Arizona

Student groups at Arizona State University demanding administration “withdraw” Kyle Rittenhouse, calling him a “murderer”

Student groups at Arizona State University demanding
administration “withdraw” Kyle Rittenhouse, calling him a
“murderer” 1

TEMPE, AZ- Several student-led groups at Arizona State University are now demanding that the university’s administration “withdraw” Kyle Rittenhouse from the school for being a “racist murderer.”

Four groups, including the Arizona State University Students for Socialism, Students for Justice in Palestine, Multicultural Solidarity Coalition, and MECHA de ASU are all reportedly calling on the university’s administration to take action against Rittenhouse by kicking him out of the school. 

The student-led groups also want to the university to release a statement against Rittenhouse. According to Fox News, the four groups are calling him “Murderer Kyle Rittenhouse.” A tweet from Students for Socialism said:

“Join us and rally against racist murderer Kyle Rittenhouse being permitted on our campus — Wednesday at 3:30 outside the Nelson Fine Arts Center on campus.”

The rally is being held on December 1st and on November 29th, the group is hosting a “sign making” event. A statement from Students for Socialism read:

“Even with a not-guilty verdict from a flawed ‘justice’ system — Kyle Rittenhouse is still guilty to his victims and the families of those victims. Join us to demand from ASU that those demands be met to protect students from a violent blood-thirsty murderer.”

Accompanying the statement on the Twitter post are a list of “demands” from the four groups at the university:

1. “Withdraw Kyle Rittenhouse from ASU”
2. “Release a statement against White Supremacy & racist murdered Kyle Rittenhouse”
3. “Reaffirm support for the multicultural center on campus as a space safe from White Supremacy”
4. “Redirect funding from the ASU PD [campus police] to support the multicultural center and establishment of a care center on campus”

A Students for Socialism at Arizona State University spokesperson told Fox News that the ultimate goal of the demands is to let the university administration know they they do not feel safe knowing that a “mass shooter” is admitted to the school. The spokesperson said:

“The goal of these demands is to let the ASU administration know that we as the ASU community do not feel safe knowing that a mass shooter, who has expressed violent intentions about ‘protecting property’ over people, is so carelessly allowed to be admitted to the school at all. Our campus is already unsafe as is and we would like to abate the danger as much as possible.”

The spokesperson added:

“Rittenhouse took the lives of innocent people with the intent do do so — by strapping an assault rifle to himself in a crowd of unarmed citizens. That is the textbook definition of intention. The decision made by the court is one of thousands of cases that have been influenced by biased judges, predominantly white juries, and mistakes inherent in a judicial system founded off of injustice to begin with.”

According to 12News, Rittenhouse attends Arizona State University through online classes. While on the stand during trial, Rittenhouse told the defense that he is a college student at Arizona State University (ASU) and according to college admission records, he is a non-degree seeking ASU online student.

However, the university also stated that Rittenhouse has not gone through the admissions process nor has he been enrolled in the university’s college of nursing. The university released a statement saying that Rittenhouse recently enrolled in online university classes. The statement read:

“Kyle Rittenhouse has not gone through the admissions process with Arizona State University and is not enrolled in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. ASU can confirm that Mr. Rittenhouse enrolled as a non-degree seeking ASU online student for the session that started Oct. 13, 2021, which allows student access to being taking classes as they prepare to seek admission into a degree program at the university.”

Editor note: In 2020, we saw a nationwide push to “defund the police”.  While we all stood here shaking our heads wondering if these people were serious… they cut billions of dollars in funding for police officers. 

And as a result, crime has skyrocketed – all while the same politicians who said “you don’t need guns, the government will protect you” continued their attacks on both our police officers and our Second Amendment rights.

And that’s exactly why we’re launching this national crowdfunding campaign as part of our efforts to help “re-fund the police”.

For those looking for a quick link to get in the fight and support the cause, click here.

