Former Officer Patrick Earwood Convicted on 10 Counts of Child Molestation

Jurors took two hours Wednesday to convict former Cave Spring police officer Patrick Earwood on 10 counts, including aggravated child molestation, in Floyd County Superior Court.

Earwood, 31, faces 25 years to life in prison for aggravated child molestation. Judge Tami Colston is scheduled June 9 to sentence Earwood on all his charges.

“I’m very pleased with the jury’s verdict,” Assistant District Attorney Kay Ann Wetherington said.

Jurors convicted Earwood on two counts each of aggravated sodomy and second-degree child cruelty and on one count each of aggravated child molestation, sexual battery, sexual assault against a person in custody, child molestation, giving false statements and violation of his oath as a public officer.

They acquitted Earwood on one count each of sexual assault against a person in custody and sexual battery.

Peter Odom, Earwood’s attorney, said he respects the jury, adding it’s likely his client will appeal.

“We’re very disappointed in the verdict,” Odom said. “Obviously, the jury did not see things the way we thought they should.”

Jurors found that Ear wood touched or coerced three of four women into sex acts between 2012 and June 2013. They acquitted Earwood on accusations he touched a woman’s breasts in exchange for not taking her to jail for DUI.

Closing arguments

Odom attacked the victims in his closing arguments, questioning their credibility and deriding prosecutors for what he called a lack of evidence.

“Allegations are easy to make,” Odom told jurors. “But in a court of law they’ve got to withstand the acid test of your reasoning.

“I’m going to talk to you about what the evidence is — words,” Odom added. “You’ve got the words of two teenagers and two criminals. That’s it.”

The allegations against Earwood surfaced last June when one of the teens told a friend. Police began investigating, and on July 1 arrested Earwood.

Odom told jurors that the teens initially denied that his client touched them, saying that’s why the younger girl was reticent about testifying.

“She made it up,” Odom said. “She got Sgt. (Teri) Davis all worked up to the point that she made an arrest, and she can’t take it back.”

Odom said the girls’ stories kept changing because they’re false. The two adult women had a reason to lie because they faced potential criminal charges.

One woman admitted she used drugs and has a conviction for giving police false information. The other was stopped for DUI, though her case never reached court, Odom said.

The defense attorney also hammered prosecutors for failing to provide jurors the victims’ phone records. Odom questioned why Davis didn’t get the records between one teen and her boyfriend, and the conversations between both teen victims.

“What physical evidence do you have to support the claims the state is making?” Odom asked. “You’ve got nothing.”

Wetherington dismissed Odom’s arguments, telling jurors the victims’ testimony is the best evidence.

“He had a badge,” Wetherington said of Earwood. “He had a gun. He had a patrol car. He had power. I can only imagine how these victims felt at the time this officer exercised control over them. Instead of serve and protect he chose to molest and assault.”

Wetherington advised jurors against focusing on what she called unimportant details, and instead examine the elements of the crimes.

Three of the victims didn’t live in Cave Spring. The victim who lived in the small town was 14 years old at the time and without parental supervision.

“What has she gained from this?” Wetherington asked. “Nothing. She has nothing to gain. No motive whatsoever.

“This is not a conspiracy,” the prosecutor added. “This is not a coincidence.”

The teen victims know each other, but the adult victims don’t know any of the others. Wetherington called them credible because of that and because she said they told similar stories: that Earwood coerced a sex act from them in exchange for avoiding jail.

“Please be the voice of these girls,” Wetherington said, referring to all four victims. “They’ve got no dog in this fight.”

Officer John McCavitt Arrested for Child Porn

    A Peoria police officer faces child pornography charges less than two months after a jury acquitted him of sexually assaulting an adult woman.

    John McCavitt, 32, 1710 W. Westaire Ave., already has been released from the Peoria County Jail after posting $5,000 bond on seven counts of aggravated child pornography and three counts of possession of child porn. Illicit images allegedly were found while Peoria police were investigating an alleged sexual assault last July.

    The charges were handed down April 23 but sealed until Monday, when McCavitt turned himself in to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.

    Kevin Sullivan, who represents McCavitt, said his client denies the charges.

    “My client denies he’s ever downloaded, received or viewed child pornography,” he said.

    State’s Attorney Jerry Brady declined to comment, saying the matter was a pending case and a pending investigation.

