RUT-ROH....

Remember Steven Allen, the Eastern Middle School teacher found dead by his own hand?

It all seemed so tragic- that he had taken his life after battling whatever illness they said was killing him.. All the public affection and support flooded in from everywhere- I've read many of his former students' comments left from news articles that were full of such heartbreak over losing such a good man..

Now it's come out that police found child pornography in his apartment.
Excuse me? Yes, child pornography.

Why would you want to kill yourself in your apartment win you have a bin full of child porn hidden away?

I'm hoping that he kept this sickness to himself, and I'm hoping that viewing such unspeakable things was the extent to which he had succumbed to that type of evil.

The middle school had to send out an e-mail to parents letting them know of this recent development. I'd hate to be one of the parents needing to tell their son or daughter that's grieving over the loss of one of their favorite teachers that he had a "really bad problem" and then having to ask if he or she were ever alone with him.

Perhaps he didn't kill himself over the illness. If memory serves, I heard of Allen's death right about the same time as when shit hit the fan for Jerry Sandusky.

Could he have killed himself over guilt? Did he think that after seeing so much of a movement coming from that nationally sensationalized story that one of his victims (if he had any) would come forward as well?

If guilt is what led him, hopefully it's not the ultimate guilt of having ruined children's lives, but for having just getting pleasure out of watching others doing so. I don't know. I guess I'm only full of speculation and who knows if anything more will ever come of this story. I hope not.

Here's the actual news article:

Greenwich Time- The Eastern Middle School music teacher who was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Cos Cob apartment earlier this month had a storage bin filled with what appeared to be child pornography, police said Wednesday.

During the course of the investigation into Steven R. Allen's death, a Greenwich detective searched Allen's apartment and found sexually explicit photographs that appeared to have come from a computer printer, police said.

There is no indication any of the individuals portrayed in the photos have any local connection or that Allen, 57, produced any of the photos himself, police said. Most of the photos appear to be from websites that offer child porn, many of which are located in foreign countries, police said.

Superintendent of Schools Roger J. Lulow said in a statement Wednesday that district officials are "surprised and distressed" at the news that Allen had child pornography.

"We are surprised because there had been no indication or suspicion that Mr. Allen was involved in any activity of this nature, nor have there been any complaints or accusations regarding his behavior," Lulow said in the statement. "We are distressed because we do not condone or tolerate this behavior in anyone, much less a member of our staff. A review of Mr. Allen's personnel file and the background check, including fingerprinting, conducted at the time of his hire, reveal no reports, accusations or suspicions of inappropriate behavior nor any criminal record."

Lulow said school officials are cooperating with the investigation, and they encourage anyone with concerns or information to contact police Lt. Kraig Gray at 203-622-3620.

Greenwich police have solicited the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation, which may take several weeks to complete, police said.

Police Chief James Heavey released a statement Wednesday asserting that it is the department's intention to "determine Mr. Allen's level of involvement in this activity, identify and assist all possible victims and confirm that none of the victims are local residents."

Police responded to Allen's 84 Valley Road apartment Nov. 9 after coworkers said he failed to report to work. They found Allen had suffered what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A weapon discovered at the scene was registered to Allen, police said.

Police said an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of his death. Failing health conditions may have caused him to become despondent, police said.

Former Eastern Middle School principal Benjamin Davenport said he was shocked by the news that Allen was found to have child pornography.

"This is a total surprise," Davenport said. "I never had a complaint from a parent or a student about Steve. Not one."

Allen, who had been a music teacher for 33 years, the last 11 of which were with Greenwich Public Schools, worked with Davenport at Eastern for about six years, Davenport said.

They saw each other earlier in the fall, he added, explaining that Allen was always a positive influence on students and staff.

"I was not aware of any problems that he was having," Davenport said with regard to Allen's health. "I just can't believe it. It's just a shame."

