Sex abuse cases that have plagued the nation for decades are still very much a part of our landscape. There was the explosive 2018 case of Larry Nasser, the lead physician of the women’s USA Gymnastics team, who was sentenced to the equivalent of life in prison for sexual assault after the jury heard stunning testimony from more than 150 of his young victims. And, unfortunately, more sex abuse cases involving athletes and college campuses continue to surface each day.
Still ongoing is the revelation of rampant sexual abuse cases in the Boy Scouts of America; at least 12,000 children were allegedly abused during a 72-year period. Investigators suspect thousands of more cases went unreported.
Perhaps the most staggering case of sexually abused victims comes from the Catholic church. Catholic dioceses worldwide were revealed to be perpetuating and covering up allegedly tens of thousands of sex abuse cases wherein children were sexually assaulted by trusted clergy and other church leaders. In 2019 alone, the number of allegations more than quadrupled than the previous five years. Ever since the scandal took off in 2002, a yearly audit has been performed at almost 200 dioceses across the U.S.
New legislation has been passed or at least proposed to reduce child sex abuse. Multiple states have recently passed laws doing away with or reducing the statute of limitations for reporting sexual abuse and increasing the maximum age a victim can be to bring a suit. “Look-back windows” have been enacted in many states allowing victims to open previously unresolved cases and bring forth new ones no matter how long ago the incident took place. But the justice system still has a long way to go in eradicating this shameful part of American history.
And let’s not forget the victims of workplace sexual harassment. Despite the rise of 2017’s powerful #MeToo movement and multiple state and federal laws prohibiting sexual harassment and discrimination, it is still very much a reality for thousands of employees, especially women. Current statistics reveal that 21 percent of Americans have experienced sexual harassment at work, and 81 percent of sexual harassment victims are women. Some of the most vulnerable are healthcare professionals and hotel workers.
Learn more from our affiliates about sex abuse cases happening around the U.S. and the various legal options available for survivors
Portsmouth, OH – A shocking case of sexual misconduct has come to light in southern Ohio, where a former teacher and coach has admitted to sexually abusing a minor student. Caroline Johnson, 36, of South Webster, entered a guilty plea to two counts of sexual…
Columbus, OH – George Bell, a 72-year-old former pastor of Anchor Baptist Church in Columbus, appeared in court Tuesday, November 12, 2024, to face serious allegations of child sexual abuse. Bell entered a not-guilty plea to multiple felony charges, including four counts of rape and…
Wheeling, WV – A former Wheeling Park High School teacher faces severe consequences after admitting to sexual misconduct with a student. Micah Farmer, 37, of Wheeling, entered guilty pleas to two counts of third-degree felony sexual assault in Ohio County Circuit Court. Teacher’s Potential Sentence…
Benton County, AR – Christian Sellars, a former daycare worker from Centerton, Arkansas, has been sentenced to 230 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple child sex crimes. The sentencing took place on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, following a joint cyber investigation by local…
Indiana – Two former Indiana University basketball players have filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming that the team doctor repeatedly sexually assaulted them and their teammates while the school failed to intervene. Sexual Assault Allegations Against Dr. Bradford Bomba Sr. Haris Mujezinovic and Charlie…
Huntington, WV – A Cabell County court saw Lance Spencer, a former gymnastics coach, appear on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, to address multiple sexual abuse charges. Spencer, arrested and indicted in May, faces eight counts of sexual abuse by a custodian and eight counts of…
Scranton, PA – The Diocese of Scranton has permanently removed Martin M. Boylan from the clerical state following a lengthy canonical process that found him guilty of sexually assaulting minors. The decision, announced Tuesday, October 8, 2024, by diocesan officials, marks the end of an…
Waxahachie, TX – A former youth pastor from Waxahachie, Texas, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing four minors, including the impregnation of a 14-year-old girl. Registered Sex Offender, Youth Pastor Gets 14-Year-Old Pregnant Marvin Scales, 53, received…
El Paso, TX – Two Socorro Independent School District (SISD) staff members face charges of indecency with a child following separate incidents this month. Rodolfo Laureano, 52, a school bus driver, and David Hernandez, 36, a security officer, have been placed on administrative leave after…
El Paso, TX – A Clarke Middle School math teacher in El Paso has been arrested twice in recent weeks on multiple charges related to sexual abuse of minors. Llojan Almaraz, 28, faces serious allegations stemming from his interactions with students at the Socorro Independent…