New York Police Sergeant Commits Suicide After Sex-Crime Charges

8-20-15 New York:

A New York police sergeant who was arrested this month on charges that he had sex with an underage girl he met online committed suicide on Thursday, the police said.

The sergeant, Joel Doseau, 43, who was suspended after his arrest, killed himself at his home in Canarsie, Brooklyn, a police official said. Earlier, the official had said he died at a home of a relative.

A family member went to the sergeant’s home after he had not been heard from for a few days and discovered his body. The official said the sergeant had inhaled gas fumes and appeared to have died from asphyxiation.

Sergeant Doseau was arrested on Aug. 5 and arraigned in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn on 40 criminal counts, including rape and sexual abuse. He had worked for the Police Department for 12 years at the time of his arrest.

Hours Before Suicide, Former City Official Betrayed Little in an E-Mail

10-2-2012 New York:

It would be comforting to think that a man about to end his own life makes a certain noise, a howl, a scream, anything to telegraph an approaching moment that once it arrives, cannot be undone.

You want to think that premeditated death does not sneak around, that suicidal impulses are not easy to miss.

Russell A. Harding, 48, a former city official, offered nothing.

When he sent me an e-mail hours before taking his life 11 days ago, there was no sign of his intentions, not a hint that the grief from his criminal conviction, his isolation from friends and family, and his poverty had become too much for him to bear.

The e-mail did not come out of the blue. We had periodically traded messages since I had contacted him in 2008 for an article I was working on about the blog he had begun. His notes to me were always reasonable and peppered with self-effacing humor.

This time felt no different. I had written an article that said that Bernard B. Kerik, the former police commissioner, would be testifying at an upcoming trial. Mr. Harding, who knew of Mr. Kerik from their days working for former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, wondered why Mr. Kerik would testify.

DPS officer accused of child molestation commits suicide

9-6-2012 Arizona:

A veteran Department of Public Safety officer committed suicide Wednesday near Yuma after being informed that he was under investigation for sexual abuse and child molestation.

Deputies responded Wednesday evening to a 911 call about a dead person found at Adair Park Shooting Range northeast of Yuma, according to Capt. Eben Bratcher, spokesman for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office. Bratcher said deputies arrived on scene and found the body of James Howard, who had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Howard had served as a DPS officer assigned to the Roll area.

Bratcher that said on Wednesday morning, investigators from the sheriff's office had served a search warrant at Howard's residence, located in the 38100 Block of Kumquat Dr. Drive in Roll, in reference to an ongoing criminal investigation.

VA nurse arrested on child porn charges commits suicide

8-13-2012 Arizona:

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The Tucson VA nurse arrested last Wednesday for child pornography charges committed suicide, according to Tucson police Sgt. Maria Hawke.

Christopher R. Brown, was taken into custody Wednesday, August 8, after police found hundreds of illegal pictures on his home computer and other media devices. He was charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Sgt. Hawke confirmed that Brown committed suicide sometime between late evening August 12 and early morning of August 13.

After the arrest, Brown was placed on paid leave from the VA hospital where he worked for the past 22 years.

Police were tipped off in March by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a man was uploading child porn pictures to a social media site. After investigating the incident, they got a search warrant and raided Brown's home. ..Source.. by Sarah Cantey

Veteran Ocean County detective facing child sex assault charges found dead

10-30-2011 New Jersey:

STAFFORD — Authorities say a veteran Ocean County Prosecutor's Office detective who was facing child sexual assault charges apparently committed suicide this weekend.

Executive Assistant County Prosecutor Michael Palhus tells the Asbury Park Press of Neptune that Sgt. Ronald Velardi's body was found around 3 a.m. Sunday in a wooded area of Stafford Township, where Velardi lived.

Palhus said authorities had received "information" that led them to start searching for Velardi on Saturday night, but would not provide further details.

Velardi, who had served with the prosecutor's office for many years, had been suspended after his arrest in June. He faced four counts of sexual assault and three counts of child endangerment in a case that authorities say involved two girls. ..Source..

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Ocean County veteran investigator accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls

6-10-2011 New Jersey:

A veteran investigator with the Ocean County prosecutor’s office was charged today with sexually assaulting two underage girls.

Det. Sgt. Ronald Velardi, 44, of Manahawkin was arrested 10 a.m. while on duty at a satellite division of the prosecutor’s office in Toms River, said Joel Bewley, a spokesman for the Burlington County prosecutor’s office.

He said investigators had Velardi under surveillance prior to his arrest.

Although Velardi is an Ocean County resident, Burlington County authorities were called into the case along with the state Division of Criminal Justice to avoid a conflict of interest by having his own agency conduct the investigation.

Velardi, who has worked for the prosecutor’s office for at least a dozen years, was charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts of child endangerment, Bewley said.

Three of the sexual assault charges relate to one girl and the other sexual assault charge involves another girl, both minors, Bewley said. He would not say how old they are or how they know Velardi.

Authorities filed one child endangerment charge for each of the alleged victims and for a boy, who is also a minor, Bewley said. He declined to disclose the boy’s age or say how he knew Velardi.

The charges cover acts that allegedly occurred since January, Bewley said.

Velardi, who is married and has three children, is being held in the Burlington County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

He was suspended without pay and had to surrender his firearms and credentials, Bewley said. Bewley would not comment on what may have been seized at Velardi’s Beach Lane home.

Velardi, who earns $99,993, was promoted to sergeant on Dec. 16, according to records of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders. If convicted of the sexual assault charge, Velardi could face from five to 10 years in prison.

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel, a spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office, declined to comment on the arrest. ..Source.. by NJ.com

MI- Probation officer charged with soliciting sex commits suicide

9-26-2009 Michigan:

WYANDOTTE — A 27th District Court probation officer has committed suicide after being charged with soliciting sex from an 18-year-old woman.

Late Thursday afternoon Police Chief Daniel Grant confirmed that the body of Robert Joseph Samson was found in Oscoda County. The 60-year-old Wyandotte resident died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Michigan State Police investigators said Samson had a drug-counseling business on the side, in addition to his job as a probation officer at the court that serves Wyandotte and Riverview.