After his death, parents said Allen was visibly passionate about music, and shared that enthusiasm with his students. In addition to working at Eastern Middle School, Allen taught at the town's summer music camp at Greenwich High School, was the concertmaster of the Sound Beach Community Band and served as conductor of the Young People's Symphony, which is part of the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic.

Students said after Allen's death that he was a caring teacher who offered them plenty of extra help and created his own musical arrangements, customizing the music to fit the skill level of those he was teaching.

In a letter to parents Nov. 9, Ralph Mayo, principal of Eastern, said Allen's death was a great loss to the school and the entire Greenwich public school community.

Lulow said in his statement Wednesday that the district's goal at this time is to help the school community, particularly the students, in dealing with the news.

"To that end, the District as a whole and Eastern Middle School and Greenwich High School (schools with students of Mr. Allen's) specifically, will provide support and guidance for staff, students and families as needed," he said.

Parents who have concerns about their children's response to the incident should contact the child's school and ask to speak with the psychologist, social worker or guidance counselor, he said.

The Greenwich Public Schools curriculum includes instruction in Grades 1, 4, 8 and 11 for students on how to recognize inappropriate or illegal behavior and what to do if they believe they are experiencing or witnessing those acts, Lulow said in the statement.

In order to maintain or hold a license to teach in the state, teachers must abide by a code of responsibility, which addresses expectations of conduct, he said.

PTA council president Lisa Beth Savits and Eastern Middle School PTA co-presidents Mary King and Sheila Keatinge declined to comment for this article.

(See my last post about Allen's death)

Pastor Charged with Over 100 Counts of Child Porn

It's pretty sad I'm at the point that hearing about pastors and priests involved in child sexual ceases to surprise me.

CLEVELAND — Rev. Dr. Mark Griggs, pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Olmsted Falls, has been charged with trading in child pornography.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason announced that Griggs, 48, faces 112 counts that include downloading, trading and possessing child pornography.

Griggs is one of 27 adults, along with three juveniles, charged in a six month investigation called "Operation Lake Effect." The investigation has been conducted by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Prosecutors charge that Griggs downloaded and saved images of children being sexually abused onto his computer. They say Griggs traded child porn images from both his home and church computers.

"Shocking...always," Mason says of a pastor being indicted on such charges.

But Griggs', attorney, Jay Milano, says his client will fight the charges.

"Reverend Griggs is going to plead and he's going to defend himself," says Milano. "He's not a child pornographer."

Milano says Rev. Griggs was on "Limewire" -- an internet file-sharing program.

"If you're downloading files from Limewire, you don't have any control of what's coming into your computer," Milano says.

Prosecutor Mason rejects the notion that Griggs made innocent mistakes.
"The amount of downloading and file sharing he has is significant," Mason says.

The church's website talks about Griggs' "commitment and love of children."

In a statement released Thursday, the Presbytery of the Western Reserve said the following about Griggs' arrest: "We do not have much information about this situation yet but the Presbytery takes allegations of misconduct very seriously and will cooperate with authorities in their investigation."

All of these cases are in Cuyahoga County, indicating how pervasive child porn can be. 34 other cases have been sent to other jurisdictions.

Prosecutor Mason says the investigation shows the need for parents to monitor what their children do online. And he also says that predators should be aware that, if they continue trading in child porn, they may well be caught.

An initial court date for Griggs and the other defendants has not been set yet.

Former Greenwich Minister Pleads Guilty in Child Porn Case

GREENWICH - A former Greenwich minister pleaded guilty yesterday to child pornography charges.

Reverend Simeon Stefanidakis admitted to possessing child porn while working at a Boston church.

He was working at the Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism when he was arrested.

Stefanidakis will be sentenced in February.

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Old Greenwich minister accused of possessing child porn

(06/16/10) OLD GREENWICH - An Old Greenwich Church minister is accused of collecting child pornography tonight.

Police say 59-year-old Simeon Stefanidakis, of Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism, possessed and transported child pornography while working as a minister at a different church in Boston a few years ago.

Those who worked alongside of Stefanidakis in Boston say he is one of the kindest people they've ever met.