Do you want to join our private family of first responders and supporters?  Get unprecedented access to some of the most powerful stories that the media refuses to show you.  Proceeds get reinvested into having active, retired and wounded officers, their families and supporters tell more of these stories.  Click to check it out.

Rittenhouse, smeared by media as “murderer”, worked as a janitor and a fry cook to help support his mom and sisters

November 25th, 2021

According to reports, 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who was just acquitted of all charges related to shootings that happened during a riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August 2020, and has been smeared by the media as a “murderer,” “vigilante,” and a “white supremacist,” worked multiple jobs as a kid to help support his mother Wendy Rittenhouse and two sisters.

Some of these jobs included serving as a janitor and a fry cook.

And on the night of November 22nd, before his exclusive sit-down interview with Rittenhouse, Fox News host Tucker Carlson emphasized the class divide between the 18-year-old’s media elite critics and the boy’s actual upbringing.  Carlson told his viewers:

“It’s hard to ignore the yawning class divide between Kyle Rittenhouse and his many critics in the media. Rittenhouse comes from the least privileged sector of our society; during high school he worked as a janitor and a fry cook to help support his family.

Last year, he got into college at Arizona State and he’s very proud of it. In the world Kyle Rittenhouse grew up in, it’s not a given that kids go to college, not even close.”

According to a profile in The New Yorker, Rittenhouse’s parents are separated. His mother Wendy works as a nurse’s assistant to support her three children. The teen’s father, who lives in Kenosha, has struggled with addiction and has not always been employed.

Things were so tough, Rittenhouse and his family reportedly spent time in a homeless shelter. As a boy, Rittenhouse helped to support his family by working multiple jobs, including working as a lifeguard back in August 2020. 

Rittenhouse’s parents married in 2000, but divorced years later. They had three children, including Faith and McKenzie. Rittenhouse’s father, Mike, was a machine operator who struggled with alcohol and drugs and unemployment.

He was also accused of domestic battery against Wendy, but he has denied those charges, which were later dismissed.

Mike is now sober and wants to be more connected to his family, but Wendy continued to struggle financially, even being evicted from her home. She is dyslexic and has had health issues. So, Rittenhouse, as a teen, worked several jobs to help support the family.

On November 19th, Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges against him related to a deadly riot in Kenosha. Appearing in a teaser clip for a documentary from Carlson, Rittenhouse said after the acquittal that the jury “reached the right verdict.”

He added:

“Self-defense is not illegal and I believe they came to the correct verdict, and I’m glad that everything went well. It’s been a rough journey, but we made it through. We made it through the hard part.”

The special reportedly follows the teenager through the last year after the fatally shot two rioters and injured a third while defending himself against attackers during a Black Lives Matter protest that turned into a riot. He was facing life in prison with no chance of parole.

He revealed to Carlson’s crew:

“It’s the stuff that keeps you up at night, like once you do get to sleep, your dreams are about what happened and you’re waking up in a dark cold sweat.”

He said he has dreams about the deadly night “every single night,” adding:

“It’s quite scary actually because the dreams feel so real and they’re not the same at all, they’re all different. They’re the different scenarios that run through your head during the day, like, what could have happened.”

The teen continued:

“I’m alive, but what could have happened? Like what if I wasn’t alive or what if I did let Mr. Rosenbaum steal my gun? It’s those types of dreams … almost every outcome is either me getting seriously injured or hurt or dead. Those are just the dreams I have on a daily basis.”

It was revealed during the trial by Rittenhouse’s defense attorney Mark Richards that the teenager is in therapy for the PTSD he suffers from, stemming from the night of August 25, 2020. 

Editor note: In 2020, we saw a nationwide push to “defund the police”.  While we all stood here shaking our heads wondering if these people were serious… they cut billions of dollars in funding for police officers. 

And as a result, crime has skyrocketed – all while the same politicians who said “you don’t need guns, the government will protect you” continued their attacks on both our police officers and our Second Amendment rights.

