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assault battery

Sexual Assault Cases Involving Children

Man Arrested for Seeking Sexual Relations with Infants

 

You would think that a man studying to be a priest wouldn’t travel around the country to try to find infants to have sex with. However, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (ICE) that is exactly what an Ohio student did.

Twenty-three year old, Joel A. Wright had to be taken into custody by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). They caught him right outside of baggage claim at the San Diego International Airport.  The investigators say that Wright had flown into San Diego with plans of going to Mexico to have sex with at least three babies.

Wright was charged with two felony counts. The accounts were traveling with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor as well as attempting to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with the southern district of California.

Studying Priest Arrested for Attempting Child Sexual Assault

The young man’s arrest came after months of undercover child sexual exploitation investigation conducted by the HSI special agents. Usually these cases are long, and very slow paced but the reward of catching these criminals outweigh any of the cons.

Wright had posted a Craigslist ad that seemed a bit off. He posted about wanting to adopt an infant. An unidentified man saw the ad and offered to bring Wright a child to him at the Tijuana hotel.

The man of course contacted the HSI special agents, giving them the full details of his communications with Wright.

According to the information provided, Wright had paid the informant an adoption fee upfront and then waited at a hotel in Tijuana. The man told the investigators that he never actually went to the hotel with a child, or otherwise.

According to certain records, Wright did enter into Mexico on July 2014. This is consistent with the informant’s story. The man then said that he made a communication with Wright on July 2015, this was after Wright had posted an ad on Craigslist for a Tijuana guide. At this time, the informant was using a different e-mail.

According to the federal officials, Wright eventually gave up the information that he wanted to have sex with female babies, instead of adopting a child.

Wright’s Sexual Abuse Statement:

I have not gone all the way before but I have made it very close in the past so I do have experience.

He also claimed that “virgin babies are the best”. How sick and scary is that?

Wright also holds onto his religion saying that “Yes I like church-it makes me feel good”. I’m not sure what religion he claims but I’m sure it’s only in his head, religion wouldn’t agree with harming children.

Wright also planned on giving the kids Tylenol and candy to make the three year old child relax.

HSI then took over the e-mail account, with the permission of the informant, and started to mail Wright themselves. Wright of course wasn’t aware that he was speaking with the law enforcement, he still believed that he was chatting with a Mexico based tour guide.

The complaint stated that Wright described in graphic detail what he wanted to do to a baby sexually, he even went as far as to say, “It is so much more fun when it’s a bit of a struggle”.

The investigators continued to talk with Wright via e-mail. Wright continued to run his mouth about his sick plans. He told the agent that he wanted to travel Tijuana to find a child to adopt or own a child under three years old to have sex with that child.

Wright didn’t waste much time, he then booked his flight to San Diego where he had thought he was meeting the tour guide. The plans were to meet at the hotel in San Diego and then travel to a Tijuana hotel so that he could buy female infants.

 

Dave Shaw, HSI Agent’s Statement:

This investigation opens a window into a secret world where sexual predators prey on young children around the globe. Pedophiles who mistakenly believe they can escape justice by committing child sex crimes outside the U.S. should be on notice that HSI will seek to vindicate the rights of those victims regardless where they live. Fortunately, in this instance, our perseverance and diligence prevented the sexual exploitation of yet another innocent victim.

Wright seemed to be a normal pre-theology student. He was immediately suspended from his studies after the charges though.

Mother Fights for Son Who Was Sexually Abused

A mother from Texas is understandably angry that very little is being done about her eight year old son being sexually abused on a school bus by two other eight year old boys.

The young boy is only a first grader at the Northbrook Elementary school in Fort Worth. She said that her young son was just simply riding the school bus to school on a Thursday morning, when two other eight year old boys pulled down his pants and performed a sexual act. They then beat him up.

The Mother’s Statement About her Sexual Assaulted Son:

This is a scrape mark from when he was punched and kicked in the stomach. They said, ‘Tell anybody, and I’ll hurt you again, and you’ll be in trouble, too.’

 

The mother has said that her son has been complaining about being bullied lately. She however, had no idea it would get this serious. The mother claims that this bullying as escalated into “full-blown sexual assault”.

A spokesman, Sgt. Steve Enright from the Fort Worth police department, confirmed that there is an investigation starting. However, if the two boys are just eight years old, there’s very little that the police can do.

Legal wise, any child under ten years of age, can not have criminal charges against them.

The Mother’s Statement:

Where is the magic line? That is the question. And what is the degree of crime that they can commit before they say, ‘You know what? Maybe you do need some sort of court intervention.

The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District’s Statement:

As soon as school and district personnel were made aware of the report, we responded immediately and have put every measure into place that we legally can to protect and support those involved in this matter.