Stefanidakis will be transported to Boston to face charges and could face up to 20 years behind bars.

The church's board says he has been suspended from all work at the church for now.

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Well, I guess they're too lazy to take down their biography on him on their website:

Our Minister
Rev. Simeon Stefanidakis
Rev. Simeon Stefanidakis has worked as a minister, teacher, counselor and medium since 1977. His years of research, study, and experience have made him an authority in his field.

Rev. Simeon is a scholar in Thanatology, Religious Science, Theosophy, Spiritualism, and Parapsychology. He has also studied Judaic-Christian spirituality. He has authored many publications and articles, including: a 51-lesson course of study and experience on The Journey of the Soul; a guide to Spiritualism; and a comprehensive text/study guide on Mediumship and Channeling.

Rev. Simeon has taught, lectured and demonstrated mediumship for some of the most prestigious organizations in the United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands, and the United States; including the London Spiritual Mission, the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain, Lynwood Fellowship, Cawston College, United Kingdom, the Institute of Spiritualist Mediums, the Edinburgh Spiritual Society, and Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship. He has also served several churches in the United States and England.

For 32 years, Rev. Simeon was Pastor and Trustee of the First Spiritual Temple, a Christian Spiritualist Church, originally in Boston, now in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Over the years, his work as a channel for Spirit has comforted countless people in knowing that their loved ones, in Spirit, live, love and continue to grow. He is considered an excellent teacher and evidential medium.

Rev. Simeon offers appointments for private mediumistic sittings, at the Church, on Thursdays and Fridays (or Saturday morning, if necessary). Rev. Simeon does not do phone sittings.

~ Suggested fee for a 45-50 minute sitting is $75 ~
($25 of proceeds go to helping fund the Church)

If you would like to stop by and say "hello" or talk, Rev. Simeon's open office hours are:

Wednesday Afternoon: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Thursday Morning: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Thursday Evening: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (except for the THIRD Thursday of each month).

Teacher Accused of Having Sex Tapes and Explicit Pictures of Boys Will Stay In Jail

SALUDA, SC (WIS) - A 30 year Saluda County middle school teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor and possessing sexually explicit pictures of dozens of young boys who attended the school in the 1980's will stay in jail for the time being.

52-year-old Thomas Taylor of Saluda appeared in front of judge late Friday afternoon to answer to criminal sexual conduct in the 2nd degree and committing a lewd act on a minor under the age of 16. A Saluda County judge denied Taylor's bond.

Taylor told the judge he wasn't a flight risk. "I don't know how to live the rest of my life on the run," said Taylor. "I hope to be out to better put my affairs in order to get ready to fight this."

Taylor was arrested Wednesday afternoon after investigators found sex tapes and items used to whip people in a home he owned. Taylor is a teacher at Saluda Middle School. He's been suspended with pay pending an investigation, according Superintendent Dr. David Mathis.

Taylor was arrested Wednesday afternoon after investigators found sex tapes and items used to whip people in a home he owned. Taylor is a teacher at Saluda Middle School. He's been suspended with pay pending an investigation, according Superintendent Dr. David Mathis.

Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth, flanked by his investigators and a representative from the 11th Circuit Solicitor's office, stood in front of the media Friday to talk about the case. "This is a very sad day for all of us in Saluda County. As sheriff, I'm taking this case seriously," said Booth. "It's not right what has happened here in Saluda."

Booth said his investigators stumbled upon sexually explicit pictures of approximately 100 young boys while investigating a separate case involving a 19-year-old man who lived in a home owned by Taylor.

While investigating the 19-year-old, deputies found the pictures investigators believe date back to the 80's. Investigators don't believe any of the pictures they seized are of current students.

Booth said the house was full of pictures of 10 to 14-year-old students at recess and playing sports. Booth said some of the pictures depict, "young boys' underwear hanging out of their shorts." The boys were clothed but, "it was obvious he was taking pictures of their buttocks and private parts," Booth said.

