Child Abuse

LEFT TO HIS OWN DEVICES BOB EMERICK SAYS DISTORTIONS DESTROYED HIS TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR SEX OFFENDERS

TRESS MANAGEMENTHAIRDRESSER WITNESSES MOTHER-DAUGHTER SCRAP HOURS BEFORE MURDER

HOW CHILD-ABUSE CASES CAN BE PROSECUTED

A Phallacy

Vindication in court can't erase scars suffered by counselor to young sex offenders

Letters

Vindication in court can't erase scars suffered by counselor to young sex offenders

A Case to Be Made

Vindication in court can't erase scars suffered by counselor to young sex offenders

Special Kay

Dr. Kay Rauth-Farley is compassionate, tough and skilled, qualities that have placed her on the front lines of Arizona's war against child abuse for a decade

The Quad Squad

Mother of infants arrested on abuse charges; Avondale police conspicuously absent from news conference

A Foot Soldier in the War on Child Abuse

Mother of infants arrested on abuse charges; Avondale police conspicuously absent from news conference

Fostering Sexual Abuse

Foster kids say the state ignored its own policies, exposing them to sexual predators

Twisted Sisters

Foster kids say the state ignored its own policies, exposing them to sexual predators

No Friend of Dorothy

The doc sez Beat It

Very Bad Thoughts

A pedophile who labors to keep his desire to rape little boys a figment of his imagination admits he's a walking time bomb

Silent Witness

Bishop Thomas O'Brien has a history of covering for pedophile priests and obstructing justice. Has he really repented?

REVERSAL OF MISFORTUNE

JAMES MCPHEETERS BEAT A MOLESTATION RAP, BUT WAS SENTENCED TO 561 YEARS FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. AN APPELLATE COURT SAYS HE DESERVES A NEW TRIAL.

THE FAMILY TRAP

UNDER ITS "REUNIFICATION-FIRST" POSICY, THE STATE OF ARIZONA ROUTINELY FORCES CHILDREN TO LIVE WITH PARENTS WHO ARE UNFIT GUARDIANS BY ANY DEFINITION

USING SLEDGEHAMMERS TO SWAT FLIES

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE VIGOROUSLY PROSECUTES FELONY CHILD ABUSE CHARGES. EVEN WHEN NO CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ABUSED.

Stripper Mom Charged With Child Abuse in Abandonment Case; Toddlers' Rooms Filthy

  Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas has filed felony child abuse counts against a Mesa stripper who left her toddlers alone while she visited a boyfriend. Samantha Abernathy, who turns 21 this week, returned to her Mesa apartment about 10:45 a.m. last Sunday, admitting to wa ... More >>

Abuse Charges Sought Against the Parents of 8 Year-Old Alleged Rape Victim

Phoenix police are seeking child abuse and neglect charges against the parents of a Liberian girl who was allegedly raped by four young boys in July. Investigators have submitted a request to the Maricopa County Attorney Office, which will review the reports and decide whether or not to bring c ... More >>

Chandler Man Indicted on Charges of Sexually Abusing His Step Granddaughter

Richard Michael Scott​Chandler police announced today that a man accused of sexually abusing his own step granddaughter has been indicted on various child molestation charges.Richard Michael Scott, a 66-year-old former Chandler resident, was arrested on October 8, after police say he sexually abus ... More >>

Marana Man Gets 17-Years for Molesting Three Brothers in the 1990s

Arnold L. Geib, child molester.​A Pima County judge sentenced a Marana man to 17-years in prison yesterday for molesting three boys more than 10 years ago. According to court records, authorities opened the case in 2006, after the three brothers told their guardian that Arnold L. Geib, 73, ... More >>

Parents of Girl Locked in Bathroom for Months Araigned This Morning; Girl Weighed 90 Pounds

Scott and Andrea Bass​The parents of the 14-year-old girl, who in January escaped from a bathroom where she had been held captive for nearly two months, pleaded not guilty this morning to child abuse and kidnapping charges in Maricopa County Superior Court.Scott and Andrea Bass, according to prose ... More >>

Soccer Coach Daniel Cope Takes Guilty Plea in Child Porn Case; Will Receive 35-50 Years in Prison

Daniel Cope​ A former Valley soccer coach pleaded guilty today to attempted sexual conduct with a minor and charges related to possessing nude pictures of his roommate's little boys. Before his November 2008 arrest, Daniel Cope worked for two years for the American Youth Soccer Organization, ... More >>

Bestiality and Child "Rape" Videos Found on Buckeye Man's Computer.

