Latest news with #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth
Indianapolis Star
30-07-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Court docs: Ex-IMPD officer abused two children years before retiring from the force
Editor's note: This article contains descriptions of child abuse. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Indiana Department of Child Services' Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All adults are mandated reporters in Indiana. A former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer once commended for his work with crime victims now stands accused of sexually abusing two young girls, according to court documents. David B. McDaniel, 54, faces two counts of child molestation and a third count of attempting to molest a child under the age of 14. The investigation began earlier this month when two 17-year-old girls told their families and McDaniel's ex-wife that they both had been abused by McDaniel multiple times, beginning when they were about eight and nine years old. Both girls reported that they were first abused by McDaniel while on out-of-state trips with him in Florida and Tennessee. They told police they discussed the assaults with one another, but never told an adult. Each girl also described being awoken by sexual assaults during the night while staying at McDaniel's house. McDaniel was a member of IMPD between 1995 and March 2024, and had been on the force for more than 20 years when the alleged abuse began in 2016. In 2022, McDaniel was honored with a plaque from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana for his "outstanding commitment to serving crime victims and pursuing excellence in victim services." The ceremony was held in connection with National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. IMPD declined to comment except to confirm that McDaniel is a former officer. After retiring from IMPD last year, McDaniel worked as a police officer at Ascension St. Vincent. The health system did not respond to a request for comment. IndyStar has requested McDaniel's personnel file from IMPD. Ex-IMPD David McDaniel: Retired IMPD officer arrested for allegedly molesting a child McDaniel was on vacation with his brother in Florida when the ISP investigation began, detectives wrote. One of the victim's parents received a text message from McDaniel imploring them to help his family "because they are embarrassed about what happened and afraid to lose their dad." In another message, McDaniel said that "if I end this now, (then) hopefully it doesn't come out publicly" and would at least save the victims and his family humiliation. "(There's) nothing I can do or say that will change or fix this so I have to figure out what's the best way to minimize (the) impact," the message read in part. McDaniel's brother told police on July 12 that he believed McDaniel would take his own life, but that he was trying to talk him into turning himself in and doing the right thing. Court documents don't specify where McDaniel was over the next 10 days, but on July 22 he was arrested by Indiana State Police during a traffic stop in New Palestine. A document titled "The Last Will & Testament of David Brian McDaniel" could be clearly seen on the front passenger's seat, investigators noted. McDaniel is being held in the Hancock County Jail. His initial hearing was scheduled for July 30 at 1 p.m. On July 22, IMPD officer Nicholas Cauley was arrested after investigators say he used police resources to stalk and harass his ex-wife. Four IMPD officers were charged with sex crimes last year. One of the defendants, Paul Humphrey, pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor on July 14. He's accused of abusing a 15-year-old girl in January 2024. The three other cases remain pending. In September 2024, Kamal Bola, an officer of six years, was arrested in Hendricks County and charged with public voyeurism, three counts of child molesting, and one count of committing the crime of deadly force or being armed with a deadly weapon. In August 2024, Javed Richards, an officer of 12 years who worked in internal affairs, was charged with 13 counts of child exploitation and one count of possession of child pornography after detectives discovered Richards was allegedly uploading and downloading material sexually exploiting children on the internet. In April 2024, Lateral officer Myron Howard, who was with the department for one year, was charged with rape, criminal confinement, official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity. He's accused of sexually assaulting two women in two separate situations after they had called 911 for help.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Son of Smith County Clerk found guilty of assaulting peace officer
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Lance Phillips, the son of Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips and former Smith County Commissioner Terry Phillips, has been found guilty of assaulting a peace officer. Son of elected Smith County officials arrested for assault of public servant Lance was found guilty by a jury verdict in the 7th District Court in front of Judge Kerry L. Russell at around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Lance told KETK that he plans to appeal this verdict. 'If I lose and then I will immediately file my appeal to the higher court and go as high as necessary to get the rule of law to be enforced,' Lance told KETK after he testified on Thursday. 'And there will tons of case law that has Lance Phillips vs Neal Franklin of Smith County. And the result will help 35 million Texans who may want to speak in a public meeting.' Lance's guilty verdict comes after he was arrested for multiple charges on April 2, 2024 for an incident during a Smith County commissioner's court meeting. The May 2023 meeting was considering items like a resolution marking April 2024 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and a Smith County Jail operations report when Lance got into a verbal exchange with Smith County Judge Neal Franklin. Phillips was then removed from the court by courtroom officers. A sentencing hearing for Lance's case has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Denim Day raises awareness of ‘victim blaming' during Sexual Assault Awareness Month
