Resource Center

Category: Youth Leader

September 11, 2020

George DeCosta, Former Priest, accused of sex abuse at Music Ministry Alive Music camp

George DeCosta, a retired priest who was a Youth leader at a summer music program run by David Haas at St. Catherine University, was sued by at least six men for alleged child sex abuse in his home state of Hawaii. “I distinctly remember him [DeCosta] at morning prayer, evening prayer, sitting up front,” said Henson, who is one of 113 former Music Ministry Alive (MMA) participants, who have sent a petition to St. Catherine’s, seeking “transparency and accountability” for Haas’ alleged sexual misconduct as well as DeCosta’s presence in the program held on its campus in St. […]

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September 3, 2020

John C. Sapp Jr., Church Youth Leader, indicted on multiple counts of child sex abuse

John C. Sapp Jr., the 34-year-old lead pastor at Maranatha Fellowship church, has been indicted on 89 charges after he allegedly had sexual relationships with two teenage girls who were members of a church youth group. Sapp Jr. had been leading the youth group for the past three years. most of the sexual encounters took place in the church and church youth group outings. According to court documents, Sapp was at his house with his wife when he confessed to “inappropriately touching” a girl. Maranatha Fellowship did not immediately respond to questions about the case. Delaware State Police […]

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August 17, 2020

Reporting of Child sex abuse is now demanded by Jehova Witness organization

Reporting of child sex abuse has been mandated by two former Jehovah’s Witness elders after reports have been made that the organization is under the belief that it is only “answerable only to God”. One of the elders, Duncan Corbett, has said that the protection of children and the handling of sexual abuse of minors should be removed from the church’s responsibility. “Let them deal with the sin and the authorities handle the crime,” he told a hearing in London. Another former elder, Lloyd Evans, said: “This is a group that feels they are answerable only to God … […]

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August 14, 2020

Former YMCA Youth Volunteer accused of sexually abusing teenage boy in the 1980’s

A convicted sex offender is now accused of sexually abusing at least dozen children in the 1980s when he worked as a youth volunteer in Binghamton YMCA. A complaint was filed last week accusing Michael Gregg of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in 1986 that took place over a year when the boy was in the YMCA youth program. Gregg, now 61, allegedly groomed and befriended the teenage boy and invited him to his home to eat pizza and play video games in Binghamton where he abused him. The teenage boy had mental disabilities and participated in youth […]

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July 29, 2020

Christian Youth Theater faces sex abuse allegations

Janie Russell Cox, The President of San Diego’s Christian Youth Theater, which is known as CYT, confirmed there is credibility to sex abuse claims from students who have been coming forward recently on social media. The President of the CYT even said that one of the claims dating back years ago was from a close family member of hers. Part of a statement on the Theater’s Facebook page said, “We are deeply saddened to learn about statements that have recently been made on social media involving former CYT students, and we want you to know that we take […]

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July 24, 2020

Former figure skating coach Richard Callaghan accused of sexually abusing student athletes

A $10 million lawsuit was filed this week on behalf of a former competitive figure skater against one of the sport’s most celebrated coaches, Richard Callaghan . Craig Maurizi is accusing Coach Callaghan of sexual abuse that dates back to the 1970s. The civil lawsuit names three figure skating organizations that allegedly knew and did nothing about Callaghan’s rampant misconduct. Maurizi, now 57, named the Buffalo Skating Club, the Professional Skaters Association and the U.S. Figure Skating Association as co-defentants in the suit. The Buffalo Skating Club turned down the opportunity to speak on the matter, and referred […]

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July 1, 2020

Buddhist leader accused of sexually abusing young girls

Michael Smith, a former member of a Colorado Shambhala Buddhist center has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing at least one child. In March, the 55-year-old pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and attempted sexual assault on a child. In addition to the 20 year sentence, a Boulder district judge also gave a three-year prison sentence for attempted sex assault. Smith’s prison sentence will be followed by five years of mandatory parole. According to police, Smith lived in a room rented out by the girl’s family to other Shambhala Buddhists, and that is […]

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June 1, 2020

Girl Scout Leader arrested for allegedly sexually abusing young girls

A Girl Scout co-leader in North Tonawanda and his wife have been charged in connection with the sexual abuse of two young children, according to a police report. Police reported that Marty and Shani Walton, a volunteer for the organization, were virtually arraigned in Niagara County Court on charges of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. The married couple both pleaded not guilty. The victims are both minors, ages eight and nine years old and the couple is currently under investigation for possible other incidents of child sex abuse. The Girl Scouts released this statement […]

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May 27, 2020

Boy Scouts Victims of Sex abuse have until November 16 to file suits amid Bankruptcy filing

Victims of child sex abuse by the Boy Scouts of America now have a November deadline to file claims. “At a time when millions of Americans are unemployed and preoccupied with basic survival, sexual abuse survivors need and are entitled to a reasonable period of time after they receive notice from the bankruptcy Court to reflect seriously and make a decision whether to file a claim in this case,” representatives for victims committee wrote in a court filing. Boy Scouts have filed for bankruptcy and had initially proposed a deadline of 80 days after notice of the claims […]

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April 30, 2020

Award winning Master teacher in Hula accused of sexually abusing young students in the 1990’s

Award-winning kumu hula Howell “Chinky” Mahoe Jr. of Halau Hula O Kawaili’ula is among one of the several sexual abuse lawsuits filed this week amid claims of child sex abuse dating back to the 1990s . In the lawsuit one Oahu man claims he was just a child when he was enrolled in Mahoe’s keiki hula class in 1994-1998 and allegedly Mahoe performed unwanted sex acts on him at his Kailua home, and during trips to the mainland. Back in 1998 Mahoe was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to register as a sex offender […]

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