1-20-2010 Alabama:
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Adults using a computer to solicit a juvenile for sexual activity could find themselves without a home, car or computer.
The Alabama House voted 95-0 to pass a bill by Democratic Rep. Ken Guin of Carbon Hill that allows authorities to confiscate the property of a person convicted of using a computer to lure a young person to meet for sexual reasons. An exception is the house, car or other property can't be confiscated if it is needed by a spouse or child who did not know the computer was being used to solicit a child.
The bill was originally sponsored by Democratic Rep. Lea Fite of Jacksonville. Fite died of a heart attack in October. The bill was named the Lea Fite Child Protection Act. ..Source.. WHNT19News
January 20, 2010
Ala. House passes bill to seize property of sex offenders who use computer to lure victims
November 20, 2009
Sex abuser loses house; proceeds go to restitution
11-20-2009 Vermont:
A Rutland man convicted of multiple counts of producing child pornography lost his freedom, his savings and his home on Wednesday.
Allan E. Patrick, 58, was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail and agreed to forfeit his Royce Street home and his retirement account to pay $142,500 to five victims. Patrick's home at 21 Royce St. has been transferred to the federal government, which plans to sell the property. Patrick's lawyer said the property is assessed at $149,700.
Patrick pleaded guilty in August to charges that he videotaped sexual acts performed by children as young as 8 years old at his home between 2000 and 2002, according to court records.
He was arrested in February 2008 and charged in Rutland District Court. In February 2009 his case was transferred to U.S. District Court where a magistrate ordered him jailed pending trial.
On Wednesday, the court heard from the grandmother of two victims and two young women who the lawyers said would receive restitution from Patrick but who weren't named in the criminal case.
"He was old enough to know better. They trusted him and he violated that," the grandmother said breaking down into sobs as she confronted Patrick.
"It's been hell," one of the young women said recalling nightmarish memories she said takes medication to suppress. "He was reeling us in in ways he knew he could get us."
The woman's allusions were to Patrick's practice of buying cigarettes and alcohol for the children and teenagers he is convicted of videotaping in his home.
"He thinks I'm not a victim," the other woman said referring to objections the defense attorney made regarding the women's ability to address the court. "But I've got the emotional scars that won't go away in 10 years or 20 years. They're never going away."
Standing up at the end of the hearing, Patrick faced the rows of victims seated behind him and apologized.
"I'm very sorry," he said. "I was the adult and you were the children. I know I hurt you and I hope the restitution will take care of your treatment and I hope you lead good and healthy lives."
Patrick also apologized to the court and promised he wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
"I want you to know if I do get a second chance I'll get every kind of counseling I can in prison," Patrick told the judge. "There's a half of me that's a good person who worked hard all his life but the other half of me the devil's got a grip right on. That's the part I want to get fixed."
Judge J. Garvan Murtha said he recognized the different sides of Patrick, whose criminal record was otherwise clean. But he rejected his request for a minimum 10-year sentence choosing instead to send Patrick to jail for 12 years and seven months.
"You do have a sickness. Some of your character is good, some of it not so good and some of it terrible," Murtha said. "The seriousness of the offenses is horrendous which is why I'm sentencing you to 151 months." ..Source.. Brent Curtis Staff Writer
July 20, 2009
MI- Coach Charged with Sex Crimes Could Lose Home
7-20-2009 Michigan:
TAYLOR, Mich. (AP) - Federal authorities want to take control of the suburban Detroit home of a celebrated prep hockey coach recently charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy.
A search of Robert Bopp's home in Taylor turned up numerous photos of minors engaging in sexual activity there, officials said in a court filing Friday. Some of the photos include Bopp, who was recently fired as hockey coach at Grosse Pointe South High School, the officials said.
The court document shows that at least three juveniles told authorities they had sex with the 51-year-old Bopp. He is charged in state court with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in 2007 and 2008.
Bopp faces three counts each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and child sexually abusive activity.
He remains in the Wayne County jail, where's been since June 19. A hearing is set for July 30 to determine whether the case will go to trial.
Defense lawyer Chris Andreoff declined to comment on the allegations against Bopp.
"I'm going to look at the complaint and respond accordingly," Andreoff said.
Bopp hasn't been charged with a federal crime. But the U.S. attorney's office is suing to take his home under a federal law that allows authorities to grab assets tied to suspected crimes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Ross said he could not comment beyond the lawsuit.
Bopp led Grosse Pointe South to the state Division II hockey championship in 2007. He is a member of the hall of fame for Michigan high school hockey coaches. ..Source.. by ActionNews Detroit
February 22, 2008
Judge Takes House Of Convicted Child Pornographer
2-22-2008 Texas:
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
A North Texas judge makes a rare decision in the case of a man convicted of possessing child porn. Jeffery Davis faces 10 years in prison and will also lose his house as part of his sentence.
Taking property is one way federal authorities say they plan to show that crimes against children will not be tolerated.
When Davis was arrested for possessing child pornography last August it must have seemed like déjà vu, but those living around him knew nothing of his criminal past. "I've known him for like 14 years, like everybody says one of the nicest people you could ever want to know," said neighbor Mark Stowe.
Seven years earlier Davis had faced and been convicted of the same charge, in the same house. The first time he faced a judge he was sentenced to 15 months in prison, this time, with more than 600 pornographic images found in his house and on his computer, a federal judge threw the book at him.
"We felt like, since it was near a school and because of his prior use of child pornography, we would take the unusual step of forfeiting his house," U.S. Attorney Richard Roper.
Once his prison term is served Davis also faces up to 20 years of supervised release. It's one of the first cases in the country in which a child pornographer has lost his house as part of his punishment.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says it sends a loud and clear message to would-be child pornographers. Davis' neighbor doesn't disagree. "The second time, he should get the full extent of the law," Stowe said.
Davis plead guilty to the most recent charges last October, forfeiting his house was part of a plea agreement. ..more.. by
