Counter Pedophilia Investigate Unit

RICHMOND, Va. — Legislation that spells out the duties and deadlines of college coaches and other professions to report evidence of child abuse and increases punishment for those who don’t received a House committee’s unanimous blessing Thursday.

The three bills are Virginia’s response to child abuse allegations that rocked Penn State’s mighty football program and forced the November firing of its legendary head coach, Joe Paterno. (more…)

The woman who runs the Broadway Neighborhood Center in Iowa City is facing charges for not reporting an allegation of child abuse. Iowa City Police Sergeant Denise Brotherton says it may be the first time in state history that a person known as a mandatory reporter was arrested for not reporting a possible crime.

“Protect the kids, that’s what it should be about,” Sergeant Brotherton says. “The parents trust that we are all doing that. When someone fails to do that, it just loses trust in the whole system.” (more…)

ELLENSBURG—An Ellensburg man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly beating his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son several times over the past two weeks. The girlfriend also was arrested.

Reuben Mulamba, 27, of Ellensburg faces two counts of second-degree child assault and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Ashly Eli, of Ellensburg, faces two counts of second-degree criminal mistreatment. The couple may face additional charges upon further medical examination of the children, according to a news release from the Ellensburg Police Department. (more…)

The total lifetime estimated financial costs associated with just one year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect) is approximately $124 billion.

Atlanta, GA – infoZine – The report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in Child Abuse and Neglect, The International Journal, looked at confirmed child maltreatment cases, 1,740 fatal and 579,000 non–fatal, for a 12–month period. (more…)

Mark Berndt appeared in court today on charges that he committed lewd acts on 23 boys and girls, ages 6 to 10, between 2008 and 2010. The Miramonte third grade school teacher was arrested Monday at his home in Torrance and is being held on $23 million bail.

His alleged crimes include gagging students aged 7 to 10 with tape, putting 3-inch long Madagascar cockroaches on their faces and in their mouths and forcing them to taste semen. (more…)

The child abuse that takes place in one year in the United States will cost the nation $124 billion over the victims’ lifetimes, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings reveal the financial burden of child abuse is just as high or higher than that of costly health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes.

“No child should ever be the victim of abuse or neglect — nor do they have to be. The human and financial costs can be prevented through prevention of child maltreatment,” said Linda C. Degutis, director of CDC′s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (more…)

A former Monument man accused in the murder of his 7-year-old daughter pleaded guilty to a lesser count Monday, a week after a judge cited what he called “stunningly sloppy police work” on the case.

Slated to begin trial Monday, Hanif Sims took a last-minute plea to child abuse resulting in death, averting courtroom battles over a tape that proved Sims never made a confession that authorities said he did.

Sims, 31, faces 27 to 40 years in prison rather than the automatic life term he would have received with a murder conviction. (more…)

Child sexual abuse, prescription drug abuse, truancy and other child welfare issues were the topics of a public forum in Beckley Monday.

Representatives from child advocacy agencies, the Department of Health and Human Resources, law enforcement, public education, community groups and private citizens participated.

The statewide organization “Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia” is funding child-issues forums across the state. (more…)

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A North Miami Beach mother and father have been arrested and charged with child abuse after their severely malnourished child was found naked in the street.

Police said the child had jumped from the rear window of his house in the 14-hundred block of NE 152 Street, to escape his abusers on Saturday night.

The child, who is nine-years-old, was said to have the body of a much younger child, according to North Miami Beach Police. (more…)

A North Miami Beach couple severely beat their 9-year-old son, who was found so starved that he weighed just 35 pounds, police said.

Marsee Strong, 34, and Edward Bailey, 40, were arrested Saturday night on charges of aggravated child abuse. On Monday afternoon, they were still jailed and had yet to post $65,000 bail.

According to North Miami Beach police, neighbors found the naked boy wandering the streets. (more…)