Who's in the News? ▫️2 men arrested in connection with teen’s kidnapping in Miami Two men were arrested in connection with a 19-year-old's kidnapping in Miami, authorities said. Jouvens Pierre, 20, and Josue Medina, 22, both face charges of kidnapping and strongarm robbery. Miami Police officials said officers responded to the area of Southwest 13th Avenue and 1st Street around 12:45 a.m. Sunday to investigate the incident. Police said the two were part of a group that snatched the 19-year-old victim from the street and forced him into their car. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/2-men-arrested-in-connection-with-teens-kidnapping-in-miami/3501138/ (VIDEO) ▫️Convicted California Human Trafficker's Alleged 2-Year Reign of Terror in Notorious Prostitution Zone Ends with Simple Gun Possession Charge A known human trafficker in California avoided facing charges after being seen throwing a woman who was aggressively protesting by kicking, screaming and fighting back, into the trunk of a car in 2023 only to be arrested later for his connection to an alleged murder suspect. 42-year-old Jason Nious evaded charges on two separate occasions in the same Oakland neighborhood: once when he was seen throwing a woman into the trunk of his Mercedes as she was "kicking and screaming," and once when he was caught driving around that neighborhood with a younger woman who may have been underage, reported the East Bay Times. In June 2024 the 42-year-old was charged when he did not register himself as a sex offender, but this charge was dismissed within the same month it was levied. https://www.latintimes.com/convicted-california-human-trafficker-reign-terror-prostitution-ends-gun-possession-570226 ▫️Chicago Heights Man Charged with Multiple Felonies Involving Kidnapping COOK COUNTY, IL – A Chicago Heights man is facing multiple felony charges after a Sheriff’s Police investigation found that he kidnapped two individuals and held one of them for ransom, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Sheriff’s Police received a call from an individual who stated their family member was kidnapped and that they received ransom demands from the offender, who was later identified as Donnail Hannah, 37, of the 19400 block of Glenwood Dyer Road. Officers learned that Hannah threatened to kill the male victim if his family did not pay the ransom. Hannah and the male victim were located later that day at an East Hazel Crest casino parking lot. Sheriff’s Police arrested Hannah at the scene, and he was charged on Thursday, Dec. 19, with two counts of Aggravated Kidnapping with a Firearm, one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon/Felon, and one count of Vehicular Hijacking with a Firearm. https://cookcountysheriffil.gov/chicago-heights-man-charged-with-multiple-felonies-involving-kidnapping/ ▫️Bonneville County man charged with multiple counts related to child sexual exploitation Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced the arrest of Cristian Escalera Maldonado, a 31-year-old man from Bonneville County. The arrest was made by investigators with the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit on December 22, 2024. Maldonado faces multiple charges including four counts of sexual battery of a minor aged 16 or 17, one count of lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, and two counts related to child sexual abuse material. » https://legalnewsline.com/stories/667165835-bonneville-county-man-charged-with-multiple-counts-related-to-child-sexual-exploitation » https://www.khq.com/news/idaho-man-arrested-for-allegedly-creating-child-abuse-material/article_b7096e76-c224-11ef-9597-67b60964eac8.html ▫️JBER Airman charged with distributing, possessing child pornography ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A U.S. Air Force Airman stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) was arrested last Thursday after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with distributing and possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). According to court documents, in August 2024, Caleb French, 27, was reported to the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) by an individual who claimed French wanted to commit sexual assaults against minors. AFOSI executed a search warrant on French’s residence and recovered multiple digital devices allegedly containing over a thousand images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. French is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. If anyone has information concerning French’s alleged actions, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/pr/jber-airman-charged-distributing-possessing-child-pornography ▫️Oregon school principal resigns and student, 13, is arrested in shocking sex abuse scandal An Oregon school principal has resigned and a 13-year-old student has been arrested after a mysterious incident of sexual abuse in an on-campus bathroom. Principal George Scott resigned last Monday from his position at Jewell School in Clatsop County. His resignation came after Clatsop County Sheriff's Office took a 13-year-old student into custody on December 5 after complaints of sexual abuse. While the details remain scarce, parents say the incident stemmed from a 'predator' being in the school bathroom. