An eighth grade teacher in Texas resigned after being arrested on Friday for allegedly sending sexually explicit messages and photos to a 15-year-old on Instagram, according to multiple reports. Christine Paige Cockrell, an earth science teacher at Gatesville Junior High School, faces charges of indecency with a child and possession of child pornography with intent to distribute, according to a criminal complaint obtained by local outlets including KXXV and KWTX. The 15-year-old high school student told the Gatesville Independent School District on April 11 about him and Cockrell exchanging nude photos and sexting since October 2023, the Waco,...

A 62-year-old man who served as a First Baptist Church pastor when a teenage girl accused him of giving her a spiked drink and sexually abusing her appeared in court on Saturday in the Florida Keys. Rev. Monte LaVelle Chitty, a registered police volunteer, appeared before Monroe County Circuit Judge James W. Morgan III at the Marathon Courthouse wearing a light blue jumpsuit and handcuffs. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Chitty on March 4 after they found incriminating text messages to the girl including, “I prefer you pass out after I play not before” and “You can’t...

A South Florida pastor accused of sexually battering a 15-year-old girl in his church became a wanted man Monday after skipping out on scheduled court hearings. He’s believed to be on the run. Monte Chitty, the 62-year-old pastor of First Baptist Marathon, had been released on a $75,000 bond soon after his March arrest. Prosecutors say Chitty, who was supposed to be arraigned Monday, fled in a white van with out-of-state plates and is no longer believed to be in the Florida Keys. “Our understanding is that he’s already on the road and he’s left the state of Florida,” Monroe...

In a news release, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Becky Herrin said deputies were informed of what happened after an anonymous caller reported overhearing a girl telling an adult that she had been raped. Herrin said the girl and her grandmother had boarded a dinghy and headed out to the harbor. Meanwhile, as deputies were searching for her, authorities received a second call. It was from Chitty, Herrin said. Chitty, Herrin said, told dispatchers “he believed he was about to be accused of something and he wanted to get ahead of it,” saying that “a young girl at...

According to the lawsuit, the school employed Suggs from around July 2003 until around May 2016. The suit alleges that Sugg met the victim in September 2014 a few weeks after the victim began to attend the school and Sugg quickly “ingratiated herself into Jane Doe’s life under the guise of faith-based mentorship.” The victim met Sugg after the teacher spoke to the school’s upper-school students during chapel about her own experience as a victim of child sexual abuse and her willingness to help any students with similar struggles, according to court documents. The lawsuit alleges that Sugg used her...

- Sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in state prison for sexually abusing a 15-year-old camper - Engaged in a sexual relationship with a camper at Boy Scouts of America Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick Township back in 2011 - Engaged in various sexual acts with the minor while working the medical tent at the camp - Skeele pleaded guilty to criminal sexual contact. This charge was tacked on to federal child porn charges in 2020. He is currently serving a federal prison sentence for distributing child sexual abuse material.

Luis Jesus Barajas, 76, a former priest accused of “inappropriately touching” a 15-year-old Westlake girl sick with cancer while giving her a blessing, was indicted on six counts of gross sexual imposition by a grand jury. Witnesses told police Barajas used blankets and clothing to to hide his actions and his movements during the blessing were “unconventional.” Another Catholic priest learned of the incident and reported it to police on Oct. 20. Barajas was accused of sexual misconduct involving juveniles in the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA around 1989 and sent back to Columbia, said Westlake police.

Investigators also said 34-year-old Stephen Ayon sought out minors through messaging mobile applications. According to an affidavit for probable cause filed on Monday in Hamilton County, Ayon has been charged with:  One count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony One count of child solicitation, a Level 4 felony One count of child seduction, a Level 4 felony One count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony One count of promotion of child sex trafficking, a Level 3 felony One count of vicarious sexual gratification, a Level 5 felony - Ayon spoke...

Jason L. Endress, 44, was arrested July 25, 2023 and had a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023 in Ogle County court, where he is charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The Ogle County Sheriff’s Department received a call June 23 from Emily Cross, chief operating officer of the Blackhawk Area Council, who said the organization’s hotline received a call with the allegations, Lt. Brian Ketter testified. Ketter said the boy, who is now 25, told him he and Endress “touched each other” while in the chapel at Camp Lowden. According to court documents,...

A former youth ministry director has been sentenced to seven years’ deferred adjudication probation after pleading guilty to a charge of sexual assault of a child. Matthew Jonas Overstreet, 26, of Plano must also pay a $7,500 fine. If he completes his probation, a felony conviction will not appear on his record.