MCSOMichael Barham​Time for a game of which is more disturbing, starring 26-year-old Michael Barham, of Buckeye.Barham was arrested yesterday after Phoenix police got word that he may have some kiddy-porn on his computer. After searching his home and computer, kiddy-porn was the least disturbing s ... More >>

Kingman Man Indicted for Murder in Death of 13-Month-Old Girl

Dustin Colpitts​A Kingman man was indicted for murder last week in the death of his girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter.Dustin Colpitts, 21, of Kingman, called police earlier this month when he noticed the baby wasn't breathing. The child was taken to the Kingman Regional Medical Center, and then a ... More >>

Mesa Perv Who Drugged/Molested Girlfriend's Daughter Going to Prison -- For a Long Long Time

They don't make 'em much perv-ier than William Riedel. ​A Mesa pervert who convinced his girlfriend to help him drug and then molest her own daughter has been sentenced to a fairly lengthy prison sentence.Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Paul McMurdie this morning sentenced William Lewis Riede ... More >>

Phoenix Man Arrested for Sexually Abusing His Own Kids; Injected Them With Meth, Too

​You'd think it doesn't get much more disgusting, depraved, and evil than someone sexually abusing their own children -- but that's because you've probably never met 29-year-old Juan Vidal Torres, who was arrested this morning on charges that he not only sexually abused his own kids, but injected ... More >>

Phoenix Sex Offender Brought in From Guatemala After Eight Years of Evading Probation and Child Support

  Leroy Smalley went to Guatemala after being convicted of attempted child molestation in 2003, evading an order for lifetime probation. Authorities brought him back to the United States last week. ​Leroy Smalley was down on his luck in 2003. He'd just been convicted in a child molesta ... More >>

Qikai "Ben" Chen Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Child Abuse; Basis Charter School Boots Its Former Teacher

  Qikai "Ben" Chen has been indicted for felony child abuse. He's also lost his job as a math teacher at Scottsdale's Basis Charter School.​Qikai "Ben" Chen, a former math teacher at Scottsdale's Basis Charter School, pleaded not guilty today to a felony charge of child abuse. The arr ... More >>

David Morris Pleads Guilty to Charges He Turned Phoenix Home into Kiddie-Porn Studio

David Robert Morris​A Phoenix man accused of using his west Phoenix home to shoot kiddie-porn films pleaded guilty today in Maricopa County Superior Court.David Robert Morris was arrested in October and charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation and seven counts of sexual conduct with a minor. ... More >>

Ame Deal's Father Trying to Bail Monsters Who Murdered His Daughter Out of Jail

Ame Deal, 10, was tortured and murdered by her own family. Now her father wants to bail the monsters out of jail.​The father of a 10-year-old Phoenix girl who was tortured and murdered by members of her own family earlier this month is trying to raise money to bail his daughter's killers out of ja ... More >>

Ame Deal's Killers Indicted for First-Degree Murder; No Decision on Whether Prosecutors Will Seek Death Penalty

John and Samantha Allen (left) have each been charged with first-degree murder for the death of Samantha Allen's cousin, 10-year-old Ame Deal. Judith Deal and Cynthia Stolzmann (right), Deal's grandmother and aunt, have been charged with child abuse.​The two people who admitted to locking 10-year- ... More >>

Jennifer Barnes Adopted a Child -- Then Shoved Feces in His Mouth, Stuck Toothbrush in Anus. CPS Drops Ball Again?

MCSOJennifer Barnes​Jennifer Barnes, 39, of Gilbert, adopted a little boy. She then allegedly committed some of the most depraved acts of child abuse we've ever heard of. They involve feces, a toothbrush, and the boy's anus.The kicker: as has been the case in several recent Valley child abuse case ... More >>

Bruce Wardell Watched Porn in Front of 6-Year-Old While Girl's Mother Shot Up

MCSOBruce Wardell...and his mullet.​To be honest, the only reason we requested the arrest report for Bruce Nicholas Wardell was because we were so impressed/terrified by his epic mullet. What he allegedly did to get arrested is just as horrific as his frizzy "party in the back."Wardell was arreste ... More >>

Jahessye Shockley's Mother: "I Want to Talk to Jan Brewer." Continues to Bash Glendale P.D., CPS

James KingJerice Hunter, the mother of missing 5-year-old Jahessye Shockley, went to the State Capitol today to criticize the Glendale Police Department.​The Glendale Police Department tells New Times its investigation into the disappearance of 5-year-old Jahessye Shockley is its "number on priori ... More >>

County Attorney Bill Montgomery to Head Governor's Child Safety Task Force to Fix Mess at CPS

County Attorney Bill Montgomery and other child welfare experts have been pegged with the task of figuring out how to fix Child Protective Services. ​Arizona Governor Jan Brewer announced today the members of a task force she's organized to review the state's child-safety policies following a rece ... More >>

Jennifer Campos: Giving 2-Year-Old Methadone For Toothache a "Bad Idea." Ya Think?

