Sexual Child Abuse

ANNAPOLIS - Worried that a teacher who sexually abused her 25 years ago will escape a sex offender registry, a Washington County woman urged lawmakers to eliminate a legal loophole. The woman testified Tuesday in the House Judiciary Committee, pushing for passage of a bill for certain sex offenders to register for a database. Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, the bill's sponsor, said it only applies to offenders who committed crimes before Oct. 1, 1995, but who were convicted on or after that day. When the state's sex offender registry was created in 1995, it didn't include prior convictions.

Man raped stepdaughter, 15 A 39-year-old Hagerstown man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday for the second-degree rape of his 15-year-old stepdaughter - an encounter that produced a child. continued "The flesh is weak and I was weak," the man said after admitting on the witness stand that he had what he called "an adulterous affair" with his stepdaughter in the spring of 1999. But he told the jury it wasn't forced. And he insisted she was partially to blame for wearing tight shorts and low-cut T-shirts around the house.

While families are still heading toward the beach during these final days of summer, another group in the community is dreaming of sugarplums and holiday decorating. Holiday centerpieces adorned each table at the kickoff luncheon at Robinwood Medical Center on Monday for the fourth annual Festival of Trees. This year the event, held from Nov. 28 to Dec. 3, will benefit the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Program at Washington County Hospital. The program provides nurses at the hospital 24/7 who are trained to respond to sexual and child abuse cases.

Kick off the holiday season by attending the Antietam Healthcare Foundation's fourth annual Festival of Trees from Thursday through Sunday at Robinwood Medical Center in Hagerstown. Presented by CentraBank, the centerpiece of the Festival of Trees is the featured display of uniquely decorated trees and wreaths - each sponsored and decorated by friends in the community. This year, visitors will also get a chance to see a model train display and new holiday creations. The festival also features seasonal entertainment, food and specialty beverages as well as the popular North Pole Limited Gift Shop.

Last year the Washington County Child Advocacy Center treated 302 serious cases of physical and sexual child abuse, at what Washington County Health Officer Bill Christoffel called "the end point of abuse. " In many of those cases, Christoffel said, it wasn't the first time the parent or guardian had abused the child. There's a point at which abuse begins, he said, sometimes with something as simple as a slap. Then it escalates. "We want to try to identify it before it leads to serious medical injury and get the parent counseling," Christoffel said.

Abuser charged with violating probation FREDERICK, Md. - A Frederick man on probation for sexual child abuse was arrested Thursday for allegedly walking children to North Frederick Elementary School - a probation violation - according to the Frederick Police Department. Richard Ernest Roberts, 49, of 33 Stewart Manor Apartments, was charged with violation of probation. Roberts is being held in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center on $50,000 bond. Police: Two robbed in Hagerstown Hagerstown police were investigating an armed robbery on a downtown street Sunday night, Sgt. Dennis Ballam said.

As Washington County State's Attorney, I have fought for the victims and families of physical and sexual child abuse and other offenses against children. I have personally tried many of these cases. I lead a staff dedicated to the prosecution of defendants and the protection of children. These cases can be and usually are the toughest of cases to work with because of the horrible nastiness that adults can visit on children. These atrocious actions can leave a child scarred for life.

Staff at Meritus Medical Center on Monday placed nearly 1,600 pinwheels outside the hospital's main entrance, each one representing a reported case of child abuse in Washington County last year. The event was held in observance of Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. “It'd be so great to see us in the 22nd century look back on the 21st century and say we eliminated sexual and child abuse,” said Jesus Cepero, vice president and chief nursing officer of Meritus Health.

Furthering education in W.Va. To the editor: One of the great challenges facing West Virginia higher education is the need to increase the enrollment of adult students in the state's public colleges and universities. The educational attainment rate of our adult population is among the lowest in the nation. Before the state can make strides in its effort to be competitive and meet the workforce demands of the new economy, it must effectively address this problem. All of West Virginia's higher education institutions, particularly community and technical colleges, must develop innovative programs to reach the adult population.