There were no girls in any of the pictures and they were all taken on school property, according to Booth.

In the collection of pictures there were images of nude boys getting whipped. Investigators don't believe any of the nude photos include any of Taylor's students.

Investigators also found sex tapes, whips, and straps at one of Thomas's homes," according to Booth. Booth said some of the tapes and DVD's showed young boys getting paddled by paddles and grown men's hands. "

Booth said a witness came forward Thursday evening and advised law enforcement that Taylor started an inappropriate relationship with him when he was 13-years-old. Booth said Taylor took the boy to places live Atlanta, Charlotte and Los Angeles. He is bringing in the FBI to assist with the investigation because the relationship was taken over state lines.

Booth believes there could be others who have been victimized by Taylor. "We have already received evidence that indicates there are multiple victims involved," said Booth. "We're going to interview many, many people in the next few weeks."

If this teacher touched you in any inappropriate ways over the years, please come forward," said Booth who added any current or former students who have information about Taylor or questions about the investigation should call or stop by the sheriff's office.

Authorities have set up a hotline and email address for those who think they may have victimized by Taylor. The phone number to call is: 1-800-414-2826 and the email address to use is: operationsnapshot1@hotmail.com

In Taylor's 30 years at the school, he's been a physical education teacher, a baseball coach and a yearbook photographer, according to the sheriff. He is currently employed as a 7th grade language arts teacher at the school.

"Virgin" Bikini Waxing Now Popular for Pre-Teen Girls

Disgusting..
Gothamist- MSNBC has a long trend-piece about how increasingly younger girls are getting bikini waxing.

How young? Well, Wanda Stawczyk, who runs Wanda's European Skin Care on West 57th Street, offers discounts for clients as young as 8, and she says pre-teen business is booming, telling the Post that "in 10 years waxing children will be like taking them to the dentist or putting braces on their teeth." Her company’s website says it all:

"Virgin-waxing for children 8 years old and up who have never shaved before. Virgin hair can be waxed so successfully that growth can be permanently stopped in just 2 to 6 sessions. Save your child a lifetime of waxing... and put the money in the bank for her college education instead

And leave it to the Post to enlighten those readers “interested in whether there's even hair to wax. Pre-puberty hair, called ‘velus,’ is a fine, light pigmented hair. When a child hits puberty - which these days is happening to kids as young as 9 - the hair coarsens and darkens.” And must be torn out by the roots if you don't want the other girls to laugh at you!

Of course some people, like child psychiatrist Candida Fink, think “this is another example of how younger and younger girls are being sexualized and objectified.” And Dr. Diane Levin, co-author of the book So Sexy So Soon, tells MSNBC that “girls are learning the worst possible lessons about body image and body hair. Keep your bodies like little girls’ because that’s what men like.” Anyway, better you hear about all this here, in a safe place, instead of from your creepy co-worker. Or did we just become your creepy co-worker?

Police Eye Porn Suspect in Child's Slaying

(CNN) -- A man authorities want to question in the slaying of a 7-year-old girl, whose body was dumped in a landfill, appeared in a Florida court Wednesday on child pornography charges after being extradited from Mississippi.

Jarred Harrell, 24, faces 29 counts of possession of child pornography in Clay County, Florida.

Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler has said Harrell is also sought for questioning in the abduction and murder of Somer Thompson, but has not said why.

Harrell was arrested in Meridian, Mississippi, by federal agents earlier this month, and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist asked Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour to extradite him. The arrest followed a search of Harrell's residence, Clay County authorities said.

Somer Thompson was last seen in the Clay County town of Orange Park on October 19. Her body was found in a landfill in Folkston, Georgia, about 55 miles north of there. Authorities have not said how she was killed.

Somer's 10-year-old sister told police that Somer had been in a fight with another girl at school earlier that day and that she brought up the subject while she and her brother walked Somer home from school. Somer ran off, apparently upset. The sister said she lost sight of Somer in a group of other children leaving the school, according to a police report.

