Articles Posted in Sexual Crimes

On November 6, 2009, Cambridge police officers undertook an expertly planned and brilliantly executed sting operation despite the obvious danger. Their bravery and expertise paid off. Now, the streets are safer as a result of the four resulting arrests. Well, not the streets, exactly. More like the hotel rooms from which the four alleged prostitutes were plucked and later introduced to criminal defense attorneys.

As most of you probably know, violent street crime and break-ins have all but vanished in Cambridge, which is why laws enforcement can now concentrate on these dangerous predators of the night.

A temporary headquarters for surveillance purposes was set up at a Massachusetts Avenue Hotel after one of Cambridge’s Finest, in an undercover capacity, threw caution to the wind and set up an appointment with a woman through personal ads in the Boston Phoenix. Through expertly demonstrated police work, he got her to agree to meet with him for the price of $200 an hour for “services”.

Finally it was 6:55pm – ShowTime.
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Six family members have been arrested in connection with a child sex abuse investigation involving at least six alleged victims. The men who were arrested are Mohler brothers Burrell Edward, 53, David, 52, Jared Leroy, 48, and Roland Neil, 47, their 77-year-old father Burrell Edward Mohler, Sr., and his 72-year-old brother Darrel. Criminal charges against them include deviate sexual assault, rape, and use of a child in sexual performance. More charges are expected.

The Mohlers are accused of sexually abusing six of their relatives when the alleged victims were minors. Now adults, the people who have come forward are accusing the men of rape, forced abortions, mock weddings, and sexual performances.

Darrel Mohler, who has been charged with two counts of rape of a child under 14, says he knew “what was going on in Missouri” and had not been there since the ’80s. He is accused of raping two relatives, age 6 and 5, during a sleepover. According to prosecutors, after the alleged incident, Burrell Mohler Sr. told the crying girls to be careful that the waterbed didn’t burst and drown them.

Another man, Mark Young, says his son is also a sex abuse victim. Young’s ex-wife married Burrell Edward Mohler Jr. Young says his son was 7 at the time of the alleged child sex abuse.

The alleged assaults are said to have occurred between the mid ’80’s and at least through the mid 90’s. Police are looking for at least one body.

Burrell Mohler Sr., Jared Mohler, and David Mohler are lay ministers with the Community of Christ Church, which has since suspended their priesthood licenses.

Another man, Mohler family associate Larry Kidd, was arrested but later released. At this time he has not been charged and is working with investigators.

Police arrest sixth member of family accused of child sex abuse, CNN, November 14, 2009
Sixth Man Charged in Mohler Child Sex Case, Fox4kc.com, November 13, 2009
Father, 4 sons in court on sex charges, UPI, November 12, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Massachusetts Laws About Sex

Sex Offenders, Mass.gov Continue reading

Citing a lack of evidence, the Suffolk District Attorney’s office says it will not file Massachusetts rape charges against a male Boston police officer accused of sexually assaulting a fellow cop. The announcement comes after prosecutors and detectives conducted a probe into the allegations by the female officer, who says that the male cop sexually assaulted her numerous times in August and September.

Boston Police detectives examined phone records, text messages, hotel records, and other documents, as well as interviewed over two dozen people. The female officer’s husband says that he and his wife plan to keep pursuing the case. They say the sexual assaults took place in several jurisdictions, including Boston.

The female officer says that the male cop forced her to have sex on several occasions and she became pregnant. She says that she had sex with him when he demanded it because she was scared of him.

The male cop has always maintained his innocence.

Massachusetts Rape
Rape allegations are very serious accusations against someone and the punishment for committing this type of sexual assault can be very serious. Not everyone accused of rape is guilty of the crime it is important that a suspect obtain the best representation possible to ensure the best defense against these charges.

