Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > News Items
Earth Services / The House Next Door
Ursus:
Michael Terpening is even brought up as being in a roster of recently newsworthy local pedos in this "public service reminder," so to speak, aired by FOX 17 News:
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FOX 17
Child Sexual Assault Charges Serve as Troubling Reminder for Parents
Lisa LaPlante · FOX 17 News Reporter
6:47 p.m. EDT, August 26, 2011
KENT COUNTY, Mich.— For parents, talking to kids about sexual abuse is uncomfortable, but necessary. Even experts say it's a difficult topic for parents to discuss with kids. With several high-profile allegations of child sexual abuse in the news, it's good to know there is help out there, if you are ready to start the conversation.
Four men in positions of authority over children were charged with child sexual abuse. None of the cases are related, but four cases making headlines in one week is certainly unusual. Rachael DeWitt with the Children's Advocacy Center in Ottawa County says news like this serves as a sad reminder that there are predators out there, often closer than parents know. "Make sure that you're not only talking about stranger danger," DeWitt told FOX 17 News. "We know that most often it's not a stranger in fact."
Recent cases include Pastor Tedd Butler of Ottawa County: allegations dating back to 1984. One of the alleged victims, now an adult, says he was assaulted over six years, some 50-to-60 times, staring at the age of three. In Gaines Township, Mark Carfine, a youth soccer coach from the Byron Center 'American Youth Soccer Organization,' is charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a 12 year old girl; a family acquintance who was not on his soccer team. James Kohn, a school bus driver in Hastings, is accused of forcing a girl to have sex with him. And Michael Terpening, a youth haven director in Bellvue, is facing nine counts, including criminal sexual conduct involving minors. All four men face criminal charges at this time.
In each case, investigators let the media know of the charges. "A lot of times, if something did happen, the kids might be a little apprehensive to be forthcoming with the information," Lt. Chuck Christensen of the Michigan State Police told FOX 17 News. "But we just stress that they sit down and talk to them and see what they can find out, if anything."
Police say when charges like these are covered by the media, oftentimes, other victims come forward, even in unrelated cases. DeWitt says parents should stress to children: don't keep secrets, and don't be scared to tell adults if someone touches you in an area that would be covered by swimwear. "I think the most important thing you can do is talk to your child about body safety from a young age," DeWitt says. "Where it's ok and not ok to touch, and periodically check in with them, review body safety and ask them, has anybody touched you in any of these places where it's not okay?'
Copyright © 2012, WXMI-TV
Ursus:
Now we come to the point where two additional charges of criminal sexual conduct are added to the already nine... More victims have come forward or were "discovered."
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Michigan Live LLC
Former Barry County youth home director arraigned on two additional charges of criminal sexual conduct after more victims discovered, police say
Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 9:54 AM · Updated: Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 2:45 PM
By Rosemary Parker | Kalamazoo Gazette
Michael Terpening
HASTINGS — The former director of a Barry County youth home is now facing two additional charges of criminal sexual conduct and a judge has increased his bond.
Michael Terpening, 32, of Bellevue, now faces 11 counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Terpening was arraigned on the new charges — two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct — Monday in Barry District Court after police discovered two additional victims, according to a news release from Michigan State Police.
Circuit Judge Amy McDowell increased Terpening's bond to $300,000, the release said.
Terpening is scheduled to be back in court Sept. 12 for for a hearing on evidence against him in the case.
Terpening was arraigned in Barry County District Court last week on nine counts of criminal sexual conduct, all involving former residents of Earth Services Youth Home, the facility under his direction.
Terpening was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, five counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of aggravated indecent exposure and one count of assault to commit sexual penetration.
Christina Fecher, communications representative for the Michigan Department of Human Services, said the Department's Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing is in the process of revoking the license for the facility, also known as the House Next Door.
The facility was licensed for boys only, ages 10 years – 17 years, many of the whom were wards of the court under DHS supervision, she said.