    According to the charges, McCavitt had possession of some or all of the images from April 2011 until January 2013. An affidavit for a search warrant, which was filed in the Peoria County Circuit Clerk’s Office on Monday, indicated two images involved girls ages 6 and 10. In all, the search warrant stated, 53 images allegedly were found to be in McCavitt’s possession.

    Investigators also allegedly found evidence of McCavitt using search engines to find child porn as well as him visiting child porn Web sites.

    It’s the third time McCavitt, a veteran of the Peoria Police Department since 2007, has faced charges. He initially was charged with sexual assault but was acquitted in March.

    In that case, he was accused of assaulting a woman he had been out drinking with last July. The victim told jurors she went to sleep and woke up in restraints. She then told jurors she was assaulted by McCavitt, who said the sex was consensual.

    Then, last month, he was accused of unauthorized videotaping for allegedly recording a different woman in March 2013.

    Those charges as well as the child pornography counts came about through an internal department investigation which began after McCavitt was acquitted. That’s standard procedure for the Police Department, which waits until a criminal case has concluded before conducting its own internal investigation.

    The affidavit also alleged that investigators found images of partially naked women as well as men and women using a bathroom; facts that appear to go with the unauthorized videotaping counts.

    A grand jury has not met to hear the allegations against McCavitt on the videotaping charges, which carry a possible three-year prison term.

    The child porn charges are more serious and could send McCavitt to prison for up to seven years. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the counts on May 22.

McCavitt was moved from paid to unpaid leave on Monday, pending the outcome of the criminal cases and any subsequent internal investigation, said Sullivan.


Previous Arrest

Police Officer Accused of Raping Child Remains Free Until Court Date

Despite facing a potential life sentence for the offense, the senior-constable — who was charged by colleagues at his own station — was never arrested. Instead he was handed a court attendance­ notice instructing him to ­appear at Goulburn Local Court on June 18.

The 40-year-old, attached to the southern region, was charged with aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 years and assault occasioning actual harm. The complaint was made in October over offences that allegedly occurred earlier last year.

The policeman’s colleagues chose to issue a future court attendance notice with strict conditions, including an ­apprehended violence order protecting his alleged victim, despite the offenses carrying maximum penalties of life ­imprisonment and five years in jail respectively.

He continued to work as a police officer while under ­investigation and was only formally suspended, with pay, at 5pm yesterday.

Police Minister Mike Gallacher last night said he would “be making formal inquiries with the Commissioner (Andrew Scipione) to ascertain the full facts relating to this matter”.

Child protection advocacy group Bravehearts founder and CEO Hetty Johnston said she was concerned by the police court notice process.

“These are two serious charges against a child and this person should not be released. If there’s a legality that has ­allowed this person to be freed, it must be changed,” Ms Johnston said.

A NSW police spokeswoman said the decision to issue the court attendance ­notice instead of arresting the officer came after advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions that there was “sufficient evidence to lay charges”.

“An interim apprehended violence order is in place for the protection of the alleged victims and witnesses,” she said. “There is no automatic presumption against bail.”

The spokeswoman said ­investigators considered it ­appropriate to issue the court notice, as was allowed under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act.

Police also defended the four days it took to publicly release information about the charge — at 9.07pm on Monday. “As per NSW Police protocol, a media release was issued once the appropriate approval processes were completed,” she said.

In January it emerged one in 40 serving officers in NSW had committed an offence, with 437 serving officers having criminal convictions. Ten police officers have been charged in the past month. On March 28, a 29-year-old senior-constable was charged with aggravated indecent ­assault and indecent assault of two other officers between 2011 and 2012 at a city police station.

The police spokeswoman said no police officer was ­“exempt from the law”.

NSW POLICE RAP SHEET OF SHAME

April 20: Constable charged with low range drink driving at Tempe. Will appear at Balmain Local Court on May 14.

April 18: Constable charged after running red light and involved in police pursuit at Eastwood. Charged with police pursuit under Skye’s Law and two counts of not stopping at red light. Will appear at Burwood Local Court on June 4.

April 17: Senior constable charged with aggravated sexual intercourse with child under 10 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Southern Region. Will appear at Goulburn Local Court on June 18.

April 11: Constable charged with common assault and police officer take detrimental action for reprisal. Will appear at Newtown Local Court on May 27.

April 11: Senior constable charged with make false official instrument to pervert course of justice, allegedly creating a false record. Will appear at Maitland Local Court on May 19.

April 2: Police officer attached to specialist command charged with making threats over the telephone against a private business. Charged 38-year-old constable with using carriage service to threaten serious harm. Will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on April 23.