Police said in October that witnesses including several children reported seeing her that day on a sidewalk in front of a vacant house that was being renovated following a fire.

At Wednesday's hearing, a judge continued Harrell's $1 million bond.

Garrido Associate's Properties Searched

PITTSBURG, CA (KGO) -- The investigation into the 1991 Jaycee Dugard kidnapping and sexual assault case expands as authorities comb three Contra Costa County properties in search for new evidence. Among the things police confiscated were DVDs and a computer. Whether they are connected to child pornography, police will not say.

Jim and Cheyvonne Molino have not been shy about their association with Phillip Garrido over the past several years, but they insist it was strictly business. On Wednesday, police conducted three aggressive searches of properties owned by the Molinos, who said they were shocked by the focus of those searches.

"They completely took my bedroom apart," said Cheyvonne Molino.
Cheyvonne said the Contra Costa sheriffs arrived at their Pleasant Hill home with no warning and searched room to room, looking for videos, photos, cameras. A tenant at the Bay Point location said the sheriffs were searching for anything that could be related to child pornography.

"They went through everything. They went through my drawers, they went through my garbage, everything personal. They just came out and violated my privacy, 15 police officers," she said.

She showed ABC7 the receipt for the property seized by sheriffs, which included her Apple computer, and about 20 VHS tapes and DVDs.

"Anything that looked like it was homemade, they took with them," she said.

Two other properties owned by the Molinos were also searched by sheriff's deputies. Besides the Pleasant Hill home, they searched the couple's business -- J.M. Auto Wreckers in Pittsburg. The third location police searched was the couple's rental home just outside of Pittsburg in Bay Point. The tenants say they took a video camera, DVDs and VHS tapes.

"I don't understand why they came here like that because there is no link between us and them, other than business and buying his printing products," said Jim Molino. "They took nothing from here. They looked around. It's absolutely ridiculous. We're a wrecking yard. We do cars. Why associate me with somebody who I just did business with on cards and printing? It's ridiculous."

"When you walk in, in full tactical gear and you draw guns on adults that have children, there was no need for that," said Cheyvonne.

Contra Costa County Sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee told ABC7, the visits to the Molino properties were probation searches. He said "It was all part of the larger Garrido investigation. If they felt it was heavy-handed, I'm sorry for that."

Lee would not confirm that investigators were looking specifically for anything related to child pornography.

The Molinos have done numerous media interviews since Phillip Garrido's arrest about their association with the accused rapist and kidnapper. Cheyvonne told ABC7 she saw Garrido, Jaycee Dugard, and her two daughters dozens of times over a 10 year period, including most recently at a birthday party the Molinos had for their teenage daughter. She also gave ABC7 the photos of two girls who are believed to be the daughters Garrido fathered with his kidnap victim Jaycee.

The couple believes Jaycee could clear their names.

"I'm pleading to Jaycee Dugard. Please step forward and tell the media, tell the government exactly what happened to you," said Cheyvonne.

Molino says she tried to contact investigators numerous times since Garrido's arrest, but never heard from them until Wednesday.

"So now I'm the bad person? I had four police officers today tell me why didn't I say something sooner. And I said, 'Well why didn't the parole officer do his job?'" she said.

Cheyvonne was referring to the numerous visits by the parole officer to the Garrido home without detecting the presence of Jaycee.

As for Wednesday's searches, there was one arrest at the location in Bay Point, but it was unrelated to the Garrido investigation. A man was arrested at one of the homes on an unrelated matter for failure to appear in court. Two young children at that location were also taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services because deputies thought that home was too squalid for the kids to remain there.

The Contra Costa Sheriff's Department would not say if they found any incriminating evidence from the day's searches.

Jaycee Dugard Trust Fund Checks only to:

Jaycee Dugard Trust Fund

c/o Viewtech Financial Services

P.O. Box 596Atwood, CA 92811

'Psychopath' Sentenced to 120 Years in Horrific Child Porn Case

PHILADELPHIA — A seldom-employed psychopath was sentenced Wednesday to spend the rest of his life in prison for making a huge cache of child pornography that shows him sexually assaulting a dozen children, including infants at a girlfriend's in-home day care.