Samson reportedly encouraged a woman on probation to take his drug program. It was alleged that he would waive the fee for the program if she would engage in various sex acts with him.

Detective Sgt. Kenneth Walker of the Michigan State Police Metro South Post in Taylor said the woman had met with police a week earlier and provided information that there could be “inappropriate and illegal” activity at a drug class held at the Horizon Building in Taylor.

“We took that information and began surveillance,” Walker said.

It’s not clear where the activity was supposed to have occurred, but Walker said it would have been outside of the normally scheduled class. When police believed they had enough evidence, they moved in and arrested Samson.

He was arraigned Tuesday at 23rd District Court in Taylor on four felony counts of soliciting criminal sexual misconduct. Walker said Samson cooperated with the investigation after the arrest. He was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

On Wednesday, Walker said state police still had an active investigation going, believing that other probationers might have received similar propositions.

Detective Sgt. Joseph White of the Michigan State Police Second District headquarters, who was handling the case, said as of Friday morning that he had not received confirmation of Samson’s death. He said he had heard about it only through unofficial channels.

He said he was aware of a couple of people who posted allegations against Samson on a WXYZ TV (Channel 7) blog, but he had not been contacted by anyone other than the 18-year-old woman concerning similar sexual propositions that Samson might have made.

Grant said that when a person dies far from home, it is common for law enforcement agencies to contact police in the victim’s home city. In most cases, it is then up to local police to contact next of kin.

Grant said it is not known why Samson chose to drive to the county in northeastern Michigan. He said it was believed that Samson had a second house in the Howell area, but he had no known connections to Oscoda County.

Ed Pokrzywnicki, Oscoda County undersheriff, said a passer-by came across Samson’s body on Oak Lake Road in an area about 15 miles outside of Mio, near Lewiston.

“It’s a county road — primarily gravel — in a very rural area,” Pokrzywnicki said. “I don’t know why he was here. He might have been to the area before.”

Pokrzywnicki said Samson’s body was found on the ground next to his vehicle, with a rifle next to him.

Natalie Shaul, probation director for 27th District Court, said Samson had been suspended Tuesday morning. The department had a resignation letter that he was asked to sign Thursday, but he never showed up.

Shaul said Samson had been with the probation department since 1983, starting as a volunteer. In 1996 he was hired as a paid part-time probation officer. He worked 24 hours per week, with no benefits.

Samson also served as 27th District Court’s work force coordinator. He is credited with developing the program.

“All of us are shocked,” Shaul said after his arraignment. “I almost fell out of my chair.”

Shaul said she wasn’t aware of what Samson “dabbled in” outside of work, but he appeared to be a good probation officer. She said she never received any calls from probationers with allegations against Samson.

“I had no indication of this,” she said.

Grant said Samson’s suicide was a sad ending to the story.

“It’s unfortunate that there’s no way of telling when someone is that despondent,” he said. “If you knew that, maybe you could get them some help.” ..Source.. by Jim Kasuba

NV- Siskiyou deputy kills self after molestation charges

2-25-2006 Nevada:

LAKE SHASTINA - The search for a Siskiyou County sheriff's sergeant wanted on charges of molesting a teenager ended in a Las Vegas motel room, where his body was found Thursday morning with a bullet wound to the head.

The Clark County, Nev., coroner's office ruled the death a suicide, a spokeswoman said.

Sgt. Glenn A. Kruger, 43, of Lake Shastina, is survived by his wife and three sons. He had been with the Sheriff's Department for eight years and most recently was a patrol sergeant for the Yreka area.

"He was a great officer. I've been the sheriff for three years, and he was one of the best I had. Unfortunately, people sometimes make errors in judgment," Siskiyou County Sheriff Rick Riggins said about the allegations Kruger faced.

Kruger fled the north state area before he could be arrested on charges stemming from a complaint filed with the Lake Shastina Police Department by a 16-year-old, whose name and gender were not released.

Lake Shastina Police Chief Rick Alves told The Bee earlier this week that a $100,000 warrant was issued for Kruger on Tuesday afternoon on charges of sexual battery by restraint, attempted unlawful sexual intercourse, child molestation and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.

Alves said the alleged sexual misconduct did not happen while the officer was on duty. He contacted Kruger asking him to come to the police station for an interview, but the officer left the area before the interview could take place.

"There's no doubt the teenager was right in making a report," Sheriff Riggins said, adding that counseling is available to the family "as well as for everyone in the department."

Riggins lamented the sergeant's death. "This is a very difficult situation for everyone concerned. For the department, it's like a death in the family."

Kruger was promoted to sergeant in September, 2005. He was a crisis negotiator for the Sheriff Department's special response team. He and six other members were recognized as Deputy Sheriff of the Year and County Peace Officer of the Year in 2004.

The sheriff said everyone on the team deserved their awards after a domestic violence shooting.

A memorial service is planned for March 3, in Mount Shasta. The Siskiyou County Deputy Sheriff's Association has set up a memorial fund at P.O. Box 42, Yreka, CA 96097. ..Source.. by Christine Vovakes -- Sacramento Bee Correspondent

ID- State AG concludes jailer committed suicide

4-16-2006 Idaho:

Investigation reveals inappropriate behavior with female inmates

The Idaho attorney general's office has concluded that former Blaine County jailer Michael Lance was "engaged in inappropriate behavior" with female inmates prior to committing suicide in August 2005.

In a letter dated Thursday to Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Thomas, Deputy Attorney General Stephen Bywater wrote that the investigation was unable to determine if Lance had sex with former inmate Gretchen Biddle, who had alleged sexual contact with Lance in the Blaine County Jail in June and July 2005.

"Our investigation into the allegations of inappropriate sexual contact between Michael Lance and Ms. Biddle was unable to establish definitively whether or not Mr. Lance engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with Ms. Biddle," Bywater wrote. "It did reveal substantial evidence, however, that Mr. Lance engaged in inappropriate behavior with this and other female inmates of Blaine County."

Prior to his death, Lance's conduct was under investigation by the Magic Valley Critical Incident Task Force, an eight-county cooperative that assists law enforcement agencies with internal investigations.

The attorney general's office further concluded that Lance died from "a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head." His body was found Aug. 25, 2005, on a hill above Water Gulch Ranch, east of the Woodside area of Hailey.