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with the last Wednesday of every April being known as Denim Day. It's not just a day to show off your favorite jeans, it's a day to raise awareness about sexual assault, and speak out against victim blaming. But to understand why we have Denim Day now, we first must go back to Italy in 1998, when a high-profile rape trial saw a shocking development, years after the original decision. The conviction was overturned. A list of the largest settlements reached by organizations and victims of sexual abuse The appealed decision was based on the defendant's account that the victim's jeans were so tight he couldn't have removed them himself, implying consent. 'Shortly after that, women showed up to the Italian parliament in jeans,' said Open Door Network CEO Lauren Skidmore. The gesture started a movement that went worldwide, and years later, Los Angeles-based organization Peace Over Violence established Denim Day. Now, according to Peace Over Violence, millions worldwide wear denim on the last Wednesday in April to protest. 'It really is an opportunity for us to stand with victims of sexual assault and try to reduce victim shaming that happens every single day,' said Skidmore. Victims like Carrie Blind, who moved past her pain and now owns a salon in downtown Bakersfield. Like many others, she had her own issues with victim blaming. 'I was sexually assaulted by two, possibly three men at the same time,' she said. 'When it comes to Denim Day and talking about victim blaming, it's very difficult sometimes as a survivor to be taken seriously, because there are accusations of sexual abuse that are made up,' Blind said. 1st Kern County defendant convicted under Prop 36 sentenced 'No one wants to believe that their brother or their friend or their son has the capability of assaulting someone sexually. So absolutely, there's lot of blaming of victims that happens like 'what was she wearing, what did she say, what did she do, how did she allude to the fact that she gave him permission to do something like that?'' And so the denim isn't just a fashion trend. It's a stance. A stance defending those who have suffered enough already. 'For so long I felt so ugly. I felt so terrible about myself that I didn't want to be seen in a community, I didn't want people to know that I had experience what I had experienced,' said Blind. 'Now being able to participate in Denim Days, it makes a difference. It gives all of us survivors an opportunity to stand up and say, 'yes, this happened to me.'' If you are a victim of sexual violence, you're not alone. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's website at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
People gather at Crystal Coast to support survivors of sexual assault
CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Monday, Apr. 28, 2025, people gathered in Morehead City to take part in a Take Back the Night walk to support survivors of sexual assault. The walk went through Morehead City with people holding up signs to show support for survivors of sexual assault. 'This is our fourth-annual Tack Back the Night Walk. We hold those walks to bring awareness to sexual assault in our communities and it's a good way to let people know who we are and what we do,' Carteret Speak Director Vicki Wank said. 'Sexual assault does happen in every community and so, this is a great way to bring it to light and with our new name of Carter Speak, remind people that we speak up for survivors and speak out against sexual violence.' The Carteret Speak Program provides a number of resources. 'All of our services are completely free and confidential. There's no insurance, no eligibility. Everything is free and confidential,' Wank said. 'We provide licensed clinical therapy sessions for survivors of sexual assault. We have victim advocates who will assist victims at the hospital through court proceedings, interviews with law enforcement and we also have support groups for survivors of sexual assault. Our support groups meet on the first and third Monday evenings of each month from 6 p.m. to 7:30.' Wank said anyone can become a victim of sexual assault and it can happen in many ways. 'But it knows no socioeconomic class, race, sex, religion, it's everybody who experiences some form of sexual assault in their families, in their communities,' she said. 'And we want people to know it's okay to reach out to us. If anybody needs our services, they can reach us at (252)-504-3668.' Carteret SPEAK also has advocacy and volunteer opportunities available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Lights, Camera, Action for Change 2025: An Afternoon of Impact, Empowerment, and Purpose
MIAMI, FL, UNITED STATES, April 28, 2025 / / -- Over 50 creatives, advocates, and changemakers gathered at Mint Room Studios in Miami for the 2nd Annual Lights, Camera, Action for Change Impact Event — a powerful afternoon of conversation, connection, and community in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Founded by survivor advocate and visionary Sabine Dieme-Erlich, Lights, Camera, Action for Change is creating a movement for aspiring entertainers to pursue their dreams with dignity, education, and empowerment. The 2025 event built upon this mission by spotlighting real stories, actionable tools, and uplifting performances designed to inspire both healing and leadership in creative spaces. The afternoon was hosted by media personality Suzette Speaks, who also moderated a dynamic panel featuring: ● Kye Alexis, Wilhelmina model and CEO of Priceless One Management ● Guy Michel, international cellist and composer, who gave a stirring live performance ● Renee Rivers, licensed mental health therapist ● Tifa, award-winning international recording artist and songwriter Other notable guests included Miss World Haiti 2016 Suzana Sampeur, Miss Black Florida 2025 Keyera Lyn, renowned social justice advocate Lutze Segu, and two-time cancer survivor and motivational speaker David Octavio Gandell. One of the most poignant moments of the day was when Sabine Dieme-Erlich publicly shared her personal story for the first time — setting the tone for future Lights, Camera, Action for Change projects, including an upcoming docuseries and a groundbreaking curriculum tailored for aspiring entertainers. 'We want every creative to know they have a choice,' said Dieme-Erlich. 'Your definition of success should be your own — rooted in your values, character, and dignity. We are here to provide education, empowerment, and community every step of the way.' The event was made possible thanks to a generous community of sponsors, including The Jerk Stop, Walker Chiropractic, Posh Life Pilates, Ending The Game, Happily Joint, Perfect Illusions, CTJ 360 Photo & Testimony Booth, Fit For The Role, You Know Me Game, Serenity Blues, and more. With workshops scheduled throughout 2025 and the 3rd Annual Lights, Camera, Action for Change Impact Event on the horizon, the initiative's mission remains clear: to equip creatives to heal, thrive, and lead with integrity and purpose. About Lights, Camera, Action for Change: Lights, Camera, Action for Change is a social impact initiative created by Sabine Dieme-Erlich, dedicated to educating and empowering survivors, creatives, and aspiring entertainers. Through annual events, workshops, and media projects, the initiative promotes mental wellness, resilience, and ethical success in the entertainment industry. Sabina Covo Communications Sabina Covo Communications +1 786-329-5029 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