All children were removed from this facility once the allegations came under investigation, she said.
Terpening was the licensee designee of the corporation, Earth Services Inc., for this facility, which was originally issued a license in February 2009 for a capacity of 15 children.
© 2012 Michigan Live LLC.
Ursus:
Comments left for the above article, "Former Barry County youth home director arraigned on two additional charges of criminal sexual conduct after more victims discovered, police say" (by Rosemary Parker; August 30, 2011; Kalamazoo Gazette / Michigan Live LLC):
Litterateur · August 30, 2011 at 11:25AM
Strictly speaking, this facility is in Barry County -- by about 1/2 mile. Describing it as a "Barry County youth home" isn't all that accurate.
Its mailing address is Bellevue, in Eaton County.
It's no more than 10 miles from downtown Battle Creek, even less from the city limits. If you asked neighbors across the street where they live, they'd probably say "just outside of Battle Creek."
Odds are the victims are Battle Creek residents, too. The city's population, after all, is just a shade less than Barry County in its entirety.
The only connection with the county that really matters is the courts with jurisdiction happen to be in Hastings, some 20 miles away.Rosemary Parker | Kalamazoo Gazette · August 31, 2011 at 5:51AM
How would you identify it in the headline if not by its actual location?[/list]
F. Nordic Borbswell · August 30, 2011 at 11:58AM
In by an inch, in by a mile. But hey, clearly in matters of sexual penetration of children it's important to you to quibble over geography.Litterateur · August 30, 2011 at 1:26PM
Clearly you have no clue what you're talking about. I quibbled about the accuracy of the headline, that's all.
Put your keen and penetrating mind to the task of re-reading my first post and point out where I said anything about the actual allegations.[/list]
dicenslice · August 30, 2011 at 12:33PM
now we the taxpayers are going to have to pay for this idiot to be in jail, what a sicko, gov snyder please bring the death penalty to michigan !!LudicrousSpeed · August 30, 2011 at 2:33PM
Wait, why has no one proclaimed his innocence yet?!? I mean, c'mon, OBVIOUSLY all of the so-called "victims" are going to benefit monetarily by his conviction..... oh, wait.
It's about time he got caught. He's been a slippery "used car salesman" for far too long. This isn't the first time he's been accused of inappropriate behavior, but it better be the last!LudicrousSpeed · September 01, 2011 at 9:44AM
Judge McDowell recently had an immediate family member of Mr. Terpening as a client..... does that present a conflict of interest?
© 2012 Michigan Live LLC.
Ursus:
Another article posted on Michigan Live re. the two additional charges:
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Michigan Live LLC
Former EARTH Services director charged with 11 criminal sexual conduct charges, police believe more charges may be pending
Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 12:50 PM · Updated: Thursday, September 01, 2011, 11:17 AM
By Herb Woerpel
MICHAEL AARON TERPENING · Photo supplied
Michael Terpening, of Bellevue, was arraigned in Barry District Court Monday, Aug. 29 on two additional 4th degree criminal sexual conduct charges.
The two charges are in addition to nine other counts he was previously charged with, upping the total to 11 charges.
Troopers from the Michigan State Police Department in Hastings believe more charges may be coming as they investigate tips regarding additional victims.
Judge Amy McDowell increased Terpening's bond to $300,000. He is due again in court 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12th.
© 2012 Michigan Live LLC.
Ursus:
Comments left for the above article, "Former EARTH Services director charged with 11 criminal sexual conduct charges, police believe more charges may be pending" (by Herb Woerpel; August 30, 2011/September 01, 2011; Michigan Live LLC):
LudicrousSpeed · September 01, 2011 at 9:17AM
I wonder if Judge Amy McDowell is aware that she very recently had his sister as a client through her law firm.LudicrousSpeed · September 01, 2011 at 9:19AM
Wouldn't that be a very serious conflict of interest?!?[/list]
© 2012 Michigan Live LLC.
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