UK: Crossing Guard, 77, Accused of “Grooming” Children By Giving Them High-Fives

[letgrow.org] A 77-year-old school crossing guard was ordered to stop high-fiving kids, as this could be the gateway to sexually abusing them. In response, he has thrown in the towel. Bryan Broom, a “lollipop man” (so-called not because he gave kids lollipops, but because crossing guards in Britain hold up circular stop signs on sticks), said he can’t stand the idea that merely being friendly to kids could be interpreted as skeevy. As the UK’s Mirror reports: Bryan has revealed why he made the tough decision to quit doing the…

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TX: Contentious 331st District race pits longtime judge against attorney

[mystatesman.com] The only contested judicial race in Travis County’s criminal district courts has gotten contentious, with challenger Chantal Eldridge saying taxpayers have been underserved by the incumbent while Eldridge faces questions of her own about the registered sex offender she employs in her law firm and intends to bring on as a judicial aide if she wins. Eldridge, a 53-year-old career defense lawyer who narrowly lost a judicial race in 2016, is running against state District Judge David Crain, who has presided over the felony 331st District Court since 2010…

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MN: Convicted rapist wins the right to live in West St. Paul

[citypages.com] Thomas Evenstad was convicted in 1999 of raping an 18-year-old woman. In 2014, he picked up more convictions for stalking and harassing the victim, her family, investigators, and the judges involved in his prosecution. When he finally got out of jail last August, he moved in to a friend’s apartment in West St. Paul. Three days later, police told his landlord that Evenstad couldn’t stay, threatening them both with criminal charges if he didn’t vacate. That’s because West St. Paul doesn’t allow sex offenders to live within 1,200 feet…

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WA: Law Would Reduce Severity of Charges for Teens Who Send, View Sexually Explicit Images

[chronline.com] The state Senate a week ago passed legislation amending state law to reduce charges against teens over 12 years old for sending, producing or viewing sexually explicit material of other teens over 12 years old from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. According to a news release from the Washington state Senate Democrats, the changes reflect the distinction between the sending of sexually explicit images by teens, as opposed to distributing such materials through malicious intent. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond. Under current law, any…

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