Child Molestation Santa Barbara County

Despite an apology and a plea for mercy, a St. Anthony's Seminary priest who admitted molesting a choirboy was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison. Father Robert Van Handel, handcuffed and wearing the red jail jumpsuit of a sex offender, told the court he was sorry for sexually molesting the 14-year-old while he was leader of the Santa Barbara Boys Choir. The Franciscan priest pleaded guilty in May to lewd and lascivious behavior with a minor, and Deputy Dist. Atty.

Ending months of speculation, prosecutors announced Wednesday that they have closed their child molestation investigation of entertainer Michael Jackson, but said the inquiry uncovered two more possible victims and stressed that authorities are prepared to reopen the case if any of the children decide they are willing to testify.

Ending months of speculation, prosecutors announced Wednesday that they have closed their child molestation investigation of entertainer Michael Jackson, but said the inquiry uncovered two more possible victims and stressed that authorities are prepared to reopen the case if any of the children decide they are willing to testify.

Prosecutors have decided not to file child molestation charges against superstar entertainer Michael Jackson and are expected to announce that decision today, sources close to the case said Tuesday. District attorney's offices in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties have been weighing criminal charges against Jackson for more than a year, but have been stymied in part by the reluctance of the boy who made the initial allegations to testify against Jackson.

Prosecutors have decided not to file child molestation charges against superstar entertainer Michael Jackson and are expected to announce that decision today, sources close to the case said Tuesday. District attorney's offices in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties have been weighing criminal charges against Jackson for more than a year, but have been stymied in part by the reluctance of the boy who made the initial allegations to testify against Jackson.

Thirty-four boys were sexually abused by a dozen Roman Catholic priests during decades of nude games, fondling and sex acts at a now-closed seminary, a panel organized by the Franciscan order concluded Monday. "The abuse perpetrated by our own brothers on the victims and their families is truly horrific," said Joseph P. Chinnici, provincial minister of the Oakland-based Province of St. Barbara and leader of Franciscans in seven Western states. "We totally abhor what has occurred," Chinnici said.

At first there was just one known victim. A pre-adolescent boy had been sexually molested by two Franciscan monks at St. Anthony's Seminary in Santa Barbara. Soon, anxious parents wondered if there were more. In October, 1992--several months after the first revelation--two men stood up at a public meeting and said that they, too, had been sexually abused as teen-agers at the seminary.

A registered sex offender who knew he was infected with the AIDS virus faces life in prison for having sex with a 15-year-old boy from Port Hueneme. Sean Alexander De France, 40, of Santa Barbara pleaded guilty last month in Ventura County Superior Court to six counts of sodomy, oral copulation and committing lewd acts upon a child under the age of 16. Each count carries a special allegation because De France committed the crimes knowing he was infected with HIV. Deputy Dist. Atty.

Months before Santa Barbara County officials arrested Michael Jackson on suspicion of child molestation, Los Angeles County child welfare investigators had determined there was no basis to believe the boy involved in the case had been abused, according to a confidential memo revealed Tuesday. The Nov.

Despite an apology and a plea for mercy, a St. Anthony's Seminary priest who admitted molesting a choirboy was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison. Father Robert Van Handel, handcuffed and wearing the red jail jumpsuit of a sex offender, told the court he was sorry for sexually molesting the 14-year-old while he was leader of the Santa Barbara Boys Choir. The Franciscan priest pleaded guilty in May to lewd and lascivious behavior with a minor, and Deputy Dist. Atty.

At first there was just one known victim. A pre-adolescent boy had been sexually molested by two Franciscan monks at St. Anthony's Seminary in Santa Barbara. Soon, anxious parents wondered if there were more. In October, 1992--several months after the first revelation--two men stood up at a public meeting and said that they, too, had been sexually abused as teen-agers at the seminary.

Thirty-four boys were sexually abused by a dozen Roman Catholic priests during decades of nude games, fondling and sex acts at a now-closed seminary, a panel organized by the Franciscan order concluded Monday. "The abuse perpetrated by our own brothers on the victims and their families is truly horrific," said Joseph P. Chinnici, provincial minister of the Oakland-based Province of St. Barbara and leader of Franciscans in seven Western states. "We totally abhor what has occurred," Chinnici said.