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Child Protection

Houseguest Visiting Maryland Sexually Abused Child During Overnight Stay: Prosecutors Houseguest Visiting Maryland Sexually Abused Child During Overnight Stay: Prosecutors
Houseguest Visiting Maryland Sexually Abused Child During Overnight Stay: Prosecutors A West Virginia man who was staying overnight as a houseguest in Maryland was found guilty of sexually abusing a minor, prosecutors announced. Collin Andrew Hixson, 34, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was convicted following a bench trial after a May incident in St. Mary’s County, according to the State's Attorney's Office. Specifically, Hixson was found guilty before Judge Joseph Stanalonis of sex abuse of a minor and second-degree assault, prosecutors said. “The defendant, who was an overnight guest, abused his access to a child. The child courageously escaped the attack and sought h…
Predator Admits To Using Social Media After Leaving Veterans Center, Joining Incest Group: Feds Predator Admits To Using Social Media After Leaving Veterans Center, Joining Incest Group: Feds
Predator Admits To Using Social Media After Leaving Veterans Center, Joining Incest Group: Feds A Virginia man admitted in federal court that he possessed child porn after sending disturbing videos to an undercover FBI officer on social media, prosecutors announced. Christopher Allan Johnson, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child sexual exploitation materials involving a prepubescent minor, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia. According to court documents, Johnson used the Kik social media app on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, after leaving the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, where he logged into the platform and joined a public…
Virginia Man Waited After Fight, Opened Fire On Group In Apartment Complex: Police Virginia Man Waited After Fight, Opened Fire On Group In Apartment Complex: Police
Virginia Man Waited After Fight, Opened Fire On Group In Apartment Complex: Police A late-night fight outside a Virginia apartment ended with a man allegedly waiting for his target to walk back — then opening fire into a group of four, according to police. Sean Favors, 31, is facing attempted murder and other charges after allegedly lying in wait for his victims and firing shots into a group, the Fredericksburg Police Department announced on Tuesday. Police say that officers were called around 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, for reports of shots fired in the 1100 block of Fleetwood Court. When officers arrived, Favors and the reporting party’s brother “had been involved in…
$10M Sex Abuse Suit Names Dead New Jersey Teacher $10M Sex Abuse Suit Names Dead New Jersey Teacher
$10M Sex Abuse Suit Names Dead New Jersey Teacher A former student is suing a New Jersey school district $10 million, alleging he was groomed and sexually abused by his second-grade teacher more than 40 years ago. The civil complaint, filed Sept. 8 in Bergen County Superior Court, claims the victim — identified only as S.B. — was abused between 1981 and 1982 by teacher Howard Schultz while attending the George G. White Elementary School in Hillsdale. Schultz, who is now deceased, is named in the lawsuit through his estate. It wasn't immediately clear when Schultz died. The lawsuit says the abuse began with touching and massaging and …
Middle School Librarian Shared Child Porn; Had Box Of Kids’ Items, Costumes: DOJ Middle School Librarian Shared Child Porn; Had Box Of Kids’ Items, Costumes: DOJ
Middle School Librarian Shared Child Porn; Had Box Of Kids’ Items, Costumes: DOJ Federal prosecutors say a Longmeadow Public Schools middle school librarian is facing child pornography charges after a months-long undercover investigation. Scott McGinley, 55, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, is accused of distributing child sexual abuse material in an online group called “Little boyz only.” Authorities say that during conversations with undercover officers posing as fellow users, McGinley allegedly disclosed his sexual preference for “boys age 2-12” and “especially 4-7.' The US Attorney for Massachusetts prosecutors say McGinley told the undercover officer he had “students” wh…
Teen Records Maryland Camp Counselor Sexually Abusing Girls, Leads To Guilty Verdict Teen Records Maryland Camp Counselor Sexually Abusing Girls, Leads To Guilty Verdict
Teen Records Maryland Camp Counselor Sexually Abusing Girls, Leads To Guilty Verdict A clever teenager volunteering at a Maryland summer camp helped investigators identify a camp counselor who sexually abused young girls, authorities announced. Patrick Estrella, 77, of Clarksburg, is facing up to 70 years in prison after being convicted on a host of charges for inappropriately touching two girls under his supervision at Luxmanor Elementary School, where a camp was being held according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office. Prosecutors that a teenager volunteering at the camp saw Estrella, who was working as a camp counselor and chess teacher, inappropriately to…
635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools 635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools
635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools Meta says it has removed about 635,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts for trying to exploit children as it updates its teen safety features. The tech giant announced changes to its measures aimed at protecting young users in a blog post on Wednesday, July 23. The purge comes as Meta adds new restrictions to accounts run by adults that feature children. In the first half of 2025, Meta said its enforcement teams took down nearly 135,000 Instagram accounts for leaving sexualized comments or requesting sexual images on accounts that primarily feature children under 13.…
'No Prior Knowledge' Of Rape Allegations Against Retired Member: Maryland Fire Officials 'No Prior Knowledge' Of Rape Allegations Against Retired Member: Maryland Fire Officials
'No Prior Knowledge' Of Rape Allegations Against Retired Member: Maryland Fire Officials Top fire officials in Prince George’s County are breaking their silence after a retired member was accused of raping a junior firefighter at a volunteer station decades ago. The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department says it had “no prior knowledge” of the allegations involving retired firefighter John Inman, who was arrested earlier this month after a grand jury indicted him on multiple rape charges. The alleged abuse happened between 1991 and 1996 at the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Station. The victim was a junior firefighter. According to a statement released Wednesday, May 21, the d…
Frederick County Man Sentenced For Sexually Abusing Minor: State's Attorney Frederick County Man Sentenced For Sexually Abusing Minor: State's Attorney
Frederick County Man Sentenced For Sexually Abusing Minor: State's Attorney A Maryland man will spend more than a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a minor, Frederick County officials announced Tuesday. Jan Anthony Sleets, 46, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with all but 11 years suspended, after his guilty plea to sex abuse of a minor earlier this year in June.  The Frederick County Sheriff's Office began investigating the case in 2016 after receiving allegations of child sexual abuse.  Due to the victim's young age at the time—just 3 years old—the case was suspended but reopened in 2021 when further information became av…
Frederick County Predator Preying On Teens While Out On Bail Facing Life In Prison: Feds Frederick County Predator Preying On Teens While Out On Bail Facing Life In Prison: Feds
Frederick County Predator Preying On Teens While Out On Bail Facing Life In Prison: Feds A Maryland man who used multiple phones and online apps to target teens - including while he was out on bail and charges were pending - admitted to coercing and enticing minors, federal authorities announced. Michael Vance Culpepper, 56, of Walkersville, is facing life in prison after being busted by an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl online, then doubling down. According to his guilty plea, in April and May 2023, Culpepper used mobile phones and online applications to persuade, induce, entice and coerce two victims whom he believed to be 13- and 14-year-old to engage in sex…
Man Busted For Sexual Solicitation By Officer Posing As 15-Year-Old Girl In Maryland: Sheriff Man Busted For Sexual Solicitation By Officer Posing As 15-Year-Old Girl In Maryland: Sheriff
Man Busted For Sexual Solicitation By Officer Posing As 15-Year-Old Girl In Maryland: Sheriff A 48-year-old Virginia man is facing charges in Maryland for allegedly targeting a young girl - who was, in fact, an undercover officer - through a messaging app, authorities announced. David Clay Murray, of Fairfax, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual solicitation of a minor following an investigation by the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. In early August, a detective performing online investigations posing as a minor girl who was 15 was contacted by Murray through the cellular messaging app.  Investigators say that during the course of the conversation, the de…
Scathing New Report Details Sexual Abuse In Baltimore Archdiocese Scathing New Report Details Sexual Abuse In Baltimore Archdiocese
Scathing New Report Details Sexual Abuse In Baltimore Archdiocese Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has released his office’s long-awaited investigative report into allegations of sexual abuse involving church leaders in Baltimore over the course of decades. On Wednesday, April 5, Brown released the redacted “Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” which represents the results of a four-year investigation into reports of sexual abuse and a subsequent coverup by Catholic Church officials. The report includes a list of abusers, a history of child abuse in Maryland, a summary of the cover-up, recommendations, and other informatio…
Seesaw App Used By Elementary Schools Sends NSFW Photos To Parents In Apparent Nationwide Hack Seesaw App Used By Elementary Schools Sends NSFW Photos To Parents In Apparent Nationwide Hack
Seesaw App Used By Elementary Schools Sends Nsfw Photos To Parents In Apparent Nationwide Hack Elementary schools across the US are urging parents to not open the messages on the Seesaw app after an apparent hack sent out "inappropriate" images starting on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.  "The platform was hacked and is experiencing a nationwide issue where some school district families and teachers were receiving links/URLs to inappropriate images," officials at a Schodock elementary school in New York said on its website.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Seesaw (@seesawlearning) Most schools are simply asking parents and guard…