Madison Sexual Assault Charge

7 November 2009 – Madison, WI, USA Darell Bracey, Sr., 51, has been charged with 2 counts of second degree sexual assault. The alleged victim is 50-year-old woman who has been described as having cerebral palsy, mild intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy.

Communication Device Stolen

7 November 2009 – New Brighton, New Zealand Someone came into the home of eight-year-old boy who has severe cerebral palsy and stole his communication device from him, while he was using it.

According to a New Zealand Police press release:

Acting Sergeant Ed Landstra of New Brighton says it was a despicable thing to do and asks whoever has it leave it somewhere safe so it can be recovered and returned to Caleb without damage.

“Please leave it anonymously at a reception at a school, Police, or the Library so we can get it back and working to Caleb as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact New Brighton Police phone 373 9100.

Suspect Indentified in 1997 Killing

5 November 2009 – Los Angeles, CA, USA In 1997, Shawn Boehm, 23, who was described as having a mental disability, and his mother Nancy, 57, were stabbed to death in their Hollywood home. The crime went unsolved for more than a decade. Now, the Los Angeles Police Department says that they have a suspect, identified as 37-year-old Rafael Martinez.

Life Sentence for Sex Crime Conviction

4 November 2009 – Reno, Nevada, USA Richard Bunch, a 51-year-old trucker has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of luring a 13-year-old girl described as mentally disabled into his truck and sexually assaulting her. The offense took place in July 2008, and Bunch entered guilty plea, which he later attempted to withdraw.

UK Report on Hate Crimes

4 November 2009 -London, England, UK According to a 2009 survey of 1253 respondents conducted by the Leonard Cheshire Disability Trust, 9% of people with disabilities in the United Kingdom report having been the victim of a disability bias crime. The survey asked people if they had experienced a crime that they believed was motivated by their disability. In all 12% of respondents indicated that they had been crime victims in the past year.

Yolanda Muñoz on Women with Disabilities

8 August 2008 – Rutgers, NJ, USA Here is an inetresting video on violence against women with disabilities with Yolanda Muñoz from the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.

Autistic Teenager Killed, Mother Arrested

26 October 2009- Brampton, ON, Canada Seow Cheng Sim, 51, was arrested in connection with the death of her 15-year-old son Tony Khor, who had autism. According to reports, the mother took her son to a hotel after an argument with her husband.

Guilty Plea in Dorothy Dixon’s Murder

26 October 2009 – Alton, IL, USA Michelle Riley, 37, entered a guilty plea to a charge of first degree murder in the torture killing of Dorothy Dixon in January of 2008. Dixon, 29, was pregant at the time of her murder. Her death resulted from multiple injuries. She was beaten with the handle of a plunger, scalded, burned with a hot glue gun, and used as target for a BB pistol. Riley’s 14-year-old son was given probation in the case and four others who were allegedly involved in the torture of Dorothy Dixon are awaiting trial.

Welcome to Special Education

Show & Tell: Recent News from Special Education

4 October 2009 – Everett, WA, USA Derrick Everson, 21,  was murdered.  His brain, heart and other vital organs were all pierced by some of the 25 different stab wounds. The Snohomish County HeraldNet reported:

Access to Justice Resource

7 October 2009- Ontario, Canada Augmentative Communication Community Partnerships CANADA (ACCPC) and Justice Canada have teamed up to produce a great new resource on the use of alternative forms of communication in the courts. While this resource is was created specifically for the Canadian context, it has a huge amount of valuable information that can be applied anywhere. and in particular some great videos on the topic.

Cerebral Palsy Crime Summary

3 October 2009 – Edmonton, AB, Canada Here are some recent stories about violent crimes against people with cerebral palsy.

Bureau of Justice Statistics Report

1 October 2009 – Washington, DC, USA The US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, today released its long-awaited Crime Against People with Disabilities, 2007 report, authored by Michael Rand and Erika Harrell.  This report is based on data collected in the National Crime Victimization Study.  It is an impressive piece of work. Here is a very brief summary of its findings.

Father & Son Found Dead

27 September 2009 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada The Edmonton Police Homicide Squad is investigating the deaths of a father,39,  and son, 11, in the father’s Northside home. The son is described as “autistic” and living in a group home. Police have released few details, except to say that they are not seeking any suspects at this time, and they are awaiting the medical examiner’s report on the cause and manner of death.

No Shame!

18 September 2009 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA Back in January icad reported on the case of Carol Iveson, AKA Carol Siemens, 56. Iveson was a respite care worker who was taking care of a then 21-year-old woman with an intellectual disability. Iveson accepted payment from a 73-year-old man who she allowed to have sex with the young woman who was entrusted to her care on two occassions.  As a result the victim became pregnant and subsequently gave birth.

Sexual Assault Victim with Disability

19 September 2009 – Sonegaon. Nagpur, India According to the Times of India, two men have been arrested and a third man is being sought in connection to the “gang rape” of a “mentally challenged” woman in ger early twenties. The woman was abducted by the crew of a milk van and driven to a desolate area where she was assaulted.