The FBI found John Jackey Worman with more than 1 million images and 11,000 videos of child pornography when they arrested him in suburban Philadelphia in 2007. Worman made girls in his care perform sex acts for school lunch money.

"I cannot know ... what was going through your head while you were molesting my daughter. Was it a big joke as I pulled away each day?" the mother of one of the abused infants asked Worman during testimony Wednesday. He stared blankly ahead.

Worman has told prison doctors he feels no remorse for sexually "anointing" his female victims.

"I am totally at peace with everything I have done," he said, according to U.S. District Judge Lawrence F. Stengel, who sentenced him to 120 years in prison.

A teenager who had been abused for several years ultimately tipped off authorities, after watching an episode of "Law & Order" about child sexual abuse. She only then realized it had been wrong, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotella said.

That led to last year's trial, when jurors, who sometimes asked for breaks from viewing the evidence, convicted Worman of 56 child-pornography counts.

The sentencing judge described Worman, 42, of Colwyn, as a psychopath who sponged off women and sadistically coerced his young victims.

Remarkably, the judge found, Worman has no mental-health diagnosis or childhood trauma that would help explain his crimes. Psychiatric tests conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons revealed only that he is a pedophile with an anti-social personality disorder.

Worman described his childhood as a good one in which he was free to do as he liked. He told the medical staff he started using alcohol and marijuana at age 11, and dropped out of 10th grade.

He lived in his mother's basement in Colwyn through his 40s, sometimes with a girlfriend's three children — the woman herself never moved in. He also rigged hidden cameras at the home of another girlfriend, baby sitter Concetta Jackson.

Jackson, 46, of Collingdale is in prison awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to one child-pornography count. Prosecutors say she procured some of the victims for Worman.

Ex-girlfriend Dorothy Prawdzik of Drexel Hill, who went to trial, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for undressing and posing young girls for Worman. Prawdzik, 45, also held the camera while he tried to rape an infant and participated with Worman in a three-way sexual encounter with a 10-year-old girl.

The mother who tried to get answers from Worman in court describes herself now as a tortured, overprotective parent. Her daughter does not remember the abuse — but the woman can't forget it.

The Associated Press is not identifying her to protect her daughter's identity, and is not identifying other sexual-abuse victims in the case.

Worman declined to make a statement Wednesday. His court-appointed lawyer argued against a life term, comparing it to "putting down" an animal.

"A sentence that basically says we're putting you down does not recognize whatever degree of humanity exists in Mr. Worman," lawyer Mark Cedrone said.

Stengel nonetheless said he sought to craft a life term.

The victim who first disclosed the abuse to police is now a 21-year-old wife and expectant mother. After the hearing, she was congratulated for how she came to earn her childhood nickname, "Mouthy."

"That was the best nickname for (me)," she said as she hugged an FBI agent who worked the case. "I'm just happy that it's all over."

Porn Pic Found On Hospital Printer

CLERMONT, Fla. -- A man was arrested Wednesday after a photocopy of a picture showing a naked child was left on a printer at a Clermont hospital.

James Robert Chapman faces 100 counts of child pornography possession.

According to investigators, the copy of the picture was found at South Lake Hospital in Clermont last month but wasn't linked to Chapman until this week.

Chapman's bail has been set at $1 million.

Independence Police Major Arrested for Child Porn

INDEPENDENCE, La. – An Independence Police major was arrested for allegedly having child pornography on a city-owned computer by the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Dawn Panepinto.

Brian Louis Burnthorne, 34, Springfield, was arrested for pornography involving a juvenile, police said.

After a computer technician found images of child pornography, the sheriff’s office was contacted by the City of Independence’s administration about the images, police said.

After an investigation into the images lead to Burnthorne, who was a Independence Police major, he was arrested by the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, police said.

Burnthorne had been with the department before he was terminated, Panepinto said.