Latest news with #ChildAdvocacyCenter
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Windber man accused of sexually assaulting. impregnating teen
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A Windber man faces felony sexual assault charges, accused of impregnating a 14-year-old girl. Benjamin Burkett, 31, allegedly started a relationship with the teen on Snapchat and took her to his Windber home six times this year to engage in sexual acts, Windber police said. Police said Burkett allegedly admitted knowing the girl was just 14 years old at the time. Investigators said the teen spoke with staff at the Cambria County Child Advocacy Center for a forensic interview after the teen discovered she was pregnant. She told the Advocacy Center staff that Burkett would allegedly pick her up near her Cambria County residence and drive her to his home in Windber, police said. Investigators also said the two allegedly exchanged nude photographs. Burkett is accused of aggravated indecent assault, sexual assault, sexual abuse of children, corruption of minors and indecent assault involving a person less than 16 years old. He is also charged with unlawful contact with a minor. Burkett was released from Somerset County Jail after a bondsman had posted a surety bond for his $100,000 bail, online court records show. Burkett faces a July 23 preliminary hearing before District Judge William Seger in Windber.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Guatemalan man accused of sexually abusing toddler in Norwich
CITY OF NORWICH, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A Guatemalan man accused of sexually abusing a toddler in the City of Norwich was taken into custody on Thursday. Following a two-month investigation into allegations of child abuse and sexual abuse, the Norwich Police Department arrested 33-year-old Rolando Antonio at a Norwich residence. Antonio was charged with Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D Felony, and Forcible Touching, a Class A Misdemeanor. According to the investigation, Antonio allegedly sexually abused a 3-year-old child in April. Chief Reuben Roach says these cases require the involvement of multiple agencies, including the local Child Advocacy Center, the New York State Police Crime Lab for DNA analysis, and interpreters from the New York State Police. 'My heart goes out to the victim and their family. I hope this arrest provides some measure of justice for them,' said Roach. Rolando was arraigned in Norwich City Court. He is being held on $20,000 bail, with a court appearance scheduled for a later date. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges are expected. The Rooftop by Chef Jay Pisculli now open for the summer months 'Path Though History' explores beauty of Broome County NYSPHSAA Softball Championships to be held this weekend in Broome County Animal Adventure Presents Annual 'Drafts with Giraffes' Guatemalan man accused of sexually abusing toddler in Norwich Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl in CT extradited from New Hampshire
A man was extradited from New Hampshire last week to face charges alleging he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Connecticut last April. Michael Parkinson, 39, of Claremont, New Hampshire was extradited on Friday and charged with second-degree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact with a victim under 16, according to the Connecticut State Police. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the girl disclosed the allegations to a therapist two days after the alleged incident, but she would not immediately identify who sexually assaulted her. The therapist notified the Connecticut Department of Children and Families before the agency alerted the state police. On May 2, 2024, the girl told a school counselor she was ready to identify who assaulted her and alleged that Parkinson had abused her, the warrant affidavit said. During a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center in New London several days later, the girl told officials that the alleged incident took place on April 20, 2024, during a sibling's 11th birthday party in Colchester. The girl said Parkinson walked in on her in the bathroom and asked to lift her hoodie, but she told him no, the warrant affidavit said. She said he later entered her bedroom where she was lying in bed and 'plopped' down next to her, according to the warrant affidavit. The girl claimed that Parkinson asked if it was OK to move her hand and she agreed, but she alleged that he took her hand and put it in his pants, the warrant affidavit said. The girl claimed that her brother then walked by in the hallway and Parkinson allegedly asked him to come in and turn the lights off, which he did before leaving, according to the warrant affidavit. The teen alleged that Parkinson touched her inappropriately, the warrant affidavit said. The girl then alleged he encouraged her multiple times to get on her back in an attempt to sexually assault her, but she told him no each time, according to the warrant affidavit. The teen claimed that Parkinson had never tried assaulting her before the incident, according to the warrant affidavit. She alleged he would sometimes put his hand up her shirt when she was in the basement and that her mother would be in the room at times and not know it was happening, the warrant affidavit said. The girl said she never told anyone about what happened in the basement. During the investigation, the girl's mother turned over the teen's diary to police after finding an entry detailing the alleged assault. In it, the girl wrote that Parkinson allegedly tried assaulting her and that he had been acting 'weird' the past few months and was touching her, according to the warrant affidavit. The girl said she knew what was going to happen the moment he asked someone to turn off the lights, the warrant affidavit said. In the diary entry, the teen said she conducted a Google search to find out what it was called when someone touched her the way she alleges she was touched, according to the warrant affidavit. She said the search turned up 'sexual assault,' which was defined as someone touching one of multiple parts of someone's anatomy without consent, 'which he definitely did to all of them,' she wrote. 