Assaults and Sexual Crimes 09/03/2023

(September 1) Mother Sues Columbia County Church, Daycare Worker For Assaulting Autistic Son | Grovetown, GA

The mother of an autistic child in Columbia County has filed a lawsuit against a daycare provider she claims assaulted her child.

The lawsuit, filed by Kasey Brooks on Aug. 2 in Columbia County Superior Court, alleges her son was assaulted while participating at the St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church "Mother's Day Out" program.

On Aug. 11, 2021, Brooks attended an open house at the church for it's "Mother's Day Out" program to find out if it would be a good fit for her son, according to the suit.

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(August 31) A Former Green Bay Pastor Has Pleaded Guilty In Federal Court To Engaging In Sexual Communications With A Teenage Boy In Venezuela | Green Bay, WI

Cory Herthel, 40, was convicted Tuesday of attempted sexual exploitation of a child. A second count of the same charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. These charges were changed from the initial charges he faced in June, attempted production of child pornography and transferring obscene material to a child.

Herthel was a pastor at Green Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church, but was fired shortly after he was charged. According to a statement from the Wisconsin Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Herthel's "ministerial credentials and ordination" were revoked, meaning he won't be able to preach at any Seventh-day Adventist churches in the future.

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(August 30) Loxley Pastor Arrested On Child Pornography Charges: Baldwin Co. Sheriff’s Office | Loxley, AL

A Baptist Church pastor in Loxley has been arrested on child pornography charges, according to officials with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials said Allan Jones, the pastor at Lifeway Community Church, was charged with four counts of possession of child pornography. Deputies received a cyber tip from a company that monitors illegal online activity.

Officials said the investigation has been going on for a couple of weeks. Officials said deputies found pictures on Jones’ cell phone. None of the children in the pictures seem to be from the area, according to officials.

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(August 28) NC Teacher, Youth Pastor Arrested Twice For Child Sex Crimes | NC

A former youth pastor and kindergarten teacher in Morganton, North Carolina, was arrested a second time for child sex crimes.

Aaron Mirtsching was first charged with three counts of third-degree sexual exploitation with a minor, accused of possessing images depicting sexual abuse of children.

On Tuesday, Mirtsching was arrested and accused of possessing images depicting sexual abuse of children between the ages of 8 and 10.

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(August 24) Wyoming Bishop Accused Of Serial Sexual Abuse Dies | WY

For the past 22 years, Ed Gavagan has been in what he calls a race against time.

Seeking justice for the sexual abuse he suffered as a teenager and later disclosed as an adult, Gavagan watched the man he accused — a Catholic priest — grow old while evading repeated efforts to hold him accountable. He even wrote to Pope Francis asking for his help.

When he heard Joseph Hart, the former bishop for Wyoming, died Wednesday, Gavagan was left feeling like he should have done more to pursue justice, he said. At 60 years old, with decades between him and the abuse, he had to remind himself that what happened was not his fault.

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