It took 14 years for Jackie Anselmo to go public with her nightmare. Set off by a discovery on social media in the spring, the 28-year-old Lakewood resident decided she had held her trauma in long enough.
At age 14, a 24-year-old relative raped her and sexually abused her over a period of years, Anselmo said. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child.
The Asbury Park Press usually does not name victims of sexual assaults, but Anselmo allowed her name and photo to be used in this story.
In 2013, she became concerned when she learned from New Jersey’s State Parole Board that her assailant had been released from prison after serving seven years of an 18-year sentence.
“I was told he’s not going to be around children,” she said.
Later, after being tipped by a friend, she saw Facebook photos of him around children at amusement parks and family parties. And then, recently, she was made aware that he and his wife had a child of their own.
“I was freaking out,” she said.
So Anselmo started a campaign. She wrote letters to local lawmakers, contacted experts on Megan’s Law, explained in the video at the top of the story, and launched a Facebook page about the issue. Her goal: to tighten oversight of convicted sex offenders in society. Full Article
That is terrible for what happen, but what if this was orchestrated and presented as propaganda to push for more laws?
*sigh* oh boy, here we go. It is so curious, that right after a national attention win with Packinham and social media, this comes out. Coincidence that she mentions Facebook and that her attacker is on Facebook with children at a amusement park and at family parties. Sure does seem like it’s orchestrated for something planned.
She was a victim of grooming. She needs to get her own treatment to help her get past this ordeal.
If the guy has served his time, and gone through therapy, then he deserves another chance at being a productive citizen just like any other criminal that gets out. I am sure his new wife is aware of his past, and it is highly unlikely he would abuse his own kids.
Why is she not naming him, or did she? I can’t pull up the article.
“I hope I can make a difference,” she said. “I hope I can help some kids. Ultimately that’s what this is about. It’s not about my story. It’s about the reality of the world we live in.”
Be careful pushing for these changes. You’re far more likely to hurt a lot more kids than help them. The current laws already greatly hinder many families ability to lead normal lives.
Let’s not overlook a key data point in this story: she knew her abuser. Just like the statistics keep saying happens overwhelmingly, it was a family member, not somebody within 500′ of a school, park, or library, who did this. As Chris F says, she was groomed. The Facebook angle is a non-starter; she could just as easily have seen the pictures at a family reunion slide show. For those born after about 1980,I don’t mean this kind of slide (www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slide), but this kind (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversal_film). 😉
Obviously NJ didn’t see FB as being the conduit for exploitation NC does. Man, I’m having a tough time deciding which state has to worst concept of RCs and “protective” laws: FL, MO, or NC? Or is there another one someone wishes to offer up?
“The idea . . . is these offenders that procreate after conviction shouldn’t have (unsupervised) custody of these kids,” Anselmo said.
Next thing she’s going to want to stop sex offenders from having children. I don’t care if she was raped at this point she and all others like her are taking their victim status too far. I am absolutely disgusted by her and most people in America. This is NOT how civilized countries treat their citizens. Enough!
this women starts out a victim , and in that time is groomed to stay a victim , staying a victim is a choice , unlike year after year being forced as an RC to be a victim by witch hunters and victims that refuse to move along , we as RC’s don’t have the choice to just move on in our life , am I wrong in this thinking ? or are we not aloud to be victims ? right along with our family , I feel so energy drained sometimes that maybe I do have it back AS# words ,but I think David Kinderly has it right so lets fight back and have each others back , thanks for even reading my ramblings
It takes a license to drive a car, but any ass hat can have kids.
I can understand her concern, considering that 68% of abusers are family members. However, what does she expect government to do? Pay people to live with a sex offender and his family? How would supervised custody of kids work when the sex offender lives in the home with his kids and their mother?
….