And that’s exactly why we’re launching this national crowdfunding campaign as part of our efforts to help “re-fund the police”.

For those looking for a quick link to get in the fight and support the cause, click here.

Do you want to join our private family of first responders and supporters?  Get unprecedented access to some of the most powerful stories that the media refuses to show you.  Proceeds get reinvested into having active, retired and wounded officers, their families and supporters tell more of these stories.  Click to check it out.

LET Unity

MSNBC activist Al Sharpton claims Rittenhouse verdict puts America’s protesters in “danger”

November 22nd, 2021

On Friday, November 19th, 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges stemming from a shooting-involved incident during a riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

On the same day of the acquittal, MSNBC “Politics Nation” host, Al Sharpton said on “Deadline” that Rittenhouse’s not guilty verdict means all Americans protesting are in danger.

Sharpton said:

“I think the broader context of this verdict today is most disturbing, which is why I think the president and the governor have to speak to this. There needs to be a clearer federal legislation.

We can argue about the case in particular, but when you look at the broad message that came out of this, is they have said now that vigilantes can go to protests and kill people and say that they were defending themselves. Which puts all Americans, particularly those that want to protest for whatever issue, in danger.”

He added:

“The precedent that it set, that you can have a judge sit there and say people can be killed, but you can’t call them victims, but you can call the other side what you want, then let a tumbler sit in front of a man charged with murder and let him choose his own jury.”

Sharpton continued:

“I think many of us are far more concerned about what the broad message this verdict gives than to arguing what the legal experts ought to argue, and rightfully so, about the particulars of the case.

The message coming out of it — don’t forget the two people in Michigan that went on their front door step brandishing guns when people were protesting in the front, they visited to the trial to support Kyle Rittenhouse.”

He added:

“So, you have in one block of time people that are pro-gun people can support Rittenhouse, to see him acquitted but when black ministers sit with people in Georgia after a young man was killed, who had no gun, we are called all kinds of names and told we ought to be barred from the courtroom in the same news cycle.

That’s the problem we are facing in the country today. It took a tremendous blow with this verdict.”

In New York, there were protests on the night of November 19th over the acquittal of Rittenhouse. The verdict has drawn a mix of reactions from those who welcomed the acquittal to those who condemned the outcome, like Sharpton.

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is black and a Democratic candidate for the US. Senate, denounced the outcome, saying:

“Over the last few weeks, many dreaded the outcome we just witnessed. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty is what we should expect from our judicial system, but that standard is not always applied equally.

We have seen so many black and brown youth killed, only to be put on trial posthumously, while the innocence of Kyle Rittenhouse was virtually demanded by the judge.”

On the other hand, Republican former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said:

“All of us knew what actually happened in Kenosha last year assumed this would be the verdict. Thankfully, the jury thought the same.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted:

“This verdict is disgusting and it sends a horrible message to this country. Where is the justice in this? We can’t let this go. We need stronger laws to stop violent extremism from within our own nation. Now is the time.”

Congressman Lee Zeldin tweeted:

“The right of self-defense is inherent and applies inside of your home AND outside of your home.”

Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor tweeted:

“Justice was done in the Rittenhouse verdict. Renews our faith in the jury system. When prosecutors overreach as they did in this case, juries are there to insure justice for the defendant. It is not a perfect system, but still the best one in the world.”

Editor note: In 2020, we saw a nationwide push to “defund the police”.  While we all stood here shaking our heads wondering if these people were serious… they cut billions of dollars in funding for police officers. 

And as a result, crime has skyrocketed – all while the same politicians who said “you don’t need guns, the government will protect you” continued their attacks on both our police officers and our Second Amendment rights.

And that’s exactly why we’re launching this national crowdfunding campaign as part of our efforts to help “re-fund the police”.

For those looking for a quick link to get in the fight and support the cause, click here.

