Officer Mark Benton Ashcraft Arrested for Sexual Abuse to Child

A 36-year-old police officer was arraigned in Umatilla County today on felony sex-abuse charges involving a child.

The district attorney's office said Mark Benton Ashcraft of Athena was being held in Umatilla County Jail on $50,000 bail. He's charged with sex abuse in the second degree, sodomy in the third degree, and online sexual corruption of a child in the first degree.

The arrest came as a surprise to officials in Athena, which has a population of 1,270.

"We know as much as you do," said Dyann Swanson, Athena city recorder.

She said Ashcraft will be put on paid administrative leave and that the city will seek legal advice on what to do.

"It's an unfortunate thing," she said. "But he's only been arrested. He's not been convicted."

Ashcraft is one of two officers in the city. He was hired in December 2007 after working nine years in Pilot Rock.

Swanson said, "He's been a perfect police officer. We have not had any problem with him at all."

Ashcraft, who was arrested Monday afternoon, is due next in court at the end of the month.
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Officer Ronald Whitworth to Remain in Jail Until Trial

A former Alabama police officer who fled to Washington state to avoid prosecution on federal charges he possessed child pornography and took a 9-year-old girl across state lines for sex will remain in jail until trial, a judge ruled this morning.

Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Greene said he found Ronald Whitworth, 35, a flight risk and a danger to the community and denied him bond during a detention hearing at Birmingham's federal courthouse.

Whitworth, a former Vestavia Hills and Anniston police officer, was captured Aug. 18 in Lynwood, Wash. In April, Shelby County investigators arrested Whitworth on charges of child endangerment, sexual abuse of a child under 12, rape and sodomy. He made bond after six days in jail.

A federal grand jury in Birmingham indicted Whitworth, who left the state before federal agents could arrest him on the charges.

His truck was found July 31 at the Birmingham International Airport containing guns and a note that law enforcement would not find him.

His attorney, citing Whitworth's safety while in jail because he is a former officer facing child abuse charges, suggested conditions could be made to allow Whitworth to be released on bond.

The judge said he believed Whitworth's safety could be maintained in jail.

Officer Juan McCoy Arrested for Statutory Sodomy

A Washington Park police officer was arrested today on a warrant for two counts of second-degree statutory sodomy issued after police investigated a complaint of sexual misconduct involving a 14-year-old boy in St. Louis.

Officer Juan McCoy, 35, was arrested without incident at the Illinois State Police headquarters in Collinsville, Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Jim Morrisey said.

A spokeswoman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Schron Jackson, said, "The Metropolitan Police Department was contacted by the Illinois State Police on April 16, regarding an incident involving a 14-year old male victim that occurred between June and August in the 3700 block of Winnebago."

After a police investigation, the warrant was issued against McCoy, Jackson said.

The juvenile is an Illinois resident, Morrisey said.

The felony charges against McCoy are unrelated to his position as a Washington Park officer, Morrisey said.

McCoy is a former East St. Louis police officer. He also worked as the chief of security for the East St. Louis Housing Authority.

Bill Wilkins, executive director of the housing authority, said McCoy worked for the housing authority for four years and five months. "During his tenure at the East St. Louis Housing Authority, he performed his duties appropriately and effectively," Wilkins said. "We did not receive any complaints from tenants."

Washington Park Mayor John Thornton said, "This news is shocking and disturbing."

"I hope the charges against him are not true. I have children and grandchildren. I knew he was a police officer, but I didn't know that much about him."

Thornton said McCoy worked for Washington Park for two or three years.

McCoy was being held at the Madison County Jail pending extradition. He was being held in lieu of $250,000 cash only bail.