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14225083/oregon-jewell-school-principal-george-scott-resigns-sex-abuse-scandal.html ▫️Former deputy accused of attempting underage sex dies by suicide A former Riverside County sheriff’s deputy arrested earlier this month and accused of attempting to have sex with a minor killed himself last week, according to authorities. Anthony Russo, 52, was found dead inside his Arrowbear Lake home Friday, the San Bernardino County Coroner’s office confirmed. » https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-24/former-riverside-county-sheriffs-deputy-accused-of-attempting-sex-with-a-minor-commits-suicide » https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/12/24/riverside-county-deputy-takes-own-life-after-being-accused-of-soliciting-underage-sex/ ▫️Man found guilty of human trafficking in Beaverton case BEAVERTON Ore. - A 32-year-old man was found guilty for two counts of promoting prostitution following his trial in Washington County, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office (WCDA) said. According to WCDA, an undercover detective posed as a customer and agreed to meet with a woman in a hotel in Beaverton. Police searched her phone and found messages between the woman and Calvin Dae’juan Smith. Officers identified a pattern of texts involving Smith arranging and transporting the woman in exchange for money. Following his arrest, Smith was found guilty of two counts of promoting prostitution in court on Friday. https://www.kptv.com/2024/12/23/man-found-guilty-human-trafficking-beaverton-case/ ▫️Rich doctor was facing sex trafficking charges...then a key witness was mysteriously found dead in a river A prominent Miami Beach doctor who was accused of over a dozen sex crimes had all but one of the charges dropped after a key witness was mysteriously found dead in a river. Dr. Jefferey David Kamlet, 69, was arrested in March, 2023, for human trafficking, using a computer to lure a child to engage in sexual conduct, soliciting unlawful sexual activity with a minor and delivering a controlled substance to a child. The charges stemmed from Kamlet's involvement with two girls aged 16 and 17, as reported by NBC Miami. But last March, Kamlet pleaded guilty to a single count of custody interference after agreeing to a plea deal that saw him serve a day of probation and give up his medical license. It’s been a year and a half since Gina was found floating face down in the Little River Canal near the village of El Portal. Her mother had reported her missing – to the police, the state attorney and the medical examiner – yet authorities failed to put two and two together to identify the girl in the morgue, known then as Jane Doe, for a full 14 days. » https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14224437/Rich-doctor-facing-sex-trafficking-charges-key-witness-mysteriously-dead-river.html » https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article293839369.html » https://t.me/ENDHUMANTRAFFICKING/10270 ▫️Williamsburg sex offender arrested An investigation into a man resulted in the arrest of Christopher May, 66, of Williamsburg. May was investigated for failure to comply with the KY Sex Offender Registry by misreporting his address and living within 1000 feet of a school. May was arrested on Dec. 20 and charged with: Registered Sex Offender School Restrictions Violation & Registered Sex Offender Residence Restrictions Violation and Failure to comply with KY Sex Offender Registry (Second-Offense) https://z93country.com/archives/467428/region-news/ ▫️Bail increased for ex-Las Vegas teacher, coach accused of child sex abuse A Las Vegas judge increased bail on Tuesday for a 72-year-old former Palo Verde High School teacher and coach facing child sexual abuse charges. Michael “Luke” Atwell was indicted this month on 17 counts of lewdness with a child under 14, six counts of sexual assault against a child under 14, two counts of battery with the intent to commit sexual assault against a child under 16, open or gross lewdness in the presence of a child or vulnerable person, and two counts of child abuse. District Judge Eric Johnson sided with prosecutors on Tuesday and raised Atwell’s bail to $500,000. Atwell