April 1: Senior constable charged with low-range drink driving at Glebe. Will appear at Balmain Local Court on April 30.

March 28: A 29-year-old senior constable charged with aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault of two other officers between December 2011 and April 2013. Will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on April 29.

March 27: A 47-year-old constable charged with intimidation after domestic-related incidents. Will appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on April 24.

March 24: At 10pm, senior constable driving Toyota RAV-4 charged with mid-range drink driving after registering a 0.102 reading. Later charged with assaulting police and resisting police. Will appear at Orange Local Court on April 24.

DOC Lt. John Randall Charged with Child Sexual Assault

A 36-year-old lieutenant with the Texas Department of Corrections was arrested Tuesday afternoon after being indicted by a Bexar County grand jury Monday on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, deputies say.

Members of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Apprehension Unit arrested John Randall at his place of work, the Ruben M. Torres Correctional Facility in Hondo.

Deputies said Randall has worked at the facility since May 1, 2012.

Randall is accused of repeated sexual assault of a child from incidents dating back to the summer of 2012, according to the Sheriff's Office.

According to SAPD spokesman Officer Roger Zuniga, the incidents occurred between June 20 and July 5, 2012, at Randall's home on the Northwest Side.

The victim was a 13-year-old female.

The case was originally reported to Hays County Sheriff's officials, who passed it on to San Antonio police after it was determined the incidents occurred in San Antonio.

The victim's guardian said that Randall had assaulted the girl several times in his residence during that two-week period.

It is unclear what the victim was doing in Randall's home or what their relationship may have been.

After his arrest, deputies said Randall was brought to the Magistrate's Office in San Antonio. His bond is set at $75,000.

Former Chief Michael Parker Facing Child Sex Charges

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 Everyone, we received a message earlier stating that this cop may have all charges against him dropped in a plea deal because the chief has twice tried to commit suicide. This cop raped and sodomized a little 7-year-old boy dozens of times in the police chief's office at the police department. We ask that all of our followers like and share this post in hopes it goes viral and that the resulting publicity shames the district attorney enough so that he reconsiders and prosecutes this case.
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A big development in case we've been following. You may recall when the former West Columbia police chief disappeared. Now more than a month later, he's turned up again, and he's been indicted on some very serious charges.

As the child sexual assault case against him moves forward, everyone wants to know -- where had he been?

Last August, Michael Parker was running the West Columbia Police Department. We talked to him then about a suspicious letter he was investigating.

"Given the way things are these days, you never know what's going to show up in your mailbox anymore," Parker told us in August 2012.

Now a year later, Palmer is facing multiple charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, and eight counts of tampering with evidence.

The former chief went on the run over a month ago when investigators turned up evidence that he'd bound, gagged and sexually assaulted a young boy, repeatedly, beginning in 1998. They even say they found bondage gear in Palmer's office at the police department.

Police and EquuSearch volunteers spent days trying to find him. He finally turned up Monday, near the town of Brazoria, where investigators with the county district attorney's arrested him.

The DA won't say exactly where he was arrested or where he'd been hiding. Palmer was released Tuesday after posting a $75,000 bond.

He wasn't home Friday when we stopped by.

West Columbia residents we talked to said they're glad he's off the street.

"He's got a problem. He's a sick fella evidently. They certainly need to take care of somebody like that," said resident Ike French.

Palmer lost his job in February before the child sex charges were filed when fellow officers complained he was stealing pain killers taken as evidence in police investigations.

Palmer still faces trial on all of the charges against him. The child sex abuse charges alone are enough to send him to prison for life if he's convicted.

Officer Desmond Pleads Guilty to Sex Charges

New Orleans police Officer Desmond Pratt, a former homicide detective who investigated a 2009 murder pinned on accused Central City crime boss Telly Hankton, stood up in orange jail scrubs Friday and lightly fist-bumped a courtroom bailiff.

He crossed his chest with a shackled hand, heaved a nervous breath and gestured to a pair of relatives sitting in the gallery. Pratt then turned to the judge and pleaded guilty to three felony sex charges stemming from separate allegations spanning 15 years, back to his days as a rookie cop.

Criminal District Court Judge Franz Zibilich recited the rights Pratt already knew and was giving up with his plea, then handed him a three-year prison sentence.

Pratt pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery and one count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. He shook his head and frequently glanced back at his weeping family, who sat alongside the dry-eyed mother of the most recent victim.