The school has designated an adult monitor to the bus route. The spokeswoman for the school has not and will not comment on the actions taken against the two boys at this time. The mother of the victim wants the boys expelled.

Mother’s Statement:

My son is now going to have to go to a school where his attackers are going to be, and that’s not fair with him being the victim.

Child Protective Services have also been investigating this incident.

 

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Child Abuse in the United States

Phoenix Man Arrested for Child Abuse

To me, child abuse in any form is one of the lowest things a human being can do. Why on earth would someone want to hurt a child? I know that sometimes you just need a break and feel like you’re frustrated with the world, but to harm a child is horrible and inexcusable.

According to court documents, a Phoenix man is now facing child abuse charges. The charges accuse him of abusing his own two sons who were only 5 and 3 years old at the time.

The five year old boy went to school on January 26th and asked his teacher for some ice due to his eye hurting. The teacher immediately noticed the swelling and bruising to the young boy’s eye. The teacher did what any other person would do and reported it to the school counselor.

The young boy told the police that his father punched him in the face. How sad is that?! The boys father is thirty-nine year old William Terrell Harris. This wasn’t the only abuse the young boy described though. He said that his father also hit him with a belt and then pointed to his left back, rib section. His little ribs were also bruised and swollen.

The boy told the officer that his little brother was three years old and he was also being abused by their father.

Police also noticed that the three year old little boy had red welts and bruising on him. The welts looked like the marks of an “end tongue of a belt” on his outer knee and arm. What could a three year old have done to deserve such a beating?! Nothing!

Police acted fast and arrested the child abuser of a father the very next day at his apartment.

According to the court records, the father admitted to hitting the five year old little boy with a wet towel. He thought that is what actually caused the bruising. He was mad at the little guy because he only “put one sock on, instead of two”.

The father claimed he didn’t remember punching the child in the eye. However, he also didn’t deny that he did. He did say that he saw the injury to the young boys eye and he “pressed on it kinda hard”. Father of the year, folks!

Police say that the child abuse incidents happened while the children’s mother was a work.

The Department of Child Services took the two young boys into their custody and now the father is going to face two counts of child abuse.

 

Police Find Child Abuse Case Duct Taped in Closet

Mesa Police found a three year old child duct taped being kept in a closet on a Monday. According to the Mesa Police, the young child had to be taken to the local hospital so that he or she could be evaluated.

A man and a woman have been arrested in relation to this case. Their identities were not immediately released though.

Mesa Police Chief, John Meza, scheduled a news conference pretty quickly to discuss the case with the public.

Mesa Police Department Statement about The Child Abuse:

The arrest of any suspect involved in abuse or exploitation of any child is on the highest priority for the Mesa Police Department. Fortunately the child was recovered before any more additional harm could be done to her.

 

Abused Mesa Child Almost Saved

A former Walmart employee claims that the police missed an “opportunity to intervene” to save the life of a little girl who was being abused, when her mom was accused of shoplifting.

Jason Tilley worked in asset protection at the Greenfield Walmart in Mesa. On December 18th the police were called to the store about a woman who was trying to shoplift some food as well as some other items at the Walmart.

The woman was twenty-two year old, Mayra Solis. Jason Tilley said that the three year old little girl that was with Solis was dirty and also smelled like urine during Solis’ shoplifting incident.

The Mesa police say that the officers at the scene noticed that the little girl was somewhat dirty and bought her some cookies. However, they didn’t think it was appropriate to intervene with social services or report the young family to the state. The officers did cite Solis for shoplifting.

Tilley’s Statement:

The lead officer was debating calling CPS (DCS) because obviously shoplifting with child and the condition the child was in, but for whatever reason they didn’t do it so we thought that was strange. It’s just heartbreaking because you know something should have been done ahead of time back in December, and it’s just a shame it took something to this extent to happen.

 

Mesa Police Detective, Steve Berry’s Statement:

If you got a mom or a child or a little person who don’t have the same means as someone else, but they are clothed, there’s shoes, there’s nothing outstanding there. We can try to offer resources, but we can’t simply hold someone or take their child or restrict them.

The mother didn’t stay away from Walmart’s after her shoplifting experience. On January 14th another Mesa police officer came across the three year old victim and her mother where they were reported panhandling outside another Walmart. This time it was near Baseline Road and Country Club Drive.

Apparently, the officer knew the young mother from her high school days. He chatted with her however, he did not give her any citations. According to the officers, this round the little girl was dress appropriately for the weather and was also eating a snack.

The Mesa police said that Solis claimed to be waiting for  a ride. She told them that she was working at a local Taco Bell restaurant and even gave the officer her address where she claimed she was living.

Berry’s Statement:

We’ll find a way to get some resources if we get there and see there was some abuse or neglect. In this case, we had a very seasoned officer who saw this little girl, and there was just nothing there that indicated what was to come.

