February 12, 2012

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Sixth man arrested, sexual abuse investigation continues

November 13, 2009 By

A sixth man has been charged and more victims have stepped forward as the investigation into a sexual molestation case in west-central Missouri continues.

Police have arrested 55-year-old Larry Kidd, identified by the State Highway Patrol as an associate of 77-year-old Burrell Mohler, Sr. who is accused of presiding over the sexual abuse of young girls in the family, at times using mock marriage ceremonies prior to the abuse of the young girls. Kidd has been arrested on suspicion of rape of a child younger than 14. Allegations made against Mohler and four of his sons are that they repeatedly abused girls younger than 12. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With: ,

Digging operation continues as sex charges filed

November 12, 2009 By

A delicate digging operation continues in west-central Missouri as searchers look for evidence, some of which could very well be buried in glass jars, to use against five men accused of abusing young girls in the mid-80s and 90s. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With: ,

Father of priest abuse victim calls for more victims to come forward

August 25, 2009 By

The parents of a Virginia man who recently went public with information that he was the victim in a $600,000 pedophile priest cover up case are urging other victims to come forward.

L-R: Don Asbee (SNAP), Mary McAllister, David Clohessy (SNAP), Steve McAllister Doctor Mark McAllister came forward to say that he, while a resident of Boonville, was molested by a Father Gerry Howard, who changed his name from Father Carmine Sita after being convicted of criminal activity in New Jersey and ended up in Missouri.

Steve McAllister, the father of the victim, urges others who might have been molested by this priest to report the crimes.

“We strongly would urge any other victims of Howard that have not made their abuse public to do so to the proper authorities,” said Steve McAllister during a sidewalk news conference outside the Jefferson City Diocesan Headquarters.

The McAllister family has been working with David Clohessy, Executive Director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), hoping for more openness from the Catholic Church.

“We are terribly worried that Father Howard may literally be molesting a kid as we speak,” said Clohessy, himself a victim of priest abuse.

Steve McAllister believes the Church was complicit in hiding the priest and his deeds.

“I suspect, and I really have no basis for saying this, but I suspect Gerry Howard was not the only such priest that was moved around in this fashion,” said McAllister.

He would like to see the Catholic Church come clean.

“Looking at the sacrament of confession within the Catholic Church, where us mortals are encouraged to come in and tell our tales of misdeeds and so on to a priest and receive absolution, could, I think, very advisedly, be turned around so that the Church, itself, in these cases, goes to confession.”

That, he says, could be done by having the Catholic Church open up its archives regarding sexual abuse by priests.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)
SNAP Jefferson City news conference (38:00 MP3)

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With: ,

Nixon announces $1.5M for cyber crimes units

July 27, 2009 By

Governor Nixon is visiting cyber crimes task forces today to announce grant awards for law enforcement throughout the state.

Gov. Nixon and Ofcr. Mike Lederle 13 multi-jurisdictional departments will receive $1.5 million in funding.

Nixon says as technology grows, it’s important to provide funding to keep up with the crimes that come with it.

Nixon made the announcement at the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force in Boone County, which covers seven surrounding counties. Then he traveled to Southeast Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force in Poplar Bluff.

The Boone County task force says the money will hopefully go to hire additional investigators to follow up on cell phone crimes against children, which is on the rise as cell phones become more advanced, and more prevalent among youth.

The federal funds will be allocated to regional law enforcement agencies through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance Grant Program.

The money will be distributed as such:

Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force in Boone County (also serves Audrain, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard and Randolph counties) — $194,479.

Regional Computer Crime Education & Enforcement Group in Clayton — $178,270.

South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force in Dent County — $5,759.

Northeastern Jackson County Cyber Crimes Working Group in Independence — $138,066.

Southwestern Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force in Joplin — $182,319.

Multi-jurisdictional Cyber Crime Unit in Kirksville — $49,035.

Operation Cyber-safe at the Missouri Department of Social Services — $97,411.

The Western Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force in Platte County — $208,591.

2010 Internet Cyber Crime Initiative in Springfield — $82,323.

St. Charles County Internet Crimes Against Children program — $128,600.

Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Computer Forensic Unit — $56,245.

Tri-lakes Regional Internet Crimes Task Force in Taney County — $115,617.

Photo by Jessica Machetta

Gov. Nixon announces grant to help fight cyber crime [Listen/download Mp3 - 7:07 min.]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Economy Tagged With: , , ,

Senate sponsor pleased child protection legislation signed into law

July 1, 2008 By

The fight against child sexual predators gets some help with additional resources that will soon be available now that Governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) has signed legislation aimed at better protecting children. Senator John Loudon (R-Chesterfield) sponsored Senate Bill 714 – which strengthens laws to allow police to more easily go after predators. But it also commits additional funding to help law enforcement in the effort.

The current law, which is being replaced, only provides for an attempt charge to be filed against anyone trying to use the Internet to set up a sexual encounter with a minor. The big advantage of this new law is that it will provide $3-million annually to fully fund the cyber crimes grant program, with the money spent throughout the state.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: , ,
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