The deal culminated weeks of plea negotiations between prosecutors and Pratt’s attorney, Robert Jenkins, before a trial scheduled for Tuesday.

Indicted in August, Pratt, 43, faced as much as two decades behind bars if convicted in an aggravated sex crime involving the most recent victim, whose allegation dates from last spring.

The allegation in that case was reduced to sexual battery. Pratt also faced charges of aggravated sexual assault and carnal knowledge of a juvenile from earlier incidents in 1998 and 2001. He pleaded guilty as charged to those counts. All three victims were from 13 to 15 years old at the time of the incidents.

The two older allegations stemmed from complaints made after Pratt was arrested last April.

First, a Texas woman came forward to say Pratt had abused her while she was a student at a New Orleans public school. Police then unearthed an old complaint against Pratt from 2001, when another victim accused him of abuse; NOPD detectives at the time of that complaint determined the evidence to be “inconclusive.”

Prosecutor Jason Napoli acknowledged that the two earlier victims refused to testify in the case and rebuffed prosecutors’ attempts to gain their cooperation. Most recently, Napoli said, the victim from the 1998 incident last week “informed us she was not willing to get on that flight.”

Also, the victim in the most recent incident “does not wish a severe penalty on him,” Napoli told Zibilich.

The girl’s desire, and the lack of cooperation from the others, weighed on the sentence, said Zibilich, who also noted that none of the victims wanted to make a statement in court following Pratt’s plea, as the law allows.

Still, “one can only assume at least some activity occurred,” the judge said of the allegations.

“Whether these victims have actually forgiven you is something I don’t really know,” Zibilich told Pratt. The judge urged Pratt to “address this issue” while in prison and said he would recommend that the state assign him to a special facility for security reasons.

At an earlier hearing, Zibilich had urged Pratt to consider a plea deal, noting that the most serious of the charges in the indictment could have landed him in prison for 20 years if he was convicted. “You’re at risk here,” he said at the March 13 hearing.

Just how Pratt’s conviction could affect pending criminal cases in which he has played a role remains uncertain.

Hankton, who is serving a life prison sentence for a 2008 murder, is among 13 family members and alleged associates charged in a federal racketeering case that wraps together other murders, violent crimes and an alleged drug ring dating back decades.

Among the murders was the slaying of Hankton rival Jessie “TuTu” Reed in 2009. A witness in that case, Hasan “Hockie” Williams, identified Hankton as one of the shooters, according to police, and was gunned down a few weeks later. Pratt played a lead role in the investigation of Reed’s murder, and he requested witness protection for Williams shortly before his killing, according to police documents.

In the meantime, Pratt’s involvement in another case already has caused trouble for District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office. Last year, Pratt refused to testify about a murder investigation. Through his testimony, prosecutors were trying to introduce witness statements that he took, but they were stymied by his silence on the witness stand.

That prosecution, accusing Terrance Nobles, 22, and Demond Taylor, 29, of gunning down 18-year-old Roderick Sheppard in October 2010, remains pending.

Christopher Bowman, a spokesman for Cannizzaro’s office, said he didn’t know how many pending cases may still involve Pratt as a potential witness or what will become of them.

“We’re going to deal with those on a case-by-case basis,” Bowman said.

He also said he didn’t know whether any criminal cases had been scuttled because of the sex allegations against Pratt.

Although Napoli offered no opinion in court Friday about what sentence Zibilich should impose — sexual battery carries a possible sentence of zero to 10 years — Cannizzaro agreed to the plea deal because it locked in prison time for the officer, Bowman said.

“What we got out of the deal was a guarantee for years in prison,” Bowman said. “Also, for the crimes he was convicted of, he will have to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender. We were able to satisfy our public safety objectives as well as the desires of the victims, so this was a good day.”

Pratt will get credit for the 11 months he has spent behind bars, mostly in St. Charles Parish. As he left the courtroom accompanied by an Orleans Parish sheriff’s deputy, Pratt mouthed, “I didn’t do it.” Ambling down the hallway in chains, he stopped to chat with family members and the mother of the most recent victim.

Prosecutors said she had been uncooperative in their investigation — a claim she hotly disputed to the judge.

Correctional Officer Cory Colvin Arrested for Sexual Assault on Child

An East Texas correctional officer is behind bars and is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child.

According to Upshur County records, 33-year-old Cory Colvin was arrested Monday, and is charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.