Lance, who lived in Hailey, was 47. He had worked for the Blaine County Sheriff's Office for nearly 11 years.

The investigation into Lance's conduct did not involve convicted Bellevue murder Sarah M. Johnson, who alleged she was raped in the Blaine County Jail in 2004. Results of a lengthy investigation into her allegations were released Monday. Blaine County authorities concluded that Johnson lied.

The attorney general's office informed Thomas that it will take no further action in the Lance case. The investigation was requested by Thomas in September.

Neither Thomas nor Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling could be reached for comment. ..Source.. by TERRY SMITH, Express Staff Writer

NY- 'Serial rapist' found in N.Y., commits suicide

12-22-2008 New York:

As he walked outside into the frigid, upper New York state air, fugitive rape suspect Michael L. Johnson Jr. noticed police and members of the U.S. Marshals Service were closing in on him after a two-week manhunt.

Johnson, 40, of Penn Township, ran back inside a boarding house room he had been renting for a few days, went to a second-floor room and killed himself by shooting himself - once in the chest, then once in the head.

Johnson, a former York City police officer and a Penn Township commissioner, had been on the run since Dec. 9 on charges he impersonated a police officer, then raped three women - two in York City and one in Baltimore.

The U.S. Marshals Service had been tracking Johnson up the East coast on a path that led to Burlington, Vt.; Troy, N.Y.; and finally Cohoes, N.Y., which is 10 miles outside of Albany, where Johnson committed suicide about 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Johnson killed himself as a state police tactical team was closing off a city block in preparation for a standoff.

From the very beginning, police believed Johnson would not be taken alive - that he would either kill himself or commit "suicide-by-cop," said York County District Attorney Stan Rebert.

If Johnson had been convicted, he would have faced 20 to 30 years in prison on the Pennsylvania charges and up to life in prison on the Maryland charges.
"There is justice in the sense that he won't be doing this to anyone ever again," Rebert said.


The cases

U.S. Marshals were trying to serve an arrest warrant on Johnson for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He was facing multiple charges - including rape and impersonating a police officer - in the sexual assaults of a 34-year-old woman and a 42-year-old woman in York in September.

Johnson was free on $100,000 bail from York County prison on charges filed Dec. 1 that he kidnapped 22-year-old woman off a Baltimore street, then handcuffed her inside his van and raped her. He was fighting extradition to Maryland.

In all three cases, police allege Johnson posed as a police officer, telling the woman they were under arrest, handcuffing them to a seat in his van and raping them. Police found handcuffs, police badges, condoms, and hair and fiber samples inside the van.

Though Johnson is dead, Rebert said the York cases remain open. Investigators are looking into those who might have helped Johnson elude capture, he said. And officials believe there are other victims out there who have yet to come forward, he said.

Johnson specifically targeted women he thought would not come forward, Rebert said. In all three cases, the women admitted they were drug addicts. In the York cases, both women admitted they turned to prostitution to support their habits.

"I don't think my use of the word serial rapist is out of line," Rebert said.


'No winners'

Michael Regan, of the U.S. Marshals Service in Harrisburg, said Johnson did not have friends or family in the area where he he was found. He declined to say what led marshals to Cohoes, saying he did not want to compromise investigative techniques.

Johnson was staying at a boarding house, which was an old industrial complex converted into housing, said Deputy Marshal Steve Rowe. Johnson rented the room this past weekend but not under his name, he said.

The blue Chevy Cobalt he was seen driving from his home Dec. 9 has not been recovered, he said.

Johnson's attorney, Chris Ferro, had arranged for Johnson to turn himself Dec. 9, but Johnson did not show.

Ferro said Monday people should not assume anything from Johnson's taking his life or running from police.

"There are no winners in this story. At the end of the day, regardless of what is written and said, children have lost a father and a wife has lost a husband," Ferro said.

"Michael Johnson died today with a presumption of innocence that, in reality, means very little to a person who, in a short period of time, lost everything and was publicly vilified. These allegations have never been tested in court, and therefore, the final, most important, chapter of this unfortunate saga, will never be written."

Rebert said Johnson's running from the law and his suicide showed his "consciousness of guilt."

"You have to believe his conscience was weighing on him," Rebert said.

An autopsy is expected to be conducted by the Albany County Coroner's Office. Rowe said he believed the only weapon found in the boarding house room was the gun Johnson used to commit suicide.

There was no note found in the room, Rowe said. A note found at Johnson's home during a Dec. 9 search remains under court seal, Rebert said.

Based on his comments before and after he fled, Johnson believed he would find some "safe haven" in Canada, Rowe said. ..News Source.. by MIKE HOOVER, Daily Record/Sunday News

NY- Legal Action Continues After Apparent Suicide

4-5-2006 New York:

Gary A. Feinberg, 48, a physician's assistant at the Suffolk County Jail, was killed by a Long Island Rail Road train in an apparent suicide on March 27. Feinberg was struck by the eastbound train at about 11:35 p.m. and pronounced dead at the scene at the Abraham's Path crossing in Amagansett, according to LIRR officials.

The Sag Harbor resident had been arrested in February and charged with five counts of official misconduct and 16 counts of sexual abuse in the second degree for allegedly fondling six female inmates while they received medical attention at the jail over the course of seven months. Feinberg pleaded not guilty to the charges.

One of those women, Rochelle Ramos, 40, filed a $10 million notice of claim last week against Feinberg for his alleged abusive behavior and against the county for its imprudence in hiring Feinberg, its poor supervision, and potential deliberate indifference by not following up on complaints made in the past.

Feinberg's death has not changed Ramos's legal course of action against the county, according to her attorney Robert Valli of Leeds, Morelli & Brown in Garden City.

Ramos, of Hempstead, was serving time for a probation violation — she had been convicted of forging medical prescriptions. A car accident several years ago left her wheelchair-bound for two years and during that time, she became addicted to painkillers, Valli said.

His client was serving time in the Nassau County jail when she reportedly had stomach pains and was diagnosed with a hernia. Ramos later witnessed an encounter between prisoners "that might have endangered her life," and guards moved her to the Suffolk County jail for protection. Despite her previous medical checkup, her condition required her to have a pre-admission medical exam. Feinberg was the attending physician.