has been accused of sexually assaulting multiple victims when they were children: a boy when he was between 11 and 14 years old; a woman who is now an adult in her 30s; that woman’s daughter; another former student who is now in her 30s; and that woman’s son. https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/sex-crimes/judge-raises-bail-for-ex-palo-verde-coach-accused-of-child-sex-abuse-3255638/ ▫️Salt Lake man charged with kidnapping 9-year-old, sexually assaulting her multiple times TAYLORSVILLE — A Salt Lake man was charged Monday with putting a young girl in a car trunk, tying her up and sexually assaulting her at several locations. Tyler James Webb, 23, is charged in 3rd District Court with child kidnapping, rape of a child, sodomy upon a child, three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, all first-degree felonies; and aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. The disturbing case involves a 9-year-old girl. https://www.ksl.com/article/51217066/salt-lake-man-charged-with-kidnapping-9-year-old-sexually-assaulting-her-multiple-times ▫️Hastings man arrested for trying to entice undercover GIPD investigator posing as teen girls, police say GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - A Hastings man is in the Hall County Jail, accused of trying to meet up with who he thought were teenage girls for sex. Grand Island Police arrested 38-year-old Marcus Jones for multiple counts of enticement and sexual assault. According to Grand Island Police, Jones began speaking with two 13-year-old girls on social media in October. In reality, the girls were an undercover investigator with Grand Island Police. Grand Island Police said he set up a meet up location at a restaurant on South Locust, where police took him into custody on Monday. https://www.wowt.com/2024/12/24/hastings-man-arrested-trying-entice-undercover-gipd-investigator-posing-teen-girls-police-say/ (VIDEO) ▫️Catholic schoolteacher made child porn from school yearbook photos, Kentucky cops say A former Kentucky Catholic schoolteacher has pleaded guilty to child pornography-related charges after authorities said he photoshopped students’ faces onto nude female bodies and shared them online. Jordan A. Fautz pleaded guilty Dec. 18 to charges including distribution of child pornography, and distribution of obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, according to court records. While employed as a seventh- and eighth-grade religion teacher at St. Stephen Martyr Catholic School in Louisville, Fautz shared child sexual abuse material online with an undercover FBI agent, according to a criminal complaint. https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article297370254.html » https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2024/12/catholic-schoolteacher-made/ ▫️Cove educator accused of sexual assault of child COPPERAS COVE, Texas – UPDATE: A Copperas Cove High School educator has been arrested for an alleged sexual assault of a child. FOX 44 News has learned the educator is band director Lawrence Varela-Halbert, Jr., who was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Bill Price on Thursday. Varela-Halbert has three counts of Sexual Assault of a Child The Copperas Cove Police Department was originally notified of an allegation of an improper relationship between a female student and an educator on November 7. https://www.fox44news.com/news/local-news/coryell-county/cove-educator-accused-of-sexual-assault-of-child/ ▫️Des Moines man sentenced for possession of child abuse images A 53-year-old registered sex offender from Des Moines, Washington, was sentenced to ten years in prison for possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman announced Friday. Edward James Creed was under Washington State Department of Corrections supervision when authorities discovered unapproved electronic devices and child sexual abuse images on his phone. U.S. District Judge Kymberly Evanson emphasized the impact of such crimes, stating, “Creating a market for this material perpetuates the horrific abuse of children.” Creed had previously served over ten years for a 2008 conviction for raping a child in Kitsap County. https://mynorthwest.com/4021789/des-moines-man-sentenced-for-possession-of-child-sexual-abuse-images/ ▫️Here Are All The Charges Against Ex-Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries Mike Jeffries, the former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO accused of coercing aspiring models into sex while operating an international sex trafficking ring, has been diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s and may not be fit to stand trial, his attorneys disclosed in a recent legal filing. Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson were each charged with sex trafficking and engaging in interstate prostitution, the DOJ said Tuesday, leading to Jeffries and Jacobson pleading not guilty to their charges in New York in October, while Smith pleaded not guilty in Florida earlier this month. » https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/12/24/mike-jeffries-has-dementia-and-late-onset-alzheimers-lawyers-say-here-are-all-the-allegations-against-the-former-abercrombie--fitch-ceo/ » https://tribune.com.pk/story/2518173/former-abercrombie-fitch-ceo-mike-jeffries-diagnosed-with-dementia-amid-sex-trafficking-charges » https://t.me/ENDHUMANTRAFFICKING/16803 ▫️Warriors for Freedom 5K scheduled for Jan. 11 | Opelika OPELIKA — On Saturday, Jan. 11, which is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Worthy Squared will host the first annual Warriors for Freedom 5K, a way for the community to stand strong alongside survivors and advocate for dignity, freedom and an end to trafficking. The Warriors for Freedom 5K event will take place at the Opelika Sportsplex, opening with a fun one-mile run at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K race at 8:30 a.m. https://opelikaobserver.com/2024/12/24/warriors-for-freedom-5k-scheduled-for-jan-11/ ▫️NAWJ Webinar: He was only 12 - Judges and Migrant Child Labor | National Association of Women Judges | January 16, 2025 | Online Organized by NAWJ Committees of Immigration, Human Trafficking, Administrative Judiciary and Juvenile Justice & Child Welfare, this webinar will help learn about the extent of migrant child labor in the U.S. in violation of child labor laws, who is responsible, the intersection with human trafficking, challenges to eliminating it, and the role of judges in combating this problem. The event is also co-sponsored by ABA Judicial Division. https://www.nawj.org/schedule/events-calendar/nawj-webinar-he-was-only-12-judges-and-migrant-child-labor/2025-01-16 ▫️Kirkwood Events - Human Trafficking Speaker: Kristina Glackin | Thursday, January 30, 2025 | Iowa Hall, Cedar Rapids Main Campus Kristina Glackin is a Kirkwood Alumni that has gone from victim to victorious. She has bravely and passionately shared her story of the reality of human trafficking for 9 years. She brings awareness and hope to those in need through her story of redemption. She uses her quirky on-stage presence and spoken word poetry to inspire and make trafficking real for her audiences. Kristina has worked as an advocate, survivor support leader, grant writer, member of the Eastern Iowa Human Trafficking Task Force, and consultant for survivor restoration homes. https://go.activecalendar.com/kirkwoodevents/event/human-trafficking-speaker-kristina-glackin/ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ More Arrest Updates: HSI/ICE Newsroom Child Exploitation (https://www.ice.gov/newsroom?field_news_release_topics_tag_target_id=All&field_field_location_administrative_area=All&field_published_date_value%5Bmin%5D=&field_published_date_value%5Bmax%5D=&combine=Child+Exploitation&field_field_location_country_code=All)FBI Arrests & Violent Crimes Against Children News (https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/vcac/violent-crimes-against-children-news)Department of Justice Press Room Human Trafficking News (https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking/press-room)- - - -N-E-E-D- -H-E-L-P-?- - -US:- - - - - - - - - NCMEC Urgent victim help 24-Hour Hotline: 1-800-843-5678 NCMEC Cybertiplines: https://report.cybertip.org/ HSI/ICE toll-free hotline: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE | Anonymous toll-free ICE Tip Line: (866) 347-2423 | Tip Form (https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form#wcm-survey-target-id) DHS: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/identify-victim U.S. Marshals Service: USMS: Submit a Tip (https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip) If you believe your child is in the process of being abducted by a parent, legal guardian, or someone acting on their behalf, call : 1-888-407-4747. (U.S. Gov. Dept. of State) or https://www.projectdynamo.org/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