Texas Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Jason Clark said that Colvin is a correctional officer at the Telford Unit, which is located in New Boston, Texas.

Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said that Colvin confessed the assault to authorities in the Upshur County Sheriff's Office and was arrested on site.

He is being held in the Upshur County Jail on one hundred Thousand dollars bond.

Former Officer Nelson Salinas Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Battery on Minor

U.S. Marshals are on the hunt for a former Peruvian police officer accused of molesting his friend's daughter, and authorities want to catch him before he leaves the country.

"Time is of the essence," said Rob Fernandez, commander of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. "We want to get this guy before he runs back to his homeland."

Nelson Salinas, 54, is wanted by Fairfax County police on two counts of aggravated sexual battery on a minor.

Authorities said Salinas and the victim's father were police officers in Peru before both families immigrated to the United States and settled in the Alexandria and Arlington area.

The girl's family temporarily stayed with Salinas' family. Police said Salinas snuck into the girl's bed twice and touched her inappropriately. She was about 11 years old.

Salinas was charged with sexual battery after the victim conducted a phone sting and the man admitted to the accusations, police said.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and police would like the public to provide information to help bring him to justice.

Salinas is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 175 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Salinas' whereabouts is urged to call the U.S. Marshals Service at 800-336-0102. The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, run by the U.S. Marshals Service, comprises 30 federal, state and local agencies from Baltimore to Norfolk. Since its creation in 2004, the unit has captured more than 29,000 wanted fugitives.

Deputy Daniel Ward Arrested for Sexual Battery on Child

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has arrested a former Campbell County deputy after he was indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges of the sexual battery of a minor.

Daniel Ward, 36 and of Jacksboro, was indicted on 16 counts overall. The indictment includes 10 counts of aggravated sexual battery of a minor under the age of 13, two counts of attempted aggravated sexual battery of a minor under the age of 13, two counts sexual battery by an authority figure, and two counts of sexual battery.

A Campbell County grand jury handed down the indictment on Monday.

The TBI began investigating the allegations against Ward in December, after a request by the district attorney.

Ward is accused of sexually molesting one victim numerous times between October 2003 and March 2009.

He's been booked into the Campbell County jail on $25,000 bond.

While employed with the sheriff's office, he worked as a corrections officer and a patrol deputy.

Former Officer Jeffery Garcia Guilty of Rape

A former Alexander police officer has been convicted of rape and sexual abuse of three children.

A Saline County jury deliberated just 15 minutes before finding Jeffrey Garcia guilty of two counts of rape and one count of second-degree sexual assault. Garcia was sentenced to a total of 100 years in prison.

The now 12, 13 and 14-year-old testified they were sexually molested and beaten.

Garcia did not testify but in a tape recorded interview with Benton police that was played for the jury he denied abusing the children.

Garcia resigned from the Alexander police force while in jail in the case.

Officer Antonio White Charged with Rape, Incest & Other Sex Charges

Macon police say an officer has been placed on administrative leave after he was arrested on multiple sex charges in Houston County.

Police said in a statement released Friday that 33-year-old Antonio J. White of Warner Robins is charged with rape, incest, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, statutory rape, cruelty to children and child molestation.

Sheriff's deputies arrested White around 6:40 p.m. Thursday. He was being held Friday at the Houston County jail without bond.

Houston County arrest warrants allege that the crimes occurred between April 19, 2006 and Sept. 2, 2009.

White's lawyer, Clarence Williams, says the allegations are untrue.

White was hired as a Macon police officer in September 2007.
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Information from: The Macon Telegraph, http://www.macontelegraph.com/

Other Information: http://www.13wmaz.com/news/breaking/story.aspx?storyid=69561&catid=4

Deputy Jeffrey Scott Hoover Charged with Sexual Battery on Child

A Sumter County sheriff's deputy is being held without bond this morning facing child sex charges.

Deputy Jeffrey Scott Hoover is charged with sexual battery on a child under the age of 12.

The child told authorities that Hoover committed sex acts on her between June of last year and June of this year.

He has been employed by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office since 2005. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting the investigation at this time.
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http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/state_news/061209_Deputy_arrested_for_sexual_battery_of_minor

Officer Rene Guillen Arrested for Molesting 7-year-old Girl

A Bal Harbour police officer was arrested Thursday and accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl, police said.

Rene Guillen, a five-year-veteran who works with the city's motorcycle unit and who has a clean police record, was charged with sexual aggravated battery on a minor, according to the police report.

