Latest news with #PimaCountyAttorney'sOffice
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Daily Record
Minecraft paedophile Scot who groomed kids faces more time behind bars in US
Jordon Kemlo, 28, from Peterhead, is facing further charges in an Arizona prison that could extend his 42-year sentence for child sex crimes. A Scot jailed for 42 years after grooming kids using video game Minecraft could be facing even more time behind bars. Jordon Kemlo, 28, of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, admitted sexually abusing young boys while on holiday in Tucson, Arizona, in the US as a teenager. He was extradited to the States after being locked up in Scotland for four years for sexually assaulting a six-year-old schoolboy. The twisted serial offender has recently faced a string of illicit sex and drugs charges from jail bosses that could mean his intended release date of 2057 is postponed. Last night an Arizona Department of Corrections source revealed: "Jordon Kemlo was charged and found guilty last month with sexual contact in prison which is illegal. "He also was charged and found guilty of resisting or disobeying orders from the prison guards. "In October last year he was charged with possession of drugs or narcotics." Under US law prisoners who offend while inside can have their liberation date changed depending on their behaviour while inside. Kemlo is currently being held in the Barchey Unit of the Arizona State Prison-Complex Lewis, in Buckeye, Arizona. The entire complex holds a massive 5000 prisoners who are expected to take part in supervised outside work details. He's attended health and wellbeing seminars and self control classes while incarcerated. A jail insider said: "Kemlo is the scum of the earth. "He's been strutting around refusing to follow orders and getting up to all sorts of disgusting stuff. "He doesn't realise that all this kind of nonsense could mean he never gets out." The beast, of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, was jailed in Scotland for four years in 2015 after sexually assaulting a boy. In 2018 Kemlo was flown to Tucson, Arizona, to face charges after the Scottish Government agreed to extradite him. The offences took place when Kemlo was 17 and visiting family in the region. He was reported to police by the mother of one of his victims. After Kemlo had returned to Scotland, the boy told his mother he had been sexually abused by him several times while they were playing Minecraft. Kemlo also preyed on three other boys in the same neighbourhood during his visit. All the victims were under 15. The beast pleaded guilty to charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted molestation of a child, solicitation to commit sexual conduct with a minor and attempted molestation of a child. At Pima County Superior Court he was sentenced to 42-and-a-half years by Judge Jeffrey Bergin. He was also given a lifetime probation order. His lawyer Katherine Daubert had asked the judge for leniency, saying Kemlo had shown remorse and had undergone treatment while in prison in Scotland. At the time Alan Goodwin, Special Victims Bureau Chief at the Pima County Attorney's Office, confirmed the sentence. He said: "The Pima County Superior Court sentenced Mr Kemlo to 42-and-a-half years in the Arizona Department of Corrections." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. US police officers said Kemlo first came to their attention when the boy's mother called them. She said that when he left Tucson to return home, her son began "acting out" but was reluctant to talk about what had happened because "he would be grounded for life". He told his mother he was attacked by the perv while they were playing Minecraft, and that the abuse had happened "every day or once a week". Kemlo was flown to Arizona with federal officers from the US Marshals Service in February 2018 following an extradition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. At the time, a Scottish Government spokesman said: "The US sought Mr Kemlo's extradition and, following careful consideration, ministers agreed his extradition on January 31." He was held in custody at Pima County jail in Tucson for more than a year before his case came to court. The Scot had originally faced 10 charges related to child sex abuse. He is understood to have confessed to the crimes when interviewed by officers from Arizona. Kemlo was represented in court by a public defender after being unable to afford to hire a lawyer of his own. In 2015, the High Court in Glasgow heard how a young victim, who was only six when the abuse started, described him as "the bad boy". Kemlo was arrested after abusing the boy at his own home and at his victim's house. The abuse had lasted for three years. After his arrest, the paedo told police: "I never thought of the consequences. I was shocked, confused why it happened." He later claimed he had decided to turn himself in but was too ashamed to do so.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Marana father charged in death of his toddler given permission to go on family vacation to Hawaii
A father facing charges in the death of his 2-year-old daughter was granted court approval to travel to Hawaii for a family vacation. The defendant, Christopher Scholtes, of Marana, requested permission to travel to Maui from May 1 to May 9 with his wife and their two daughters, stating they planned to stay with friends of the couple. Scholtes faces one count of first-degree murder and domestic violence, classified as a Class 1 felony. He also is charged with one count of intentional or knowing child abuse — a Class 2 felony — after being accused of endangering his daughter by leaving her in a hot car. A Pima County judge granted Scholtes permission to travel out of state for a family vacation. Court documents said, "The court finds good cause to grant the Defendant's Request to Travel." According to court documents, at the time of the request, Scholtes was released on his own recognizance under the supervision of Pretrial Services. The documents also state that he signed a Waiver of Extradition and was instructed to contact his defense counsel and Pretrial Services officer upon his return to Arizona on May 10. The Pima County Attorney's Office said, "The public record would show that the defendant and his counsel requested permission from the court to travel out-of-state. Our prosecutors strenuously objected. The court granted permission over our objection." In March, Scholtes rejected a deal offering him a sentence between 10 and 25 years if he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He now awaits trial on the first-degree murder charge, which comes with the possibility of a life sentence if he is convicted. Scholtes' next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 11. 'Jake had the biggest heart': Family mourns man who died after Tucson bus stop hatchet attack This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marana father charged in death of child gets OK to go to Hawaii
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
'Impacted so many': Tucson courthouse dog dies at 14, after providing 12 years of comfort
A support dog who provided comfort to victims of crime and others at a southern Arizona courthouse died in early March. On Tuesday, the Pima County Attorney's Office announced Blake, a black Labrador Retriever who worked as a support animal at the courthouse, had been humanely euthanized at the age of 14. Blake, starting when he was only 2 years old, began an over 12-year career as a support animal for PCAO. He provided comfort to victims tied to the most sensitive of cases, such as child sex abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and homicide. PCAO paid tribute to Blake with a video celebrating the life and story behind his gentle smile. "Blake was among the first courthouse dogs to work at PCAO, where he comforted victims – especially children going through the difficult process of testifying in open court," read a Facebook post announcing his passing. The announcement added that Blake was also the onsite support animal to visit PCAO staff and provide a break from the stress of the courthouse. "We are grateful for all of the important and wonderful work that Blake and his fellow courthouse dogs do in support of crime victims in Pima County, as well as for the trainers and handlers who work to make them a special part of our community," added the post. Blake supported many, all alongside Colleen Phelan, former PCAO victim services advocate. "Blake impacted so many people in Tucson and Pima County," Phelan wrote on social platform LinkedIn. Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson courthouse dog who provided comfort to crime victims dies at 14