▫️9 New P. Diddy Details Revealed as Trafficking Case Heats Up - YouTube ▫️‘Very Thin' P. Diddy Beams at Sons in Court as Trafficking Case Moves Forward ▫️I'll never recover from what Diddy did to me in the dressing room after making my dreams come true: Dawn Richard Pop star Dawn Richard waited years to tell her story of how Sean 'Diddy' Combs allegedly abused her while she was a member of the girl group Danity Kane. On the latest episode of DailyMail.com's podcast 'The Trial of Diddy', Richard's attorney, Lisa Bloom, said the singer decided to come forward and file a lawsuit against Combs after watching the viral video of the music producer attacking former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14191123/diddy-dawn-richard-danity-kane-dressing-room-lawsuit.html ▫️7 Shocking Details in P. Diddy Suit Accusing Jay-Z of Rape A lawsuit filed against Sean "Diddy" Combs has been amended to include Jay-Z as one of the men accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at a VMA after-party in 2000. The rapper had previously been named as "Celebrity A." Jay-Z released a statement calling the allegations "heinous" and has asked to dismiss the lawsuit. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy outlines the most shocking details in the suit in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime. https://youtu.be/s1INjI-9S24 (VIDEO) ▫️Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on X: 'As far as P Diddy and now Jay Z being accused of raping children I personally believe pedophiles should receive the death penalty if found guilty. You rape a child, you drug and forcefully rape a child, you traffic children and sell them for sex, you should face the most severe' https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1865955375654261226?s=19 ▫️The shocking similarities between Diddy and Epstein revealed in latest allegations Friends and collaborators of Sean 'Diddy' Combs continue to disassociate themselves from the Bad Boy mogul — just as others have done when billionaire Jeffrey Epstein faced similar criminal charges. On the latest episode of DailyMail.com's podcast 'The Trial of Diddy', attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard against the music producer, said there were plenty of 'complicit' enablers around Combs. 'It reminds me very much of Jeffrey Epstein,' said Bloom, who represented 11 of the business mogul's victims in lawsuits. '[Epstein] had a whole operation with Ghislaine Maxwell and other recruiters. 'And similarly with Sean Combs, we think there's a lot of people and companies who were complicit and we named them. Well, of course, those people don't like being named.' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14199403/diddy-jeffrey-epstein-similarities-allegations-lawsuit.html ▫️Diddy Accuser Speaks To Media For First Time: Here Is The Latest On Sean Combs https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/12/11/diddy-accuser-speaks-to-media-for-first-time-here-is-the-latest-on-sean-combs/

Oh, by the Way ...

Sylvia M. Biggie, age 83 of DuBois, PA died Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at Christ the King Manor. Born on October 30, 1941 in DuBois, PA, she was the daughter of the late James A. and Teresa M. (Hackett) Sinkey. Sylvia was Catholic by faith. She loved crossword puzzles, her cats and cooking, baking, and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Above all, she loved spending time with her family. She is survived by her children Teresa Norman of DuBois, PA, Carol Biggie of Charlotte, NC, Mary Niel and her husband Paul of DuBois, PA and Kathleen Valimont and her husband John of Sykesville, PA, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sylvia was preceded in death by one brother James Sinkey. There will be no public visitation and a private family funeral service will be held . Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. The Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to https://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence

Here is a different view of the Avenue Theater. It was already closed then with their neighbor store, Felix Fashions, doing a "Quitting Business Sale" in 1979.

Oh, by the Way ...

Does anyone know how to find out what kind of an electrical outage is happening when the lights go out? It almost seems to be a secret but those left in the dark and cold could use some clues as to what to expect. Like a guesstimate of how long the outage could last so we know how much to prepare for the temperatures on a freezing night. Should we start melting snow for the toilets if there is any to melt? Should we draw off some water for drinking? We've gone through very long outages in the winter and learned a lot about how to survive in those conditions but I would hate to go to bed expecting the electric to be back on in the night only to find that it would be out for another day or more. I want to be able to prepare. Unilec is very good in all but this situation. People involved should be able to get some kind of information on what kind of an outage it is and about how long to make preparations for. Given a little helpful info, we can take care of ourselves and our neighbors but we need some clues. Is there information available that we aren't aware of? If you call to ask, it's blocking up the phone lines and you still get no help.