He was taken into custody after being arrested at the village's police department, according to a police report. He confessed to sexually assaulting his young victim when she visited his home.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1071256.html

Former Officer Nathan Thomas Arrested for Rape

A former Cleveland police officer, already facing charges related to selling prescription painkillers, now stands charged with two counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to District Attorney Steve Bebb.

Nathan Thomas, 37, turned himself in to the Bradley County Jail at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Thomas reportedly posted bond, which was set at $50,000, and was released from jail at 3 p.m. the same day.

Thomas was the second former Cleveland police officer arrested on sex charges Thursday.

Former Cleveland police officer Dennis Hughes turned himself in to the Bradley County Jail Thursday at 10 a.m.

Hughes was charged with three counts of statutory rape, one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to District Attorney Steve Bebb.

Hughes posted bond, which was set at $100,000, Thursday afternoon. He was released at 1:30 p.m.

A Bradley County grand jury met Thursday morning and indicted Hughes and Thomas on the sex offenses based on an investigation led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

According to reports, the investigation stemmed from an incident on Jan. 5 when Hughes was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a 16-year-old girl, who was reported as a runaway.

According to the affidavit of complaint dated Jan. 5, Hughes was observed leaving Thomas' home at 152 Winding Glen Drive N.W. at 12:40 a.m. with the 16-year-old girl in his vehicle.

Bradley County deputies initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Lauderdale Highway and Mouse Creek Road. When deputies searched Hughes' vehicle, they allegedly found numerous empty and full beer bottles and prescription pill bottles. Deputies also detected both Hughes and the girl had a "strong smell of alcohol about their person."

According to the TBI's search warrant, after the girl was apprehended, she was taken to a hospital for a rape examination.

The examination was reportedly conducted at the request of her parents.

During the examination, the girl reportedly admitted that in the past she had sexual intercourse with Hughes; however, the female said there had been no sexual contact at the time of his arrest Jan. 5.

Through the search warrants, agents with the TBI confiscated a cell phone and computer from Hughes' vehicle. According to the TBI's search warrant, agents performed a forensic examination of the cell phone and "found three pictures of an underage and under-developed female in the nude."

During an interview with Cleveland Police Detective Suzanne Jackson on Jan. 12, the girl reportedly told Jackson the cell phone pictures found in Hughes' possession were allegedly taken by Hughes in a bathroom at Thomas' residence on the night of Jan. 4.

According to the TBI's search warrant, during the interview with Jackson, the girl alleged that on Jan. 4 she and a 17-year-old girl were at the Thomas home.

The 16-year-old girl reportedly told Jackson she engaged in oral sex with Hughes and the 17-year-old engaged in oral sex with Thomas. The 16-year-old reportedly told Jackson she and the 17-year-old were under the influence of alcohol during the incident.

During the search warrant's execution at Thomas' home, TBI agents photographed Thomas' bathrooms to compare with the background of the nude pictures of the 16-year-old girl.

Thomas is scheduled to be arraigned at the Bradley County Criminal Court March 30.

Hughes is scheduled to be arraigned at the Bradley County Criminal Court March 2.

According to Tennessee law, if Hughes and Thomas are convicted they will have to register annually with the state of Tennessee as sex offenders.

Hughes and Thomas continue to be investigated by the TBI, Hughes in connection with the shooting of a city police officer and Thomas for selling prescription painkillers.

According to reports, on Nov. 30, 2008, city police officer Chris Mason and former city police officer Jonathan Hammons, 23, -- who were on duty -- were at the home of Hughes, who was off duty, shortly before midnight.

The men were reportedly looking at a .38 caliber revolver which was possibly for sale. During the handling of the firearm the gun discharged and struck Mason in the hand, Cleveland Police Chief Wes Snyder said in a December 2008 statement.

The incident was initially reported as an accidental shooting; however, after further investigation it was determined Hammons and Hughes allegedly gave investigators false information.

Hammons was arrested Dec. 17, 2008, and was charged with aggravated perjury and filing a false report in connection to the shooting.

Hughes was arrested Dec. 18, 2008, and was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, aggravated perjury and filing a false report in connection to the shooting.

On the night of the shooting, Nov. 30, 2008, officers found a prescription pill bottle with Thomas' name in Hughes' personal vehicle.

As a result of the shooting investigation, Hughes resigned from the Cleveland Police Department in December 2008.

Hammons and Thomas were dismissed from the department in January.

Thomas was arrested Jan. 5, in connection with a two-year investigation by the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force.