'I just feel like he has some untamed sexual desires because stooping so low as a 14-year-old girl? thats (sic) a little messed up,' the diary entry read, according to the warrant affidavit. 'I think he is 38 which is a 24-year age difference.' The girl alleged in her diary entry that Parkinson asked if he could take a photo of her, the warrant affidavit said. The mother obtained a protective order against Parkinson on May 28, 2024, that was put in effect for a year, the warrant affidavit said. He allegedly called her about two weeks later and left her a voicemail. 'Hey, just wanted to say I love you and I regret everything I've ever done and I want you to know if I could change it I would,' Parkinson allegedly said, according to the warrant affidavit. Investigators said they recorded the voicemail as evidence. According to the warrant affidavit, Parkinson left Connecticut after the incident and went to New Hampshire. On June 11, 2024, he was arrested after sending text messages to family members saying he had a firearm, which was a violation of the protective order, the warrant affidavit said. Parkinson was arrested by officers with the Claremont Police Department in New Hampshire. In their report, police said he was found with a firearm and was also charged with contacting the mother in violation of the order, the warrant affidavit said. State police had authorities in New Hampshire ask Parkinson if he would be willing to speak about the allegations, but he declined, the warrant affidavit said. During a text message conversation with a friend, Parkinson was encouraged to continue seeking therapy so he never does anything to 'hurt another soul again,' the warrant affidavit said. After affirming that it would never be an issue again, the friend asked him why it was a problem in the first place, according to the warrant affidavit. 'It wasn't and that's what bothers me the most,' he allegedly responded, the warrant affidavit said. 'It wasn't even sexually driven. I had no interest in (redacted) but still I did it and I can't determine why.' Parkinson later on in the conversation allegedly went on to say he has suppressed 'it' for 22 years and has been in and out of therapy, the warrant affidavit said. He also went on to say that he could not apologize for what he did because it would lead to his arrest, according to the warrant affidavit. Screenshots of the conversation were turned over to state police investigators. Parkinson was held on a $250,000 bond following his arrest and was expected to appear in Norwich Superior Court on Monday.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Northeast Child Abuse Conference held by The Child Advocacy Center
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester continued its work in recognizing April as Child Abuse and Prevention Awareness Month with the Northeast Child Abuse Conference. The Child Advocacy Center hosted the two-day conference at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on Tuesday and Wednesday. Stefanie Szwejvka, Vice President of Prevention Services at the Child Advocacy Center, spoke to News 8 about the event. 'Education is absolutely at the core of this conference. Part of what we aim to accomplish is a renewed commitment and a renewed momentum,' Swejvka said. 'This is hard work for our professionals who are doing this and it's really, really easy to get buried in some of that vicarious trauma.' Flower City Challenge returning for 15th year 'You don't have to be one of the professionals here today to keep kids safe and to prevent child abuse and child sexual abuse to happen.' Wednesday's speaker, Sharon Cooper, a Forensic and Developmental Pediatrician, spoke to the importance of having difficult conversations about such a sensitive topic with those who may not work directly with children. 'You have to be mindful that not everybody is where we are. If we are too blatant or too nonchalant about really significant trauma, it traumatizes the listener. We want to be mindful and careful to be as helpfully digestible information so that individuals can listen and try and figure out where's my role in solving this problem,' Cooper said. Additional information about The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester and upcoming events can be found on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Balloon Glow and fireworks show in West Plains
WEST PLAINS, Mo. — The Child Advocacy Center has announced a hot air balloon and fireworks show to help children in need. According to a Facebook post by the City of West Plains, the Balloon Glow starts on Saturday, Apr. 12, at 3 p.m. at the Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds. Event goers can expect a night filled with glowing balloons, live music, fireworks and food vendors. The event recommends bringing your lawn chair or blankets for seating. Entertainment Lineup: 3-6:30 p.m. – Kids Zone 4 p.m. – ThunderShine 5:30 p.m. – Thomas Russell Bryant Band 7 p.m. – Simply Seger Tribute Band 7 p.m. – Hot Air Balloon Glow 8:30 p.m. – Fireworks Finale Link for tickets & more information: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
