Wayne Sudduth, 34, an elementary school teacher living in Sealy, Texas, was indicted on state child sexual assault possession and promotion charges. Sudduth was employed at Nottingham Country Elementary School in the Katy Independent School District as a kindergarten teacher from 2000 to 2006, state Attorney General Greg Abbott said to the Austin Statesman. He called the case one of the most “disturbing, depraved and horrendous kinds of crimes imaginable.” Abbott also said what was so alarming about the case is that the former teacher was going to school daily and was in contact with children of the same age as those in the images and videos allegedly seized by investigators.
Sudduth was hired by the Tobias Elementary School in Kyle, Texas, in June, and resigned in July. Officials there said he had not had any contact with children at the new school. They alsoo said, “We rely on criminal background checks when hiring people. He had no criminal record.”
Unfortunately, since 1% or even less of child molesters are ever convicted of thier crimes, background checks rarely catch them. Parents need to be aware that there is very little schools can do to prevent predators from finding employment with them.
While without a doubt most teachers care about children and want to genuinely help them, teaching is fertile land for child predators seeking power over children and legitimage excuses to have contact with them. Many parents implicitly trust teachers, coaches, clergy and others with whom their children interact and look up to.
It’s important that parents take the time to speak to their children about the fact that 96% (DOJ) of child molesters are trusted people. There is no profile of a child sex predator, no way to tell who may be hurting our children in this way. In fact, according to police and character witness testimony, many of these predators are the most helpful, solicitous, kindest and nicest adults around, and use those cultivated and calculated traits to gain access to children and convince everyone around them that they could not be doing what they are doing.
Under Texas law, possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,0000. Promotion of child pornography is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
October 28, 2009
Albert F. Slatter Jr., 59, a band teacher in Longview, Texas, pled guilty to possession of child sexual abuse images. He was fired from the Longview Indpedent School District last year when the charges surfaced, according to the Houston Chronicle. He is in custody pending sentencing.
October 27, 2009
San Diego US Attorney Karen Hewitt announced this week that the number of child pornography cases prosecuted by her office has nearly doubled (96% increase) between 2008 and 2009. In October alone, 5 dangerous child predators, including a Fire Department Captain and Middle School swim coach were sentenced to federal prison in child sexual abuse image cases.
In the first case, on October 1, 2009, Robert Eugene Bryant, a former Captain with the Chula Vista Fire Department, tendered his guilty plea for possession of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct before Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo. According to the plea agreement, Bryant also admitted to engaging in two online sexual chats with individuals he believed were minors. Final acceptance of the plea and sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., before United States District Judge John A. Houston. This case stems from an investigation by the Chula Vista Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force ( ICAC ) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.
In the second case, Jorge Antonio Lobo, a former surf coach at Muirlands Middle School, was sentenced on October 9, 2009, by United States District Court Judge William Q. Hayes to serve 18 months in custody and five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. The Court also required Lobo to register as a sex offender. Lobo pled guilty on September 5, 2008, to possessing a computer containing images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The case stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne K. Perry.
In the third case, Wayne Croteau, a janitor at a church, was sentenced on October 16, 2009, by United States District Court Judge William Q. Hayes to serve 160 months in custody and ten years of supervised release; the Court also required Croteau to register as a sex offender. Croteau tendered his guilty plea on April 30, 2009, before Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo to receipt of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252( a )( 2 ). According to court records, Croteau admitted making purchases of child pornography with his credit card. Croteau further admitted to downloading images and videos of children, some as young as six years old, depicted in sexual acts. This case stems from an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.
In the fourth case, Dustin Anthony Kram, a 20-year-old resident of San Diego, California, employed in the retail business, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino to serve 97 months in custody and five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. The Court also required Kram to register as a sex offender. Kram pled guilty on April 30, 2009, to distribution of images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, he possessed a computer and other media containing over 600 images of minors, some as young as 10 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults and each other. In sentencing Kram, the Court also took into account evidence showing that Kram used the social networking website “MySpace” to attempt to induce a minor to engage in sexual activity. This case stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the ICAC Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Kanter.
In the fifth case, Robert David Schreiber was sentenced on October 19, 2009, by United States District Judge Marilyn Huff to serve 46 months custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $2500.00 fine. He must also register as a sex offender. Schreiber pled guilty to possession of images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In his plea agreement, he admitted that on or about March 16, 2004, he possessed a computer with over 600 visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, some as young as 5-6 years of age. Prior to his arrest, he was a self-employed business man with various financial investments. This case stems from an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.
The San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is composed of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the Chula Vista Police Department, the United States Attorney’s Office, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service, the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the El Cajon Police Department.
October 26, 2009
Rev. Antonio Cortes, priest at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Salinas, California has been accused of providing alcohol to a young boy for years, starting at the Holy Trinity Church, then sodomizing him. Cortes is charged with sodomy involving a minor and possession of child pornography, both felonies, and 12 misdemeanor counts that include child molestation, furnishing alcohol to a minor, cruelty to a child and performing an immoral act before a child.
Images of crimes scenes of children being sexually abused were found on computers seized from St. Mary’s, with some of the least graphic titles including “Boy lovers 6 to 14 years old,” according to the Monterey County Herald.
Judge Larry Hayes ruled there is enough evidence on all the charges to proceed to trial on November 13. The courtroom was packed with the priest’s supporters. Cortes is free on $100,000 bail and living with a family in his parish.
October 22, 2009
Michael Highman, 43, a middle-school teacher and boys basketball coach living in Upper Arlington, ohio, was arrested and charged with possessing thousands of images and movies of prepubescent children being sexually abused. According to nbc4i.com, Highman admitted he collected and distributed child pornography and said he preferred boys ages 8 to 14.
Highman resigned his teaching and coaching positions, surrendered his state teaching license, and was released with an electronic monitor pending indictment.
Upper Arlington Police Department has desperate needs for equipment to take more child sex predators off the streets. Any amount will help them. Please support their work of keeping local neighborhoods safe.
October 21, 2009
Rev. Robert Timchak, 43, of Milford, Pennsylvania, surrendered to state police on Monday, October 19 and was charged with 19 counts of possessing child sexual abuse images and tampering with evidence.