As a result of the investigation, Thomas was charged with prescription fraud, possession of Schedule II and III narcotics for resale and simple possession of a Schedule V narcotic.

According to reports, the Drug Task Force's investigation alleges Thomas was a patient of Dr. James Wallace Sego. Thomas was allegedly prescribed 6,000 oxycodones, 1,100 hydrocodones and 790 Xanax within one year's time by Sego.

Thomas is being accused of selling the prescription painkillers.

Sego practices internal medicine and pain management at Bradley Executive Plaza located at 1510 Stuart Road N.E.

Sego was also arrested Dec. 18, 2008, and charged with felony counts of illegally selling prescription painkillers and other drugs.

Agents with the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force served a search warrant for Thomas' residence on Dec. 12, 2008.

According to the inventory on the search warrant, agents found "a large cardboard box with extremely large amounts of various drugs, samples, etc. (too numerous to list individually)," weapons, syringes and cell phones.

"One white plastic snorting device (ink pen) with yellow residue" was found in the master bedroom in a decorative drawer near the top of the dresser, along with several other items, such as "one prescription box w/1 glass vial inside labeled DEPO-Testosterone."

Among the weapons were two .22-caliber Glenfield rifles, one with a serial number and one without, and a Sig Sauer P2229 .40 caliber.

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Other Information: http://www.newschannel9.com/news/arrest_975865___article.html/cops_girl.html

Former Officer Dennis Hughes Charged with Statutory Rape

A former Cleveland police officer, already facing charges related to the shooting of another officer last year, now stands charged with three counts of statutory rape, one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to District Attorney Steve Bebb.

Former Cleveland Police officer, Dennis Hughes, 33, turned himself in at the Bradley County Jail this morning. His bond was set at $50,000. As of press time, he had not made bond.

A second former officer, Nathan Thomas, 37, is under scrutiny related to the alleged sex offenses a search warrant executed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation indicates.

The search was conducted at the home of Thomas and on the Hughes' vehicle.

The investigation stemmed from an incident on Jan. 5 when Hughes was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a 16-year-old girl, who was reported as a runaway.

Hughes was reportedly observed leaving Thomas' home at 152 Winding Glen Drive N.W. at 12:40 a.m. with the 16-year-old girl in his vehicle.

Bradley County deputies initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Lauderdale Highway and Mouse Creek Road. When deputies searched Hughes' vehicle, they allegedly found numerous empty and full beer bottles and prescription pill bottles. Deputies also detected both Hughes and the girl had a "strong smell of alcohol about their person."

According to the TBI's search warrant, after the girl was apprehended, she was taken to a hospital for a rape examination.

The examination was reportedly conducted at the request of her parents.

During the examination, the girl reportedly admitted that in the past she had sexual intercourse with Hughes; however, the female said there had been no sexual contact at the time of his arrest Jan. 5.

Through the search warrants, agents with the TBI confiscated a cell phone and computer from Hughes' vehicle. According to the TBI's search warrant, agents performed a forensic examination of the cell phone and "found three pictures of an underage and under-developed female in the nude."

During an interview with Cleveland Police Detective Suzanne Jackson on Jan. 12, the girl reportedly told Jackson the cell phone pictures found in Hughes' possession were allegedly taken by Hughes in a bathroom at Thomas' residence on the night of Jan. 4.

According to the TBI's search warrant, during the interview with Jackson, the girl alleged that on Jan. 4 she and a 17-year-old girl were at the Thomas home. The 16-year-old girl reportedly told Jackson she engaged in oral sex with Hughes and the 17-year-old engaged in oral sex with Thomas. The 16-year-old reportedly told Jackson she and the 17-year-old were under the influence of alcohol during the incident.

During the search warrant's execution at Thomas' home, TBI agents photographed Thomas' bathrooms to compare with the background of the nude pictures of the 16-year-old girl.

Hughes and Thomas continue to be investigated by the TBI, Hughes in connection with the shooting of a city police officer and Thomas for selling prescription painkillers.

According to reports, on Nov. 30, 2008, city police officer Chris Mason and former city police officer Jonathan Hammons, 23, -- who were on duty -- were at the home of Hughes, who was off duty, shortly before midnight.

The men were reportedly looking at a .38 caliber revolver which was possibly for sale. During the handling of the firearm the gun discharged and struck Mason in the hand, Cleveland Police Chief Wes Snyder said in a December 2008 statement.