Prosecutors will not pursue rape case against Boston police officer, Boston.com, November 2, 2009
Boston Cop Denies Raping Fellow Officer, WBZ, October 5, 2009
Text Messages Raise Questions About Cop’s Rape Claim, The Boston Channel, October 3, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Police Department: City of Boston

Suffolk District Attorney’s Office
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As I write this year’s Halloween Attorney Sam’s Take, I know that goblins, vampires and politicians are roaming around outside circling the streets of Salem, Boston and environs. Of course, as I’ve noted several times, that is not terribly new; it has been going on since October 1st! I had thought of dressing up in costume tonight to scare people as well. Then, I realized that it would be redundant…I’m a lawyer. People already avoid us like the plague.

Last year, I wrote a Halloween blog about the question of witch hunts. We entertained the question of whether or not they were really a thing of the past. We came to the conclusion that they were not. Only the names and faces of the targets have changed.

I don’t see any reason to believe that this has changed much over the year. I do think, however, that we have been provided with a good example of how today’s “witches” can finally redeem themselves.

As I was growing up, and then again later when I was in law school, the late Michael Jackson was a beloved superstar. His talents, whether with his brothers or without them, were many and his following was enormous. There have been many public figures in our history who caught our hearts, became beloved and then, finally, were reviled. Granted, Michael seemed to lead the charge in his own publicity downfall. But he did follow the same familiar path. After ensuring himself legendary status, releasing the albums Thriller and Bad, his behavior seemed to become more and more…unusual. As he continued to release masterpieces we heard tales of bidding on the remains of the Elephant Man, sleeping in an oxygen tank and bleaching his skin. Then there was Neverland, kids and sleep-overs. Soon enough, there were blackmail threats and, finally, the criminal prosecution for sex crimes against children. Those of us who were not convinced of his guilt had to admit that simply labeling Michael as “strange” was like calling Hell “tepid”
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Four teens were arraigned yesterday in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 15-year-old girl on her high school campus:

• Cody Ray Smith, 15, pleaded not guilty to rape by force and rape with a foreign object.

• Ari Abdallah Morales, 16, did not enter a plea.

• Marcelles James Peter, 17, did not enter a plea.

• Manuel Ortega, 19, did not enter a plea.

The four teenagers are charged as adults. Another person, an adult, has also been arrested. His arraignment will take place on another day.

Smith, Peter, and Morales wore bulletproof vests at the hearing. The four teenagers are accused of participating in a 2 ½ hour gang rape of the victim on Saturday outside a Richmond, California high school.

Police claim that up to 10 people sexually assaulted the young girl, while 10 other people watched. None of them contacted 911. According to a 1999 state law, not reporting a crime that one has witnessed is only illegal if the victim is younger than 15. This means that police do not have the authority to arrest the people who were watching the assailants who raped the girl.

The victim, who was in critical condition following the assault, was released from the hospital yesterday. Police found her under a bench and unconscious after they responded to a 911 call from someone who heard people who were allegedly at the rape scene talking about what they’d witnessed.

Massachusetts Rape Crimes
Allegations of rape are very serious-especially when there are multiple parties involved. It is important that you retain the services of an experienced Boston criminal defense lawyer who can look through all the evidence and provide you with the best defense possible.

Police have been known to arrest the wrong person or get their facts wrong. Evidence may have been tampered with or a suspect’s rights may have been violated during the arrest.

4 arraigned in California gang rape case, CNN, October 29, 2009
No one called cops during gang rape, but some took pictures, ABC, October 27, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Massachusetts Law About Rape and Sexual Assault, Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries

Juvenile Crimes in Massachusetts (PDF)
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At his arraignment last week in Falmouth District Court, Bourne Deputy Fire Chief Paul Weeks pleaded not guilty to one charge of oral rape and two charges of rape. Court documents indicate that the alleged rape occurred on October 20 and that Weeks was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

The Bourne deputy fire chief was released on his own recognizance after the hearing. Weeks’s criminal defense lawyer told the Cape Cod Times that his client is innocent.

In another Bourne rape case, Plymouth resident Stephen Clifford pleaded guilty to raping a North Sagamore woman last year. The woman was sexually assaulted and bound with duck tape. Clifford is sentenced to 9 – 12 years in prison.