From Whispers to Roars

Does a Sex Offender live near me? Is there an AMBER Alert? What do I do if someone is Missing? What are legislators doing for me and my family? Find out here! From Whispers to Roars, Be the Change you want to see in the World.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Rot in Hell Lawrence Southwood


Man Gets 104 Years In Abuse Of Disabled Girl

Lawrence Southwood Was Convicted Of Molesting 14-Year-Old Cerebral Palsy Patient

(CBS) JOLIET, Ill. A 69-year-old far south suburban man has been sentenced to 104 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl with cerebral palsy.

Lawrence Southwoodwas given the stiffest legally permissible sentence, prosecutors said.

The victim, who has little control over her body due to her condition, testified during the trial that Southwood "violated" her three times between August and December 2005 while she was under Southwood's care. He had cared for the victim when her mother was away.

The girl testified that Southwood took her out of her wheelchair and arranged her on the bed before committing the abuse, prosecutors said.

Defense attorney George Lenard argued the girl was making up stories about Southwood, who briefly was a suspect in the 2004 rape and murder of 3-year-old Riley Fox of Wilmington. DNA tests cleared him in that case.

Several prosecution witnesses testified Southwood admitted abusing the disabled girl before and after he was arrested.

“Lawrence Southwood will spend the rest of his life in prison for committing these unbelievably depraved acts of sexual abuse against a vulnerable young girl,” Will County State’s Atty. James Glasgow said after the sentencing. “She fought back against this sick predator on the witness stand, and today she received some measure of justice for the innocence he stole.”

The girl's mother,Kimberly Riordan of Wilmington, is charged with criminal neglect of a disabled person, obstructing justice and concealing a fugitive. Riordan took several thousand dollars not to report the sexual assault of her disabled daughter, the state's attorney's office alleged. If convicted, she faces up to 11 years in prison. Her trial is expected to begin in December.

Say it ain't so......Cast of movie filming in Aiken includes registered sex offender

Cast of movie filming in Aiken includes registered sex offender

6:03 PM Oct 23, 2006
Diane Cho

October 23, 2006



Despite pleading no contest in Florida to hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose for sexually explicit photos, actor Jeffrey Jones is still working in your backyard.

He's in Aiken filming the upcoming film "Who's Your Caddy?"

The filmmakers are inviting the community to come out to the set with Mr. Jones.

In fact, they're encouraging everyone to come out to the set this week to be a part of the movie and see the behind-the-scenes action, as well as get up close and personal with the actors.

But now that some are learning about Mr. Jones' rap sheet, they say not a chance.

He's starred in a long line of box office hits, including Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow"--in which he played a reverend.

Now he's bringing some big baggage with the big budgets, right here in Aiken.

"You'd think because it's Hollywood that they'd have more dignity than that," said neighbor Joel Williams.

Jones pled no contest in 2002 after he was accused of hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose for sexually explicit photos. He was arrested again in 2004 for failing to register as a sex offender in Florida.

So what do the extras have to say about his rap sheet?

Most knew nothing about it.

"I don't have a comment, I don't know enough about it," said extra Joe Bends.

Dave Long, one of the extras who lives in North Augusta, says it doesn't bother him at all: "I'm a little too old to worry about that," he said.

But the neighbors who live near the New Bridge Polo Field where the film is being shot are not as nonchalant.

"That makes me very angry, this is what we moved here to avoid," Williams said.

All of them agree that either the film's producers or the sheriff's office should have notified neighbors in advance so they could be on alert.

"Because they were asking to bring family for crowd scenes I'm assuming they'll ring their children," Aiken resident Hermine Seckinger said. "I think that would've made them think twice. It would've made me think twice."

The $10 million film is expected to wrap in about a month, with most of it being shot in Aiken.

The Florida Department of Corrections says Jeffrey Jones has been taken off supervision or any other court ordered sanction.

It's been four years since the whole ordeal began. After he pled no contest in 2002, he was released on a $20,000 bail. He was then placed on the sex offender registry and given five years probation.

We're talking about an actor here that many of you have seen before.

Jeffery Jones may be most well known as the principal in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

He also played the emperor in "Amadeus", Charles in Beetle Juice.

Jones also made appearances in "Stuart Little" and "Doctor Dolittle 2".

His most recent roles have been on television shows, including HBO's "Deadwood".


WANTED: John Dicriscio,High risk sex offender escapes from court in Delaware

High risk sex offender escapes from court
By Roger Hillis
Staff Writer


LEWES, DEL., — Delaware State Police are again searching for a high-risk sex offender who is on the loose for the second time in two weeks.

On Oct. 18, John Dicriscio, 50, of Avalon Road in Georgetown and his public defender appeared for his court date in connection with an Oct. 9 incident where he allegedly exposed his genitals to a 10-year-old girl at the Rehoboth Mall.


The father, who asked not to be identified, attended the hearing and was taken to another room for a briefing by an assistant district attorney. “When I went back into the court room (Dicriscio) was gone,” the father said.

“I basically turned him over to the system and they let him go,” the father said.

On the Web:

# Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry profile of John Dicriscio

See continuing coverage in Tuesday's The Daily Times.

Julie Michelle Bullard, Body Located

Michelle Bullard's mom criticizes police efforts
Updated: 10/23/2006 9:34 PM
By: Shelvia Dancy


SANFORD, N.C. -- The mother of a 23-year-old Lee County woman whose remains were found last week spoke out Monday night. Karen Riojas believes police could have done more to locate her daughter, Michelle Bullard.

On Saturday, police identified the human remains found near Cumberland County's Cedar Creek community as those of Michelle Bullard. The discovery ended nine months of uncertainty for Bullard's family.

"I am actually relieved that Michelle was found,” Riojas said. “That was always my want, always my wish."

Bullard had been missing since January, and she was last seen in a Lee County mobile home. Deputies say she disappeared after an armed man broke in and robbed the place. Riojas believes police did not react as quickly as they could have.

"Maybe Michelle did not fit the criteria of an Amber Alert, but she was my child. She was Julian's child,” Riojas said. “Was that not enough to alert the general public to be on the lookout for her?"

Bullard's father said he takes comfort in knowing that Michelle’s body has been found.

"I guess we need to move on and try to find who is responsible -- person or persons -- so justice can be served and that can be dealt with," Julian Bullard said Monday.

Riojas said she'd like to set up a foundation in Michelle's name. She wants to spare other families the pain that her family has endured.

"It’s just been a nightmare,” she said. “It’s been torture, horrific – I don't even know the words to describe it. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone."

Authorities have not made any arrests in the case. They believe a suspect in her kidnapping and murder committed suicide after police pulled him over for a traffic stop. Investigators have not publicly identified Bullard's cause of death.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bullard family.
 
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