What "doesn't make sense" is that there was reportedly a female physician's assistant in the room at first but she left, said Valli. "If you're a female prisoner, you're going to have a female attendant. There should have been a female attendant."

On or around December 28, Feinberg allegedly molested Ramos without using a glove. Although startled, "she doesn't scream," the attorney recounted. "She thinks 'if I scream I'm going to get in trouble.'"

When the exam is over, "He then stands her up and tells her how beautiful she is and tries to kiss her," said Valli, who is looking to speak with the other women who claim Feinberg abused them.

It is unclear if any policy has been established that requires a female attendant to be present during medical checkups of female inmates, and Valli will be investigating the matter.

Members of The Suffolk County Health Department, which runs the jail's medical unit and hired Feinberg in 2002, declined to comment.

Some have speculated that Feinberg's possible suicide implies guilt and makes the county vulnerable to further lawsuits.

Suffolk County Attorney Christine Malafi, who is handling the case, acknowledged that more people may come forward but she believes the county might be protected by the Dead Man's Statute. The law is designed to protect the decedent from fraudulent claims in civil cases by prohibiting a witness who may have something to gain from testifying about communication or transactions with the deceased.

Malafi also emphasized that it is unfair to assume Feinberg was committing suicide because he was guilty, or that the tragedy was even a suicide.

"Committing suicide just means you're going through something in your life that you can't handle," she said. "You could say that he couldn't handle all of these accusations coming out . . . that were false." As far as she knew, there were also no obvious signs of suicide, such as a note, she added.

A funeral service was held for Feinberg on Sunday at the North Haven Community Center. ..News Source.. by Carey London

CA- Cop Facing Sex Assault Charges Commits Suicide

7-25-2005 California:

A San Francisco police inspector who was facing felony sexual assault charges in Solano County fatally shot himself in his Vacaville home last week, Vacaville police said. The Solano County Coroner's Office said Wilfredo Gonzalez Jr., 39, was found dead in his home at 9:07 p.m. June 21. The cause of death was a contact gunshot wound to the head, the coroner's office said.

Vacaville police said Gonzalez was facing sexual assault charges involving two alleged victims in 2002 and 2004. He was to have appeared in Solano County Superior Court on Thursday. Vacaville police Lt. Craig Courtemanche said another woman came forward about six weeks ago when she saw news articles about the charges against Gonzalez. Courtemanche said Gonzalez met the women on the Internet and arranged for them to come to his home. Police said Gonzalez faced seven charges regarding the alleged sexual assaults. ..more.. : by Bay City News

NM- Body found near airport

3-5-2007 New Mexico:

LAS CRUCES — Doña Ana sheriff's investigators are looking into the suspicious death of a man found inside a hangar near the Santa Teresa Airport in southern Doña Ana County. A source has confirmed that the body is that of Arturo Carreon, a former officer with the El Paso Police Department who was fired in 1998 after he was charged and convicted of having sex with a teenage girl.

Sheriff's investigator Sgt. Mark Perea said authorities were called to a hangar at 100 Lindbergh in Santa Teresa about 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 by a security guard patrolling the area. Perea said the victim was found with a gunshot wound to the head, but investigators did not find a gun at the scene. An El Paso police source, who asked not to be identified because the onging investigation, confirmed the body was that of Carreon, 37.

Suicide didn't clear allegations

1-7-2008 Mississippi:

Capt. Pete Collins received thousands upon thousands of letters of admiration.

"A lot of people here really look up to you. Including me!" wrote one high school student from Kentucky.

A Mississippi student wrote, "I won't forget you. I had thought about suicide, but it is not worth it. Now, I wouldn't commit suicide for anything in the world."

Collins spent 28 years serving Mississippi as a highway patrolman. It was for his motivational speeches - inspiring, cautionary tales delivered over a 25-year speaking career - that Collins became, in the words of Louisa Dixon, former commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, "a great ambassador for Mississippi. Pete's talent for public speaking was of the highest caliber."

"Pete had a gift," Jackie Moore, his fiancee, said recently. "He could have you buckled over, laughing out loud one second, and crying your eyes out the next."

This 62-year-old man who was presented with enough awards to fill a home's walls slipped his socks off on a Sunday last August and hung himself with them inside the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County.

Convicted of molesting a 13-year-old girl, Collins was two days into a 10-year prison sentence when he ended his life.

"I don't worry about Pete. I know where he's at," Gail Jones, his older sister, said. "It's just the way he had to go - it's not right."

It took two trials to convict Collins. The first one, in August 2006, ended in a hung jury.

Lee County Assistant District Attorney Clay Joyner prosecuted Collins during the second trial, in August 2007. Joyner's investigation brought to the surface a portrait of Collins few wanted to see.

"In talking with current Highway Patrol investigators, I discovered a lot of them had problems with Pete," said Joyner. "Pete would take other people's stories and during his speeches put himself in their shoes. That rubbed a lot of people in the department the wrong way."

Jim Ingram, former commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, testified during the second trial. Ingram told jurors that he viewed Collins, after years of working with him, as a "dishonest" person. "I was subpoenaed, came forward and testified, under oath, to the truth," was all Ingram would say about his testimony.

More incriminating, Joyner uncovered five women who claimed to have been molested by Collins when they were teenagers, stretching back to 1967.

"None of them, whatsoever, have a motive to make something like this up," said Joyner. "When you've got a group of victims who match a sex and specific age range, from 13 to 15 years old, that, in and of itself, speaks to his situation."

A judge did not allow the women to testify at Collins' trial.

One of the victims was Kay Swindell. The Winona resident attended both of Collins' trials.

"I kept it a secret for 40 years. I never told a soul," said Swindell, who claims Collins molested her when she was 15. "That's because I didn't think anyone would believe me. Pete went out and made a big name for himself, and through all of those years, I wanted someone to know the truth about him."

Swindell said she came forward because she knew what the 13-year-old victim was going through.

"I knew that Pete would do everything in his power to try and discredit that little girl, and I knew how scared she was," said Swindell.

Joyner said he found a pattern in Collins' behavior.

