Keeping Deaf Children Safe From Sexual Abuse

VIDEO [CC] - NSPCC: This is a version of our Underwear Rule guide to help protect Deaf children from abuse.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) have launched a new video version of its successful Underwear Rule guidance today to help keep Deaf children safe from sexual abuse.



The film is in British Sign Language and includes subtitles. It aims to teach Deaf children about the Underwear Rule and encourages them to share secrets that upset them with a trusted adult.

The successful campaign is designed to allow parents to start easy conversations with their children without having to mention scary words like sex or abuse. It teaches them that their privates are private and that their body belongs to them. See BSL video: https://youtu.be/lvD74L86Mr8



Find out more about the Underwear Rule here: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/underwear



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Deaf Student Charged For Sexual Conduct

Exclusive Report: South Carolina School for Deaf and Blind student faces sex charge.

SPARTANBURG, SC - A Columbia teen is facing a criminal sexual conduct with a minor charge in connection with an incident at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg, according to a sheriff's office report.



Deputies said they were contacted by a school official about a student who sneaked into a female dorm and, once inside, convinced a 12-year-old girl to have sex, according to the incident report.



The report said the incident occurred between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9.



Deputies said 18-year-old Montravious Jamal James is charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor.



The school released the following statement to FOX Carolina:



Our first priority is always the safety and security of the students. We immediately contacted the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office upon learning of these allegations and have fully cooperated with them throughout the investigative process. SOURCE



Mugshot Info: Montravious Jamal James Mugshot

Girl & Deaf Grandparents Killed In House Fire

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO [CC] - Girl and Deaf grandparents killed in house fire hours before rape trial in the small town of Ohio.



YOUNGSTOWN, OH - A northeast Ohio prosecutor says a 10-year-old girl died in a house fire early Monday morning, hours before a man suspected of raping her was scheduled to go on trial.



A total of three people were reported dead by the Youngstown Fire Department after the blaze on the city’s south side.



Neighbors in the 3600-block of Powers Way say they heard a loud explosion around 3:30 a.m.; moments later, they saw flames rip through the two-story home. “I looked out the window and the fire broke out from the bottom of the basement, just whoosh. And it was totally on fire.”



Dozens of firefighters were needed to control the flames. When it was out, firefighters found the bodies of two adults and their 10-year-old granddaughter. The adults are identified as Billy and Judy Schmidt, both in their 60s.







“Everybody who knew Billy loved him. He had friends all over the United States, he could probably go anywhere in the country and probably run into somebody that he knew,” said Connie Glozier, the victim’s sister.



The Schmidts, who were both Deaf, were raising their granddaughter. Neighbor Pamela Jones says the girl played with her grandchildren.



“I just can’t believe that something like this would happen,” said Jones. “I’ve been crying all day.”



Adding to the tragedy of this fire, the 10-year-old girl was the victim of an alleged sexual assault. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Robert Seman, appeared in court this morning.



“On literally the eve of trial, hours before this trial was supposed to begin, this victim dies in a fire under suspicious circumstances, at the very least,” said Mahoning County Assistant District Attorney Stephanie McLaughlin. “Only 10 years old, somebody who did not deserve these things that happened to her.”



Seman has not been charged in connection with the fire, but his bond was revoked and he was taken to jail. If convicted on the rape charges, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison... Read more: pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/03/30/fire-officials-3-dead-in-youngstown-house-fire/

Deaf Teacher Aide Sentenced 10 Years For Sexual Assault

Exclusive: Teaching assistant gets 10 years for sexually assaulting Deaf student in Hawaii.



HONOLULU - A state judge sentenced former Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind teaching assistant Alfie S. Lumabas to 10 years in prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student at the school.



State Circuit Judge Rom A. Trader declined the city prosecutor's request to impose restitution to pay for the girl's counseling because that expense is covered by a settlement to a separate federal lawsuit.



Lumabas, 38, agreed to serve a full 10-year prison term when he pleaded guilty in January to two reduced counts of second-degree sexual assault in a deal with the prosecutor. Ten years is the maximum penalty for second-degree sexual assault.



A September 2013 indictment charged him with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, which each carry a mandatory 20-year prison term.



Lumabas is legally Deaf. Through a sign-language interpreter, he declined to make a statement Tuesday before Trader handed down his sentence.



His victim, now 24, and who is also legally Deaf, had plenty to say through her own sign-language interpreter. SOURCE

Deaf Victims of Sexual Assaults in Catholic School

VIDEO [ASL/CC] - Pope resigns without apologizing to Deaf victims from St. John’s school.



WITI MILWAUKEE – The spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI, surprised the world Monday, February 11th by saying he will resign at the end of the month “because of advanced age.” It’s the first time a pope has stepped down in nearly 600 years. Many on Monday, reacted to the news including SNAP, the Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests.



In a statement, entitled “Pope resigns without ever apologizing to Milwaukee’s Deaf victims from St. John’s school,” John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin Director said: “It is difficult today, with the announcement that Pope Benedict XVI is retiring this month, not to think of the many victim/survivors of sexual abuse from St. John’s School for the Deaf.”



According to SNAP, it was Benedict, as Cardinal Ratzinger in his previous post running the powerful Doctrine for the Congregation of the Faith CDF), who was in charge of the fate of the notorious Fr. Lawrence Murphy.



Murphy, Ratzinger knew, had sexually assaulted at least 200 children at the boarding school in Milwaukee. Ratzinger ordered that Murphy be left in ministry, unpunished and unprosecuted, undetected to the public, and remain a priest, with all the rights, honors, and power which the church grants only to ordained clerics, right up until his death.



In its statement, SNAP says: “Benedict never once contacted, spoke to, or apologized to the Deaf victims from St. John’s.” ... Read more: http://fox6now.com/2013/02/11/snap-pope-resigns-without-apologizing-to-victims-from-st-johns-school/



Related Milwaukee’s Deaf Victims: MILWAUKEE, WI - Movie about Catholic priest sex abuse scandal makes US premiere in Milwaukee. The controversy over the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal hits the big screen. Five Deaf men who led the first known public protest against clerical sex abuse in the United States.

Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God.

Not only that, but Friday night is the US premiere of the film. It's called Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God a documentary focused on the sexual assaults within the church right here in Milwaukee and with bright lights, ticket lines, even a red carpet, the event had all the trimmings of a blockbuster premiere. Read more: Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God