The incident was initially reported as an accidental shooting; however, after further investigation it was determined Hammons and Hughes allegedly gave investigators false information.

Hammons was arrested Dec. 17, 2008, and was charged with aggravated perjury and filing a false report in connection to the shooting.

Hughes was arrested Dec. 18, 2008, and was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, aggravated perjury and filing a false report in connection to the shooting.

On the night of the shooting, Nov. 30, 2008, officers found a prescription pill bottle with Thomas' name in Hughes' personal vehicle.

As a result of the shooting investigation, Hughes resigned from the Cleveland Police Department in December 2008.

Hammons and Thomas were dismissed from the department in January.

Thomas was arrested Jan. 5, in connection with a two-year investigation by the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force.

As a result of the investigation, Thomas was charged with prescription fraud, possession of Schedule II and III narcotics for resale and simple possession of a Schedule V narcotic.

According to reports, the Drug Task Force's investigation alleges Thomas was a patient of Dr. James Wallace Sego. Thomas was allegedly prescribed 6,000 oxycodones, 1,100 hydrocodones and 790 Xanax within one year's time by Sego.

Thomas is being accused of selling the prescription painkillers.

Sego practices internal medicine and pain management at Bradley Executive Plaza located at 1510 Stuart Road N.E.

Sego was also arrested Dec. 18, 2008, and charged with felony counts of illegally selling prescription painkillers and other drugs.

Agents with the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force served a search warrant for Thomas' residence on Dec. 12, 2008.

According to the inventory on the search warrant, agents found "a large cardboard box with extremely large amounts of various drugs, samples, etc. (too numerous to list individually)," weapons, syringes and cell phones.

"One white plastic snorting device (ink pen) with yellow residue" was found in the master bedroom in a decorative drawer near the top of the dresser, along with several other items, such as "one prescription box w/1 glass vial inside labeled DEPO-Testosterone."

Among the weapons were two .22-caliber Glenfield rifles, one with a serial number and one without, and a Sig Sauer P2229 .40 caliber.

Former Detective Richard Dorman Accused of Sexually Assaulting Little Girl

HOUSTON

A former detective accused of sexually assaulting a child was told by a judge on Friday to not have any contact with the girl.

Richard Dorman, a 59-year-old retired Harris County sheriff's deputy, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14.

A judge found probable cause to make the charge stick on Friday.

A girl has claimed that Dorman started touching her when she was 8-years-old. She told investigators that Dorman repeatedly touched her private areas.

"Any time a victim in our community, especially someone at the age of our complainant in this case, which is 9-years-old, we take that very seriously," Assistant District Attorney Justin Wood said. "We will do whatever it takes to make sure she's protected."

Dorman spent 26 years as a deputy. He retired six years ago as a detective.

He and the girl making the accusations lived in the Shore Acres community. Her father, who is not identifying, said the families were close and that the girl would spend the night at Dorman's house, along with other children.

"He would do what he would do when she was there spending the night," the father said.

A woman who said she was Dorman's wife said, "It's all made up -- retaliation. (He's) great with kids. Everybody in the neighborhood over there called him Paw Paw."

Dorman's bond was set at $30,000. The judge warned Dorman not to go near his accuser if he posts bond, even if it means moving to a new address. He remained in jail Friday afternoon.

Dorman's attorney said because he just received the case, he was not ready to comment.

More Information: Court Document: Texas Vs. Richard Allen Dorman

Detective Michael Spilman Charged with Sexually Abusing Teen Girl

State prosecutors filed several sex abuse charges against a former Murray police detective in 3rd District Court on Tuesday.

West Valley police arrested and booked Michael Spilman, 35, into the Davis County Jail on Jan. 9. Spilman resigned from the department Monday.

The Salt Lake County Attorney's Office filed an affidavit that included a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, because the offence was allegedly "committed by a person who occupied a position of special trust," according to the affidavit. If convicted, the mandatory sentence is five years to life in prison.

He also faces charges of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse and sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.

Spilman is alleged to have sexually abused a teenage girl "on several different occasions" over nearly five years, according to the affidavit.

Although he lived in West Valley City where the alleged abuse occurred, Spilman was booked into the Davis County Jail according to police protocol aimed to protect officers from reprisal by inmates they investigated or arrested. He remained in jail Tuesday on $150,000 bail.

Information:

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/MURRAY-Utah-ABC-4-News-He-served-as-a-police/90-5ABqjGky3_nutwGC0Cw.cspx