MO- Man pleads guilty to molesting 4 neighbor children

2-29-2008 Missouri:

HILLSBORO — A man who fooled his neighbors into trusting him with their children pleaded guilty Thursday to molesting four of them.

Family members of his victims, who ranged in age from 7 to 16, wept as Troy Niemann received three 15-year sentences for charges involving three victims, and two seven-year sentences in connection with one victim.

He will serve the sentences concurrently, making him eligible for parole in 12 1/2 years.

After that time, the Attorney General's office could seek to designate him as a sexual predator and keep him in prison for life.

Family members of his victims said they were unhappy with the sentence.

But Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Catherine Crowley said the possibility of spending his life in prison will be hanging over Niemann's head.

"Some may think it's light, but it's not," she said. "It's fraught with a whole lot of danger at the end."

Someone may have retaliated in October when Niemann's house was destroyed by fire.

Investigators ruled it an arson, said Sgt. Gary Higginbotham, of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.

"Given the charges against Mr. Niemann, we have many persons of interest," he said. "There is motive involved."

Niemann has been in jail since his arrest in July. Since then, police also had visited his house several times on vandalism reports.

Niemann lured kids to his home in a gated community south of De Soto to watch movies on his big screen TV or go for rides on his boat, according to court records.

Several of his victims also attended Thursday's hearing.

"Nothing will ever be adequate," said one of the victim's relatives, who did not want to be identified. ..more.. by Christine Byers, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

KY- No Trial For Mom Who Shot Alleged Molester

12-2-2001 Kentucky:

COVINGTON, Ky. -- A woman accused of shooting a man who allegedly molested her son will not go to trial.

On Friday, a grand jury in Kenton County decided not to indict the woman, who shot Larry Howell in November, WLWT Eyewitness News 5 reported.

WLWT is not naming the woman to protect the identity of her son.

The woman was charged with one count of first-degree assault, and assault under extreme emotional disturbance.

Prosecutors said Friday that they will not present the charges a second time to the grand jury, which effectively ends the case against her.

Howell, of Erlanger, Ky., has been charged with nine counts of sodomy.

Investigators believe that Howell molested as many as 20 boys between the ages of 12 and 15. Howell allegedly lured children to his home in Erlanger with gifts and money in exchange for sexual favors, WLWT reported.

Two days after his Nov. 30, 2001, arrest, the woman shot Howell in the groin, just moments after he was released from jail on bond. She admitted to the shooting in court, WLWT reported.

Howell spent several days in the hospital, then returned to jail.

After Howell was shot, parents in the community rallied their support behind the woman and raised money to bail her out of prison. ..more.. by Eyewitness News 5

---

Kenton Co. still wants mother prosecuted in groin shooting

3-6-2003 Kentucky:

LOUISVILLE - The Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office would like to see Jaymie Hutchins prosecuted for shooting Larry Howell in the groin, but a special prosecutor assigned to the case more than a year ago said he will make the final call.

A grand jury has already refused to indict the Covington woman in the shooting of Howell, a man she claimed abused her young son.

A spokesman for Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney David Stengel in Louisville said his office will not re-present the Hutchins case to a grand jury unless someone comes forward with credible, new evidence.

Accused Officer's House Burns Down

2-7-2008 Illinois:

The Illinois State Fire Marshall is investigating what caused a former police officer's home to go up in flames. Crews in Beardstown responded to the 1200 block of Wall Street around 12:30 yesterday morning.

Stephanie Wright has more on the story. Former Beardstown officer Shane Lisenbee is accused of having sex with a girl and committing a sexual act with a boy. Both were under the age of thirteen.

His wife Stephanie is accused of having sex with a boy. Early Wednesday morning, their home went up in flames.

Fire Chief Bobby Joe Brown said, "When we arrived, the porch at the front of the structure was fully involved and the window at the front here and also at the north side of the structure. So much flames were coming out."

Investigators are talking with neighbors and witnesses who may have seen or smelled something. And with the owners still in jail, they say there are no early indications of what caused the fire.