"In these types of cases, you find repetition," he said. "And that's what you have here."

Collins would gain young girls' trust over a period of time before molesting them, Joyner said. "But he made a mistake with the last one. ... He never groomed her."

The incident that led to Collins' conviction began the night before Thanksgiving 2004. Visiting his son's home in Tupelo for the holidays, Collins went to bed in his grandchildren's bed.

"I'm going to sleep with them as often as I can because they are all I got," Collins testified during his first trial.

His granddaughter had a friend over, visiting.

The 13-year-old victim testified during both trials that she woke up in the middle of the night with Collins' hands down the front of her pajama bottoms.

All five of the previous victims Joyner found said they were teenagers when Collins first molested them. At least one of the girls says Collins had intercourse with her over a two-year period, beginning when she was 12.

"No man I know walks around with girls accusing him of that," Joyner said. "Again, that speaks to Collins."

Collins' family contends that his suicide was a combination of a false conviction, a 10-year sentence, public humiliation and lack of proper medication. ..more.. by William Browning

Ex-Deputy, Under Investigation, Kills Himself

11-30-2007 Virginia:

A former Fairfax County sheriff's deputy who was being investigated for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old boy shot and killed himself in Herndon on Tuesday, one day after police searched his home.

David L. Ruel, 42, had been a Fairfax deputy for 19 years and was assigned to the county's code enforcement task force, Fairfax Sheriff's Lt. Basilio Cachuela said. Ruel retired in October, in a move apparently unrelated to the sex investigation, and had been working as a security specialist at Herndon High School for a month, a schools spokesman said.

On Nov. 15, an 18-year-old man told Fairfax police that he had been repeatedly sexually assaulted by Ruel beginning sometime in 2001 and continuing for about 18 months, according to a search warrant affidavit filed yesterday. The man reported that when he was 12 years old, Ruel sexually abused him on numerous occasions, supplied him with alcohol and photographed him while naked, the affidavit by Detective Richard L. Mullins states.

Police obtained a search warrant for Ruel's apartment and storage unit on Astoria Circle in Herndon on Monday afternoon and searched them for two hours, court records show. Computers and many other items were seized.

On Tuesday, police obtained more search warrants. When officers went back to Astoria Circle, Ruel was found dead on a nearby athletic field, Mullins wrote. Ruel died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, Fairfax police officer Don Gotthardt said.

Ruel was the second Fairfax deputy to be investigated for sex crimes this month. On Nov. 8, Deputy Robert A. Romero Jr. was arrested after federal agents discovered more than 1,000 images of child pornography on his home computer.

Romero resigned the day of his arrest.

Fairfax Sheriff Stan G. Barry said the two cases were unrelated. "It's unfortunate that they came so close together," Barry said. "It's unfortunate they happened at all."

Barry said that the allegations against Ruel are "obviously very serious charges" and that he hoped the police would continue to investigate the case to determine whether the allegations are factual. Gotthardt said the investigation will proceed despite Ruel's suicide. ..more.. by Tom Jackman, Washington Post Staff Writer

St. Pete Councilman Bryan commits suicide

9-7-2007 Florida:

FLORAL CITY - Just hours after handing in his resignation from the St. Petersburg City Council, John Bryan drove to a property he owns in Citrus County and committed suicide.

Bryan was under criminal investigation for allegedly having sexual relationships with three females in his home - two of them his teenage adopted daughters.

The 56-year-old's body was discovered by a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times who went to Floral City to talk to Bryan.

The Times reported he was slumped over in a golf cart inside his garage. A still running lawn mower was parked nearby.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker issued a statement through a spokesperson saying "My thoughts and prayers are with the Bryan family tonight."

Councilman Earnest Williams told The Associated Press on Friday evening that he was shocked by Bryan's passing.

"I was very surprised and amazed," Williams said. "He was always willing to help out other folks. It's just a sad day for everyone involved."

In a resignation letter released to the media earlier Friday, Bryan wrote, "I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the citizens of this great community for their confidence in me to represent them. It has been a pleasure to work with one of this city's finest Mayors, and extremely effective City Council, and a truly great city staff."

According to court sources, a female who used to be in the Bryan home - who is now an adult - came forward claiming she had a sexual relationship with him that began when she was still a minor.

She also claimed Bryan had sex with his two adopted teenage daughters.

Bryan claimed in court that the relationship with the older girl took place after she became an adult - and was consensual.

He denied having any sexual relationship with the two younger girls.

According to a bio on the St. Petersburg city website, Bryan was married with three grown children and two school-aged children.

Bryan was first elected to the District 2 Council seat in 2001, and re-elected in 2005. Before seeking office, he retired from his own business - Bryan Homes - which has built over 300 homes in the St. Petersburg area. ..more.. by FOX 13

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In the final hours, John Bryan appeared in control

As the week crashed down on John Bryan, officials who knew of the abuse inquiry were on the lookout for trouble signals.

ST. PETERSBURG - In the final hours of his public life, as the walls closed in around him, John Bryan appeared in control.

For 30 minutes on Friday, John Wolfe, the city's top attorney, looked for any crack.

Bryan talked about how sorry he was, mainly for hurting his family and his friends, and for the media circus that was to come. Much of the meeting, though, was marked by silence, Wolfe said.

But in what may have been his last conversation, Bryan also focused on the future, where he would stay and how he would get by in the days and weeks ahead.

Wolfe kept looking for signs that Bryan was unstable.

He found none.

As news of Bryan's suicide on Friday sunk in on Saturday, a clearer picture of the events of the past week began to emerge. But even those final moments don't reconcile with the public face of John Bryan that most people remembered -- the family man, the civic leader and the committed St. Petersburg City Council chairman.

"There was no indication at all what was going to happen," Wolfe said Saturday, retracing his last moments with Bryan, 56. "There just wasn't anything."

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A little more than two weeks ago, Bryan had lunch with George Rahdert, a friend and political supporter. Rahdert, a developer and attorney who also represents the St. Petersburg Times, said Bryan talked about his separation from his wife, Alicia, a financial planner in Tampa.

He seemed optimistic that they would get back together, Rahdert said. Bryan told him his wife blamed their marital turmoil "on the time he was spending on his political commitments."