Do you want to join our private family of first responders and supporters?  Get unprecedented access to some of the most powerful stories that the media refuses to show you.  Proceeds get reinvested into having active, retired and wounded officers, their families and supporters tell more of these stories.  Click to check it out.

LET Unity

At first Biden says he “stands by the jury” in Rittenhouse verdict, then issues a statement saying he’s “angry and concerned”

WASHINGTON, D.C.- On Friday, November 19th, President Joe Biden stated that he “stands by” the jury’s decision to acquit 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who fatally shot two individuals and wounded another during the Jacob Blake riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

When asked about the decision by reporters at the White House, Biden responded by saying:

“Well look, I stand by what the jury has concluded. The jury system works and we have to abide by it.”

He said that he had just heard about the verdict and did not watch any of the trial. He declined to comment on whether he stood behind a tweet he posted as a Presidential candidate that suggested Rittenhouse was a white supremacist. 

However, shortly after his off-the-cuff remarks, the White House was quick to put together a lengthier, official statement that sympathized with those who were upset about the verdict.

He said that he, like “many Americans feels angry and concerned” about the verdict, but urged Americans to express their views on the outcome “peacefully.” The statement said, in part:

“While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken.”

He added:

“I ran on a promise to bring Americans together because I believe that what unites us if far greater than what divides us. I know that we’re not going to heal our country’s wounds overnight, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to do everything in my power to ensure that every American is treated equally, with fairness and dignity, under the law.”

The White House also called for calm in Kenosha in the wake of the verdict:

“I urge everyone to express their views peacefully, consistent with the rule of law. Violence and destruction of property have no place in our democracy.

The White House and federal authorities have been in contact with Governor [Tony] Ever’s office to prepare for any outcome in this case and I have spoken with the Governor this afternoon, and offered support and any assistance needed to ensure public safety.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made zero attempt in hiding his disgust with the not guilty verdict. He tweeted:

“Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum are victims. They should be alive today. The only reason they’re not is because a violent, dangerous man chose to take a gun across state lines and start shooting people. To call this a miscarriage of justice is an understatement.”

After Twitter users pointed out to the mayor that his tweet was factually inaccurate, he accused them of being “far-right trolls” and said they were missing the point. Testimony during the trail proved that Rittenhouse did not carry a weapon across state lines. de Blasio tweeted:

“The far-right trolls who think it makes a difference whether a violent gunman got his weapon before or after he crossed state lines are missing the point: two people are dead and their killer is left unaccountable. That’s not justice and they know it.”

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes blamed veteran Kenosha Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder after the jury brought back not guilty verdicts for all five counts of the felonies Rittenhouse had been charged with. 

Barnes said Schroeder “virtually demanded” the not guilty verdict from the Kenosha County jury. In a statement Barnes said:

“Over the last few weeks, many have dreaded the outcome we just witnessed.”

After the not guilty verdict, New York Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted:

“Kyle Rittenhouse used an assault weapon to kill two people. This is not justice. If there was any question about why we need strong gun safety laws, this is your answer. This should never have been allowed to happen in the first place. We have a lot of work to do.”

New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams said in a statement:

“This decision is an indictment of irresponsible laws that make our society far more violent and unsafe under the guise of personal freedom and so-called self-defense.

It also sends and extremely dangerous message to those in our country who seek agendas of anarchy – often born in prejudice and ignorance – to wreak havoc in their communities and potentially murder their neighbors. We should not be shocked. We should be focussed on swift and righteous action.”

However, legal expert Alan Dershowitz said that anyone who watched the trial should not be surprised by the jury’s verdict. He tweeted:

“Those who watched the actual Rittenhouse trial on television should not have been surprised at the not guilty verdict. But those who got their information about the trial from biased commentators on CNN or CNBC may well have been shocked and surprised.”

