Michigan Sex Crime Attorneys Blog

September 9, 2015

Van Buren High School Volleyball Coach Charged with First-Degree Sexual Assault of Minor Student

On August 6 of this year, a minor male student who attended a Van Buren, Arkansas high school reported to police that he had been having a sexual relationship with 25-year-old Katherine Nicole Eskridge, a volleyball and physical education coach with the Van Buren School District. The relationship began in March, according to news reports at 5 News and Arkansas Online.

Eskridge reportedly turned herself in to police on September 2 on a warrant for first-degree sexual assault. The alleged victim reported that he and Eskridge had engaged in sex “at least 100 times,” and that they would have sexual relations at the coach’s Fort Smith home, as well as other areas including his own parents’ home and behind a mini-storage unit. The student told police that he was living with Eskridge in her home, and that the relationship had continued from March until early August. Eskridge resigned her position with the school district on August 15.

The minor student told investigators that he and Eskridge became friends after playing gaming app Trivia Crack. He decided to report the relationship after Eskridge stole some of his belongings, saying he had begun to feel guilty. He also reported the former coach left him at a McDonald’s the two had stopped at while enroute to Dallas, and that she had driven off with his wallet and other belongings after he was joking around about revealing their relationship.

August 27, 2015

Haskell Police Officer Faces Charges of Sexual Assault, Child Pornography

by Scott Grabel

In Saline County, AR, the small community of Haskell is divided in their reactions to the arrest of 32-year-old Kyle Vaughan, who was arrested recently and fired from his job as a Haskell police officer, charged with sexual assault involving a juvenile, and child pornography.

According to news reports, the Haskell Police Dept. is located directly across the street from the school, and officers direct school traffic. Some parents and grandparents are shocked at the fact that a potential child predator could have been watching over their children, while those who know Vaughn have a difficult time believing the accusations are true, calling him “a family man, not a pedophile.”

Arkansas State Police took Vaughn into custody on the afternoon of Monday, August 17. At the time of news reports, he was being held in the Saline County Jail on charges of computer child pornography, failure to report, distribution or possession of material depicting explicit images, and second-degree sexual assault on a juvenile. Authorities began investigating Vaughn in May of this year. He has been terminated from the Haskell Police Dept.

August 19, 2015

Man Sought for Staten Island Sexual Assault Arrested in New Jersey

by Scott Grabel

Recently, a 32-year-old man who allegedly raped a 7-year-old girl on Staten Island was apprehended and arrested by police in New Jersey. The girl was reportedly raped sometime prior to 2:45 a.m. on August 6 at her home.

According to news reports, Daniel Nieto entered the home where the young girl lived through an unlocked door, then sexually assaulted the victim. Ironically, Nieto had been arrested for criminal trespass for hanging out in a vacant home just a short time following the sexual assault, although police were not aware the rape had occurred. After being charged with criminal trespass, Nieto was released. It would take police 12 days to find Nieto and arrest him in connection with the rape.

Ultimately, police caught Nieto in East Brunswick, NJ and took him into custody on Tuesday, August 18. At last news reports, charges against him were pending as the suspect is being extradited to Staten Island to face charges.

July 15, 2015

Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Charged with Sexual Assault in Connection with Missing 13-year-old from Florida

by Scott Grabel

Last week, 23-year-old Aurelio Hernandez-Gomez was jailed on charges of criminal sexual conduct in connection with a 13-year-old girl who had been missing out of Florida. On Friday, July 10, Hernandez-Gomez was arraigned on charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct; he also has felony arrest warrants out of Florida for interference with child custody and kidnapping.

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Dept. deputies investigated a residence in Hartford Township and being contacted by Polk County authorities seeking their assistance in the case of the missing girl. Authorities believed she was with Hernandez-Gomez, which turned out to be the case. When deputies searched the residence along with the Pokagon Tribal and Cover Township police departments, the girl and suspect were found hiding. After investigating further, deputies determined that the girl had been sexually assaulted by the suspect.
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July 1, 2015

Wilhoit Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison Following Conviction for Sexual Assault of Minor

by Scott Grabel

In August of 2013, Thomas F. Bolton of Wilhoit, AZ allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl at his home. Bolton was convicted of sexually assaulting and kidnapping the underage victim, and was sentenced on June 30 to 14 years in prison. He was also sentenced to 10 years on the kidnapping charges.

The victim in the case told authorities that while at his home, Wilhoit forcibly removed her clothes and held her down to rape her. Wilhoit allegedly stopped assaulting the girl when her boyfriend showed up at the home. He told a deputy that Bolton has his girlfriend pinned to a bed, and that he heard her saying “no.” Bolton denied having sexual contact with the girl, but was charged with harassment after driving to a business in Wilhoit in September of last year where he allegedly blocked a vehicle containing the victim and a friend in a parking lot.

According to a news report at CBS 5 in Arizona, Bolton’s sentences will run concurrently, and he will service the full 14-year sentence for sexual assault.