MCSOFrom left: Misty Murphy, Jennifer Campos, Anthony Casillas ​Three people have been charged with crimes after a 2-year-old boy was found to have methadone in his system after he was rushed to a Valley hospital last week while unresponsive and not breathing.'We reported on the methadone-filled b ... More >>

Ambreatte Daniels -- Mother of 3-Year-Old Beaten to Death For Not Eating Hot Dog -- Arrested For Not Reporting Abuse

MCSOAmbreatte Daniels knew her husband was continuously beating her daughter. Daniels' only suggestion: he stop using a belt.​A Phoenix woman was arrested yesterday after police determined that she knew her husband was abusing her 3-year-old daughter and did nothing to stop it.The baby, Dani Mayo, ... More >>

Jennifer Campos and Anthony Casillas, Couple Who Gave Baby Methadone For Toothache, Plead Not Guilty

MCSOJennifer Campos (left) and, Anthony Casillas ​Two people accused of giving their 2-year-old son methadone to relieve a toothache pleaded not guilty today to a collection of child abuse-related charges. Initially, the baby's mother, Jennifer Campos, was booked on three counts of endangering th ... More >>

Jhessye Shockley Not Likely to Be Found Alive, Glendale PD Says. Mother Arrested for Child Abuse "Directly Related" to Disappearance

Jerice Hunter was arrested for child abuse "directly related" to the disappearance of her daughter Jhessye, who's been missing for over a month.​The Glendale Police Department confirmed this afternoon that Jerice Hunter, the mother of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley, has been arrested for chil ... More >>

Jerice Hunter Told Other Children to Lie About Jhessye Shockley Disappearance; Kept 5-Year-Old in Closet Before Reporting Her Missing

Jerice Hunter cleaned her apartment with bleach days before reporting her 5-year-old daughter missing.​Glendale police announced yesterday that they don't expect to find missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley alive, and now we know why: it appears her mother, Jerice Hunter, who was arrested yesterday ... More >>

Jerice Hunter, Mom Eyed in Disappearance of 5-Year-Old Jhessye Shockley, Has an Attorney. Meet Scott Maasen

www.KPHO.comValley attorney Scott Maasen will represent Jerice Hunter.​A Valley attorney -- best known for representing an escort who accused baseball villain Albert Belle of stalking her in 2006 -- has been recruited to represent Jerice Hunter, the mother of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley.At ... More >>

Clergy Child-Abuse Experts to Talk FLDS in Scottsdale This Afternoon

Janet Heimlich, author of the book Breaking Their Will, will lead a discussion on clergy child-abuse this afternoon.​Clergy child-abuse expert Janet Heimlich will be in Scottsdale this afternoon to give a talk about abuse within the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a fundam ... More >>

Jhessye Shockley Thrown in Tempe Trash Can; Case Now a Homicide Investigation, Glendale Police Say

The body of 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley was thrown in a trash can in Tempe, Glendale police now say.​The Glendale Police Department says it now believes that the body of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley was thrown in a trash can in Tempe and may be in a landfill just south of the Valley.Glendal ... More >>

Glendale Police to Search Landfill For Body of Missing 5-Year-Old Jhessye Shockley

Glendale PDJhessye Shockley was reported missing on October 11. Police suspect her mother killed her and threw her body in a trash can.​The Glendale Police Department says it will move forward with plans to search a landfill south of Phoenix for the body of 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley, who's been ... More >>

Christian Turcios, Alleged Kiddie-Porn Star/Church Janitor, Almost Beat Child Molestation Rap -- Then Cops Found His Video Collection

MCSOChristian Turcios​It's often good to quit while you're ahead -- for example, if you almost beat a child molestation rap, you might want to think about not molesting kids anymore.Christian Turcios, a 26-year-old custodian at the Highlands Church in Scottsdale, didn't quit while he was ahead -- ... More >>

Angelica Jimenez, Woman Who Allowed Boyfriend to Use 4-Month-Old as Ashtray, Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse Charge

Chandler Police DepartmentAngelica Jimenez​We're not sure what's more disturbing: the fact that Anjelica Jimenez allowed her boyfriend to use a 4-month-old as an ashtray, or the fact that the baby was placed in Jimenez's care by Child Protective Services.Regardless, Jimenez, 25, was in a Maricopa ... More >>

Christian Turcios, Alleged Star of "Child Erotica" Films/Church Janitor, Pleads Not Guilty to Kiddie-Porn Charges

MCSOChristian Turcios, former church janitor/alleged kiddie-porn star.​Christian Turcios, a 26-year-old former custodian at the Highlands Church in Scottsdale, was in Maricopa County Superior Court this morning where he pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of kiddie-porn-related crimes.Turcios, i ... More >>

Jhessye Shockley Disappearance: Police to Start Searching Landfill For Body February 6

Glendale Police DepartmentGlendale police suspect the body of 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley is in a landfill south of the Valley.​Glendale police announced this morning that investigators will start searching a landfill south of the Valley for the body of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley on Febru ... More >>

Jhessye Shockley Disappearance: Search Of Landfill For 5-Year-Old's Body Starts Today

Glendale Police DepartmentGlendale police suspect the body of 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley is in a landfill south of the Valley.​Authorities have begun searching a landfill south of the Valley for the remains of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley.Shockley was reported missing in October. Glendale ... More >>