Bryan said he had decided not to run for mayor, so he could repair his marriage.

"I was surprised that he seemed willing to set aside those political ambitions," Rahdert said. "It seemed admirable."

- - -

St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon said the department formally began investigating Bryan on Wednesday. Detectives with the crimes against children unit conducted interviews related to allegations that Bryan had sexually abused his adopted daughters. Harmon said detectives spoke to Bryan at least once. Police declined to identify other people interviewed, but they found reason to proceed.

"They told me based upon what they learned that there were some criminal allegations here," Harmon said.

The chief called Mayor Rick Baker late Wednesday afternoon to alert him to the investigation. "It was about a matter important to the city," Harmon said.

He told Baker that the investigation focused on Bryan's personal life, not his role as City Council chairman. The chief said he did not provide the mayor with many details because the investigation was still ongoing.

A day later, Thursday, Bryan made an appointment to speak with Wolfe.

He picked the time, 1 p.m. Friday. He didn't say what was on his mind.

- - -

Around 10:15 a.m. Friday, Bryan attended a shelter hearing in front of Circuit Judge Raymond Gross at the criminal court complex in Largo. Such hearings determine who has custody of children while authorities investigate abuse allegations.

Bryan and his wife were present. The children were not, said attorney Christie Pardo, who was in the courtroom.

Authorities were investigating allegations that Bryan had sexually abused two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15, officials have said. The Times is withholding their names because of the nature of the allegations.

In addition, police were investigating whether Bryan had sexually abused his former nanny, whom he also had adopted. She is now 38 and lives out of state.

A Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court spokesman said Bryan admitted to a sexual relationship with the nanny, but said it was consensual and occurred after she turned 18. Bryan also had two children from a previous marriage.

At the end of the hearing, Judge Gross ordered Bryan to have no contact with the two girls, who were allowed to remain at home with their mother.

The hearing lasted 15 minutes.

- - -

News of the hearing began spreading beyond the courthouse, and concern in City Hall mounted.

First Deputy Mayor Tish Elston and Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis considered whether Bryan could be helped by an employee assistance program.

When he heard about the allegations, Davis said he began calling Bryan because "from all my law enforcement experience, I know that you have to reach out and grab that person because when the pressure starts to mount, you don't want someone to do what John did."

Harmon also had started calling the City Council members to inform them.

Council member Bill Foster asked if police could protect Bryan. Could someone stay with him? Could he be arrested?

"I specifically said you can't let him out of your sight," Foster recalled Saturday.

"The three legs of the stool John Bryan stood on were city, family and his civic involvement," Foster said. "Yesterday all three of the legs of that stool were knocked over. You had to know the meaning of these things to him, to know we were in trouble."

Harmon said he was mindful of such concerns.

He knew Bryan was set to meet with Wolfe at 1 p.m. so he asked the city attorney to let him know if he noticed anything unusual or disturbing about Bryan's behavior, and to offer any appropriate help through the city's employee assistance program.

The letter Bryan handed to Wolfe, dated Aug. 20, originally indicated he would resign Sept. 1. Wolfe did not ask for details, but he had Bryan write in a new date and sign the letter.

Wolfe walked Bryan to the elevator after the meeting. He told Bryan to call him if he needed anything or someone to talk to.

Thanks, Bryan said, and left.

Around 2 p.m., Harmon and Wolfe spoke. Harmon asked if Wolfe saw any sign Bryan was going to harm himself or others.

"I asked him, 'Is he homicidal or suicidal?'" the chief said. "Mr. Wolfe told me: 'No.'"

If Bryan had shown such signs, police could have taken some action. But "there was no information brought to us that would allow us to take him into custody under the Baker Act or anything like that," Harmon said.

City officials announced Bryan's resignation in a tense, swift news conference at 3:45 p.m.

Davis and City Council member Rene Flowers kept calling Bryan's new cell phone, hoping he would answer.

- - -

Bryan was found dead in the garage of his Floral City home at 5:45 p.m. by a St. Petersburg Times reporter seeking an interview. Bryan killed himself by inhaling carbon monoxide.

About four hours later, Richard Giglio, a local attorney for Bryan's oldest adopted daughter, issued a statement:

"(The daughter) and her family are deeply distraught by the recent events involving her adoptive father and St. Petersburg City Council Chairman, John Bryan," Giglio said.

In an interview Saturday, Giglio, a partner with the law firm Maney & Gordon, said he is representing only the oldest daughter.

"She is in the process of dealing with everything that's going on," Giglio said.

He declined to say anything more.

- - -

Police spokesman Bill Proffitt said officials would decide this week what to do next with the investigation. "We will have to meet on Monday to decide how to close the investigation and to decide when all the documents become public record," he said.

Gail Tierney, spokeswoman for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, said authorities were still waiting for autopsy results before releasing Bryan's suicide note.

It was found on the kitchen counter, written on a single page still attached to a yellow legal pad, Tierney said.

Bryan began writing in pencil, then switched to a pen.

"It just seemed to be kind of a goodbye kind of note from what I heard," Tierney said. "It was more wishing his family well and that he had confidence in them that they would do well."

"It was a farewell kind of note more than anything else."

Times editors Stephen Buckley and Neil Brown, staff writers Chris Tisch, Nicole Hutcheson, Cristina Silva and Barbara Behrendt and researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Aaron Sharockman can be reached at asharockman@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2273.

How it happened

Wednesday

St. Petersburg police begin investigating allegations that City Council Chairman John Bryan sexually abused his adopted daughters.

Police Chief Chuck Harmon calls Mayor Rick Baker and alerts him to the investigation.

Thursday

Bryan sets up an appointment to speak on Friday with the city's top attorney, John Wolfe. He doesn't say why.

Friday

10:15 a.m.: Bryan attends a court hearing on who will have custody of his children while authorities investigate abuse allegations. The judge orders him to have no contact with his two young adopted daughters.

Midmorning: As news spreads, Harmon tells Wolfe to alert him if Bryan shows any disturbing behavior.

1 p.m.: Bryan and Wolfe meet. Bryan resigns.

2 p.m.: Wolfe tells Harmon there is no indication Bryan is a danger to himself or others.