May 28, 2015

Saginaw Man Pleads No Contest to Sexual Assault, Receives Sentence of Seven-plus Years in Prison

by Scott Grabel

In November of last year, 26-year-old Adam J. Walker pleaded no contest to three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct against someone age 13 through 15, according to a news article at Mlive.com. Walker was initially charged with three counts of first-degree CSC during the commission of a felony; he was also charged with two other felonies related to injuries his grandmother suffered when he attempted to steal her vehicle. Those charges were also dropped by prosecutors in exchange for the plea.

As Walker sat in jail following the incident in which his grandmother’s foot was broken as he stole his grandparents’ vehicle, prosecutors charged Walker with three counts of first-degree CSC during the commission of a felony, one count of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. The warrant alleged that the victim was 13 years old, and that Walker delivered a controlled substance although news reports do not reveal what the drug was.

Walker claimed at his May 2014 arraignment hearing that he did not know anyone with the last name listed on the warrant, which is the name used to identify the alleged victim. He also stressed at his arraignment the fact that he was married.

May 14, 2015

Surveillance Cameras Help Identify Man Accused of Attempting to Sexually Assault Woman on CTA Train in Chicago

by Scott Grabel

On Sunday, May 10 at approximately 5 a.m., a 27-year-old woman claims a man tried to sexually assault her as she was riding a CTA Red Line train between the Fullerton and North/Clybourn stations, according to a news article at the Chicago Tribune. The two were the only passengers on the train according to ABC news report.

Ronald Sparks, a 34-year-old South Side man, was ultimately arrested in the case after police sent out surveillance photos in a community alert on Sunday evening. According to Officer Janel Sedevic, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Police Department, the alleged victim declined medical attention.

Thomas Hunt of the Guardian Angels handed out fliers with surveillance photos of the suspect early Monday morning, and said he was not surprised Sparks was caught due to the clarity of the photos. He went on to say that CTA spent a considerable amount of time and effort installing the surveillance cameras.

April 29, 2015

Veteran Police Officer Faces 21 Counts of Sexual Assault in Case Involving Child Under 13

by Scott Grabel

Recently, it was announced that a west suburban Chicago police officer was charged with several counts involving the alleges sexual assault of a girl younger than 13 years of age. According to CBS Chicago, David L. Wright, a police officer with Elburn for more than 20 years, has been sexually assaulting a child for more than 10 years. He has been charged with 11 counts of criminal sexual assault and 10 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault.

A statement from prosecutors allege that Wright has been sexually assaulting a child he knew since March of 2005, and the sexual assaults continued until just this month when he was arrested at his Campton Hills home. Prosecutors say when the assaults initially began, the victim was under 13. Wright has been placed on paid administrative leave with the Elburn police, pending the outcome of the investigation. According to news reports, he is currently in the Kane County Jail on a $500,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 6. Wright is 53 years old.

In Illinois, criminal sexual assault is a term used in place of rape. Offenders do not have the option of probation, as this is a non-probationable felony charge. The penalties for those found guilty include four to 15 years in prison. Predatory criminal sexual assault is more serious, with penalties that include a prison term of six to 30 years.

April 15, 2015

Woman Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by Two College Students on Florida Beach Over Spring Break

by Scott Grabel

Recently, two Troy University students were arrested in regards to a sexual assault that allegedly occurred in March over spring break at Panama City Beach in Florida, according to an article at the New York Times.

News reports claim a 19-year-old woman who was incapacitated and believed she had been drugged was sexually assaulted as hundreds of beach goers looked on. The two men who were arrested include 23-year-old Ryan Austin Calhoun or Mobile, AL, and 22-year-old Delonte Martistee of Bainbridge, GA. Sheriff Frank McKeithen said that they were also searching for two more people, a third man they believed may have been involved in the “gang-rape-type attack,” and a fourth person whose role was not specified.

The alleged victim said that she did not recall the assault clearly enough to report it, as she believed she had been drugged. Authorities learned of the sexual assault after a video of the assault captured on a cell phone was discovered while investigating another incident. The video was then sent by Troy police to the sheriff’s office in Florida. After reviewing the cell phone video, authorities identified the woman and determined the sexual assault occurred behind the Spinnaker Beach Club. Calhoun and Martistee were being extradited to Bay County, where the sexual assault took place.

March 12, 2015

Howell Township Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault of Toddler, Other Charges

by Scott Grabel

On Monday, March 9, 23-year-old Kevin Motyka of Howell Township, NJ pleaded guilty to allegations that he sexually assaulted a 2-year-old boy between May and December of 2012. Motyka pleaded guilty to child endangerment, aggravated sexual assault, and other charges. He also reportedly recorded the sexual assault on the toddler.

In 2014, prosecutors received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding Motyka’s actions; he was then arrested.

In all, Motyka pleaded guilty on Monday to three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, manufacturing child pornography, and distributing child pornography. He also pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct with a child, according to a news article at the Howell Patch. Motyka also allegedly distributed child pornography including images that were of other children and not the toddler he is accused of sexually assaulting.