Boy Scouts of America sued — The Boy Scouts of America’s failure to share information about known child molesters led to the sexual abuse of at least 12 Seattle-area boys over three decades, according to a lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court. The nation’s largest youth organisation failed to protect children in its care by deliberately and negligently withholding information from its local chapters about known and suspected child abusers, the civil suit alleges.
Dozens respond to police appeal in Durham child sex abuse case — More than 40 alleged victims of child sex abuse at a detention centre for teenage boys in north-east England have come forward in response to a police appeal, as part of a new investigation into serial abuse at the centre during the 1970s and 80s. Detectives from Durham received the calls within less than a week of asking for victims to come forward, following an investigation by the Guardian revealing that a prison officer at Medomsley detention centre may have abused hundreds of boys during a 17-year spell when he was in charge of the kitchens at the centre.
Ex-city councillor in Saint John, N.B., apologizes for sexually abusing boys — Donnie Snook, a former municipal politician and youth worker in New Brunswick, said Friday he can’t explain why, as a victim of child sex abuse himself, he sexually assaulted and made pornographic images of boys over a 12-year span. Snook addressed provincial court in Saint John at his sentencing hearing, apologizing for the years of “sadness and darkness” he created in the lives of 17 young kids.
Fifth Maine West student claims sex assault in soccer hazing ritual — A fifth Maine West High School athlete has stepped forward to claim in a new lawsuit that he was sexually assaulted in a hazing ritual at the school in the northwest suburbs. Chicago lawyer Tony Romanucci filed the complaint Monday on behalf of the 16-year-old boy and his parents, none of whom are identified by name.
Former Vic priest guilty of sex abuse — Decades after committing the abuse, 60-year-old Rapson has been found guilty of indecently assaulting eight boys. Rapson, who was defrocked by Pope John Paul II after his first sexual abuse conviction, abused the boys during his time at Salesian College’s Lysterfield and Rupertswood campuses between the 1970s and 1990. He denied the allegations but a jury on Friday found him guilty of all five charges of rape and eight counts of indecent assault.
“Rapist” written on exonerated Cheyenne man’s car — A Cheyenne man exonerated in a 1989 rape is facing more challenges. A car donated to Andrew J. Johnson was found vandalized Thursday morning. The word “rapist” was written on it and holes were poked through the tires. Johnson told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that someone also threw eggs at his ex-wife’s house and left a brick with a racial slur on it referring to their interracial relationship.
Sandusky abuse victims: Penn State should have stopped him — Victims of convicted child abuser Jerry Sandusky who have reached settlements with his former employer, Penn State University, express bitterness toward him and the school as university officials say they continue to negotiate with others toward resolving their complaints. At least eight of 31 claims of abuse by the school’s former assistant football coach have been settled, their lawyers say.
Toy Soldiers 