Solis was later arrested for child abuse. Her young daughter was found in very bad conditions. They found the toddler bound with duct tape and she had to sit in her own feces in a trash bag. She was hidden in a closet in a Mesa apartment complex.

Police say that Solis was letting a thirty year old man, Francisco Rios-Covarrubias babysit her daughter for a few days at a time while she was working her job at the Taco Bell. He’s been arrested for sexual conduct, kidnapping, as well as other charges.

ICE has confirmed that he is an undocumented immigrant.

 

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Homicide Shooting

Woman Missing After Complex Shooting

 

Shootings rarely end well. Someone is hurt or killed and the suspect usually flees. Shooting cases can sometimes go unsolved for quite a while.

A lot of shooting cases become homicides pretty quickly. A homicide is when someone deliberately and unlawfully kills someone. Which makes it easy to understand why a shooting turns into a homicide. Usually you aren’t shooting at someone to do them any good. A shooting is to harm someone.

The Phoenix Police Department is now looking for a woman who can not be found. They’re searching for her because a man was shot and killed at an apartment complex.

According to the reports, a one year old child as well as a woman, Veronica Huerta Brown were not found after a man was killed on a Saturday night. The man was shot at an apartment complex, which is located near the 12th Street and Indian School Road.

The investigators said that the child and Brown were in a vehicle with the victim when the victim was then ordered out of the vehicle by two men. According to the police, the men shot the victim and then took the child from him.

At this time, it’s unclear if the woman and child were abducted by the suspects or whether they fled the scene separately.

The Phoenix Police gave an update about the situation on Sunday morning. They say that the child was luckily found safely however, Brown had not been found at this time. They are worried about Brown’s safety and are searching for her.

Police spokesman, James Holmes Statement:

We believe that all three, the victim, Veronica and (the child), arrived at this apartment complex, just before the shooting, together in a vehicle.

Holmes gave a description of the shooters, saying that they were described as Hispanic men. The men seemed to be at the apartment complex and they ordered the victim to get out of the car with the child.

Holmes’ Statement:

At that point, the suspect grabbed the child and fired on the victim and took the child and he left.

There were witnesses at the scene and they told the Phoenix Police that they had hear at least four gunshots.

Neighbor, Jennalee Yazzie’s Statement:

It was like, ‘Pom pom,’ and then, ‘Pom pom,’.

 

The police have no definite answers on whether the woman and the child were abducted by the suspects or if they actually fled the scene separately.

Holmes’ Statement:

We believe that all three, the victim, Veronica and (the child), arrived at this apartment complex, just before the shooting, together in a vehicle.

Holmes also said that the two shooters were already at the apartment complex and then ordered the victim to get out of the car with the child.

Holmes said that at that point of the situation, the suspect quickly grabbed the child and fired on the victim. He then took the child and left.

Neighbor, Bryan Cunningham’s Statement:

He said it was a very small white hatchback, is what he saw. And [the car] was moving quite fast, getting right out of there after the shots and the screams.

 

The witnesses also told the police that there were at least two male suspects that got away from the complex. They were in a 90’s model vehicle that is either a white Honda or could be a white Taurus.

At this time, it’s not clear what relationship the victim had with the two suspects or with the missing Brown woman, who police are still searching for. Police also don’t know what the relation was to the woman and child with the suspects or if there was one at all.

Holmes Statement:

We have to consider that both this female and this child, based on the violence that occurred here this afternoon, could very well be in danger.

 

Police are now looking for the 90’s model vehicle that fled the scene. The incident happened in the back parking lot of an apartment complex.

If anyone has any information at all as to where Brown may be, they are encouraged to please call the Phoenix Police Violent Crimes Bureau at (602) 262-6141. Of course, as always calls can remain anonymous.

 

Drive-By Shooting in Phoenix

A drive by shooting that happened on the outside of a Phoenix bar could have been pretty devastating. The police are still looking for answers regarding this case.

According to the news reports, there was a light colored Jeep that was seen outside of the Charley’s Place Bar at the 43rd Avenue and Thunderbird Road which happened after three o’clock in the morning on August 18, 2015.

According to a report there was an person in a Jeep SUV who reportedly fired several rifle rounds into the bar. Luckily, no one was injured during the shooting.

Silent Witness is offering a reward for any information that may be helpful in this unsolved case. They are offering $1,000.00.

If you have any information on this case, please contact the Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

 

Hopefully the shootings in Phoenix slow down and end in less fatalities like this drive by bar shooting. Shootings are scary but it’s a little less scary when no one is hurt. Which is rare in a shooting, especially in a drive by shooting.

 

 

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Phoenix, AZ 85008
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