3:45 p.m.: City officials announce Bryan's resignation.

5:45 p.m.: A St. Petersburg Times reporter finds Bryan dead in the garage of his Floral City home. He had inhaled carbon monoxide. ..more.. by AARON SHAROCKMAN, ABHI RAGHUNATHAN and JACOB H. FRIES, Times Staff Writers

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Final Farewell After Sex Claims: 'This Is Only Way to Protect You'
9-30-2007 Florida:

ST. PETERSBURG | John Bryan's 15-year-old adopted daughter was standing in line at the Atlanta airport, waiting to fly home after a cross country trip, when she told her new older sister that she had a secret. No one else could ever know, the girl said. But she had to tell someone:

Dad "touched me."

That revelation in early July, from one adopted daughter to another, revealed a dark legacy of sexual coercion and abuse that would destroy the public image of Bryan, the City Council chairman. The allegations would stun a city, fracture a family and lead to Bryan's suicide in his Floral City house Sept. 7 as he faced a police investigation.

On Thursday afternoon, police released a report of their investigation into Bryan. If Bryan had not killed himself, the report says, police would have referred two felony charges of lewd and lascivious molestation to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, based on allegations that he fondled his 15-year-old adopted daughter. If convicted on both counts, he faced between 8 1/2 and 30 years in prison.

Police redacted the report to shield the identities of possible victims, but a court spokesman has identified the girls involved as two of Bryan's adopted daughters, ages 15 and 38.

Among other revelations in the report:

Bryan twice fondled his 15-year-old daughter as they lay in the same bed within a span of a few months about two years ago. He told police he had been "disoriented" and the touches had been inadvertent.

Bryan, 56, admitted to investigators that he had purchased things for his oldest adopted daughter, now 38, hoping to persuade her to have sex with him when she was 18. The woman told police that Bryan had tried to force himself upon her during a trip to Washington and promised to leave her alone only when she threatened to cry "rape." She said they eventually had a sexual relationship, telling investigators that she feared he would kick her out of the house if she didn't relent.

Bryan's wife, Alicia, learned that he may have inappropriately touched her daughter at least one year ago, but she didn't tell authorities. She was apparently influenced by Bryan's explanations and apologies, the report says. Police uncovered no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Alicia, though the report says she made "a poor decision" in accepting her husband's stories.

A relative of Bryan recently walked in on him as he was taking his young niece's pants off.

As Bryan spoke to investigators about these allegations late on the night of Sept. 5, he knew his political career was over. He admitted making mistakes, but maintained he was a good man, the report says.

"I've just tried to be an upstanding citizen," he said, "but I've made a couple of errors in my life."

'No other place to go'

By 1986, John Bryan and his wife, Marion, had two sons, ages 5 and 9, and seemed happy.

The pair took in a teen as a nanny and adopted her after her 18th birthday.

About this time, Bryan routinely bragged to friends and co-workers about his extramarital affairs.

Marion Bryan told investigators that she eventually learned her husband was having an affair with their newly adopted daughter. The couple divorced in 1992.

That adopted daughter, now 38, told police Bryan first fondled her as she lay sleeping in bed when Marion was out. She told police she was 17 at the time. Within a month, she said, Bryan tried to molest her in the garage by forcing her against a car, but she wriggled loose.

She also told investigators that in Washington, Bryan tried to force himself on her.

They later began a sexual relationship that ended after she tried to commit suicide at 19.

The Ledger is withholding her name because of the nature of the allegations.

Bryan denied forcing himself on his oldest adopted daughter. He said he "fell in love" with her.

Apology accepted

After his divorce from Marion in 1992, Bryan met financial executive Alicia Linney. They married in 1993. Bryan's new wife decided she wanted children, and the couple made plans to adopt.

The Bryans became licensed foster parents in 2004.

They went on to adopt two girls, now 12 and 15. The report says Bryan molested the 15-year-old daughter about two years ago.

The girl told investigators he touched her genitalia while she was in a bed with him.

She said that some months later he touched her again in the same way, and that it made her "uncomfortable."

About a year later, the girl told a few people details about what Bryan did, including her mother, Alicia, according to the report.

Alicia, now 47, told investigators she confronted Bryan. He told her he had made a mistake and apologized for what he described as accidents. The report says she forgave him.

a way to protect

Just before 1 p.m. on Sept. 5, someone called the state child abuse hot line alleging that Bryan had abused his adopted daughters. Police Sgt. Katy Connor-Dubina and the department's crimes against children unit interviewed all three adopted daughters. They interviewed Bryan at the police station about 11:20 p.m.

After Bryan was read his rights, he was asked about his 15-year-old daughter's claims. He admitted that he had touched her twice, but he claimed that he was "disoriented" both times, that the contact was not intentional.

As police continued investigating, a court hearing was held Sept. 7.

A judge ordered Bryan to have no contact with his adopted daughters. That afternoon, Bryan handed in his City Council resignation letter and drove to his Floral City home.

A St. Petersburg Times reporter found his body there that evening, apparently dead from carbon monoxide poisoning.

In his suicide note, Bryan offered little to clear up his motivations.

"This is the only way to protect you," he wrote, after naming Alicia and his two youngest daughters. "Girls grow up to be special I know you will."

He signed the letter "Dad." ..more.. by ABHI RAGHUNATHAN, St. Petersburg Times

Father holds kin for day, kills self

Euless: Wife escaped, but kids trapped when ex-officer found dead
9-1-2006 Texas:

EULESS – A former Trophy Club police officer and registered sex offender terrorized his family for 24 hours before killing himself Thursday, police said.

Jeffrey Andrew Dickson, 33, was found dead Thursday in a bedroom closet at his Euless home. His three young children were found in the kitchen when tactical officers entered the home about 9 a.m.

Mr. Dickson's 8-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 7 and 5, were rescued early Thursday after a harrowing night of threats, violence and negotiations with officers outside their Laurel Lane home. Police said that Mr. Dickson and his wife, Tracey Dickson, had argued earlier Wednesday, but police said that they did not know the reason for the argument. Mr. Dickson began holding his wife at gunpoint around 8 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

The children were gone most of the day but returned home around 5 p.m. They, too, became hostages, police said. Mrs. Dickson escaped late Wednesday.

"The children told investigators that the father was killing himself," said Sgt. Ron Williamson, a spokesman for Euless police.

The children remained trapped after their father went to the master bedroom because they could not unlock the door to the outside.

"We sincerely believe they did not witness him taking his life," Sgt. Williamson said. "Obviously, they were upset, somewhat terrified."

The only weapon found in the home was the .22-caliber pistol found beside Mr. Dickson, Sgt. Williamson said.

"We kept contact with him throughout the night," Sgt. Williamson said. "We didn't feel like he'd harm the children. The negotiations were cordial. He did not become agitated or threatening."

Mr. Dickson made no demands but would not give himself up, police said.

Early in his adult life, Mr. Dickson was on the other side of the law. He wore a badge and had undergone training similar to that of the negotiators trying to coax him into surrendering.

Mr. Dickson became a licensed peace officer Jan. 18, 1996, according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

He worked as a peace officer in Roanoke for more than a year before joining the Trophy Club force in February 1997.

Trophy Club fired him eight months later after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman he had pulled over during a traffic stop.

According to court records, Mr. Dickson ordered the woman out of her car and escorted her without handcuffs to the back of his patrol car.

He told the woman he would arrest for driving while intoxicated if she did not cooperate.

Mr. Dickson then drove the woman to a remote location where the sexual encounter took place, records show.

A Denton County jury deadlocked on the sexual assault charge but found Mr. Dickson guilty of violating the woman's civil rights.

He received a one-year sentence and reported to prison Feb. 4, 2005. He was released on probation July 22, 2005, said Michelle Lyons, a spokeswoman for Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Mr. Dickson's probation for the civil rights violation expired in January.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was still serving his 10 years' probation, officials said. He also was a registered sex offender.

Marcia Constantine, who lives across the street from the Dickson family, said she knew Mr. Dickson was a registered sex offender.

"I didn't know much about it except that it happened a long time ago and that it didn't involve children," Ms. Constantine said.

She described him as friendly and nice.

She was more alarmed by the dozens of police officers who swarmed the tree-lined neighborhood and used her back yard as a command post.

"This is a quiet neighborhood, a safe neighborhood. We never thought we'd see police officers all over the place," said Ms. Constantine, who has lived here for 22 years. "They did a great job, but it was pretty frightening," Ms. Constantine said. "They told us as much as they could tell us. We were very concerned about the children. All night, I prayed for the children."

Mr. Dickson apparently did not make his sex offender status known to all of his associates including those involving children.

This year, he assisted with a T-ball team that is part of the Tri-Cities Baseball Association.

When he asked to be named an assistant coach, questions about his criminal background arose.

John Kidwell, whose son played on the team, said he had no reservations about Mr. Dickson interacting with the young players because the parents kept a watchful eye over their children.

Mr. Dickson, he said, loved baseball and loved being with his children.

"He was a good guy," Mr. Kidwell said. "I had no problems with him being around the kids. He was not a coach, but he was always out there helping out."

Mr. Kidwell said that he is not sure how or when he learned about Mr. Dickson's sex offender status but that word spread pretty quickly among the parents.

"Once we found out, we looked it up on the Internet, and it was there," Mr. Kidwell said. "But we had known him throughout the years with our kids playing baseball so we didn't think too much about it. He was good with the kids." ..more.. by DEBRA DENNIS

Former DA charged with child sexual assault dies

4-5-2007 Texas:
The former district attorney for Brown and Mills counties who last year was charged with molesting a child in Williamson County has died, possibly from an overdose of over-the-counter medication, officials said.

Sky Sudderth died at a Fort Worth hospital Tuesday, the same day a hearing had been scheduled in Williamson County to set his trial date. He faced up to life in prison if convicted.

The Comanche Police Department said officers were called to a location on Highway 36 early Monday morning after Sudderth had allegedly taken an overdose of over-the-counter medication, the Abilene Reporter-News reported in its online edition Wednesday.

Sudderth, 40, whose address was listed in Comanche, was taken to Comanche Community Hospital by ambulance and later was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, where he fell into a coma and died Tuesday.

Police in Comanche, about 95 miles southwest of Fort Worth, are still investigating Sudderth's death. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office said results were pending from an autopsy performed Wednesday.

Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley said that two weeks ago his office received DNA results related to Sudderth's case, in which he was charged with assaulting a 7-year-old girl in June in Leander, about 20 miles northwest of Austin.

"The DNA results made our case bulletproof against him," Bradley told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Bradley said he informed Sudderth's attorney, Patricia Cummings of Round Rock. She did not immediately return a call to the AP seeking comment Wednesday.

Sudderth was arrested in June in Williamson County and charged with sexual assault of a child. In August, he was indicted on nine counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of tampering with physical evidence. Sudderth was released after posting a $500,000 bond in November.

The charges against Sudderth will be dropped after Williamson County receives a copy of his death certificate, Bradley said.

Sudderth was district attorney for Brown and Mills counties in West Texas from 2001-04. He resigned after he was indicted on several charges, including tampering with and fabricating physical evidence regarding a case in which he made a plea bargain with a sex offender. Those charges were dismissed after he resigned. ..more.. by KRIS TV



Ex-DA died from ethylene glycol
5-1-2007 Texas:

FORT WORTH -- A former district attorney who had been charged with sexual assault of a child died from ingesting chemicals found in antifreeze, the Tarrant County medical examiner has reported.

Sky Sudderth, 40, the former district attorney for Brown and Mills counties, died April 3 of ethylene glycol intoxication, according to the medical examiner's report. Investigators have not said how the chemical got into his body, the Abilene Reporter-News reported Monday.

Ethylene glycol is commonly found in antifreeze and de-icing solutions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to large amounts of ethylene glycol can damage the kidneys and heart and cause death.

Sudderth's death happened the day a hearing was scheduled in Williamson County to set his trial date. He was accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl.

Sudderth was district attorney for Brown and Mills counties in West Texas from 2001 to 2004. He resigned after he was indicted on several charges, including tampering with and fabricating physical evidence regarding a case in which he made a plea bargain with a sex offender. Those charges were dismissed after he resigned. ..more.. by Associated Press