Editor note: In 2020, we saw a nationwide push to “defund the police”.  While we all stood here shaking our heads wondering if these people were serious… they cut billions of dollars in funding for police officers. 

And as a result, crime has skyrocketed – all while the same politicians who said “you don’t need guns, the government will protect you” continued their attacks on both our police officers and our Second Amendment rights.

And that’s exactly why we’re launching this national crowdfunding campaign as part of our efforts to help “re-fund the police”.

For those looking for a quick link to get in the fight and support the cause, click here.

Do you want to join our private family of first responders and supporters?  Get unprecedented access to some of the most powerful stories that the media refuses to show you.  Proceeds get reinvested into having active, retired and wounded officers, their families and supporters tell more of these stories.  Click to check it out.

LET Unity

Far-left Hollywood celebrities attack Kyle Rittenhouse after he breaks down in sobs on the stand

November 12th, 2021

According to reports, left-wing Hollywood celebrities and elites are slamming Kyle Rittenhouse after the 18-year-old broke down on the witness stand on Wednesday, November 10th, calling him a “terrible (expletive) actor” and claiming that he is benefitting from “white male privilege.”

They are also attacking Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder for repeatedly admonishing the prosecution, claiming he is “biased” and even “deplorable.”

Celebrities including Dave Bautista, George Takei, Rosanna Arquette, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Padma Lakshmi have each taken hits on the 18-year-old defendant during his trial for the murder of two people when a Black Lives Matter protest turned violent in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Bautista tweeted:

“(Expletive) that kid!”

Arquette proclaimed:

“Kyle Rittenhouse is a murderer. The End.”

Takei wrote:

“A deplorable example, indeed.”

Reportedly, Rittenhouse’s lawyers have argued that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed two men, then wounded another while he was defending his business in Kenosha from rioters.

Gaige Grosskreutz, a witness for the prosecution, admitted under oath that Rittenhouse only shot him when he pointed a pistol at the teen and advanced toward him. 

As the trial appeared to overwhelmingly favor Rittenhouse, celebrities have shifted into overdrive, attempting to sway public opinion that Rittenhouse is a “murderer.”

Bautista responded to a photo allegedly showing Rittenhouse making an “OK” sign with his hand, which leftists allege is a white supremacy signal. He wrote:

“Like I said, (expletive) that kid!”

Actress Rosanna Arquette, who once compared U.S. law enforcement to the “Gestapo,” called Rittenhouse a “murderer.” Star Trek veteran George Takei tweeted:

“If you want to see how justice often leans hard toward privilege, watch the judge in the Rittenhouse case. A deplorable example, indeed.”

AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead guest star Kevin Zegers accused Rittenhouse of faking his breakdown on the witness stand. He tweeted:

“This is how the first fake of a crying scene can look. Weeks of anxiety to push the tears out and you come up empty.”

In a since-deleted tweet, Epix’s Godfather of Harlem star Vincent D’Onofrio echoed Zeger’s claim that Rittenhouse was fake-crying. He wrote:

“Personally, I’ve never seen acting like that from you, but yes some less experienced actors. OOF! You are spot on Kevin.”

Bravo’s Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi snarked that America needs to re-define what it means to be a “promising young man.” She tweeted:

“Time for America to redefine what it means to be a ‘promising young man.’”

Universal’s The Fast and the Furious actor Chad Lindberg called Rittenhouse a “murdered” and a “terrible (expletive) actor.” Actress Katy Stoll tweeted:

“Everyone judging Kyle Rittenhouse’s performance today. Guys, he isn’t an actor – he’s a murderer, give him a break.”

Comedian and actor Gianmarco Soresi also accused Rittenhouse of bad acting. He tweeted:

“Kyle Rittenhouse’s acting is so bad that if he gets through this he should consider musical theater.”

Deadline editor and reporter Dominic Patten accused Rittenhouse of faking his breakdown on the witness stand, tweeting:

“Bad acting coach, crocodile tears — but perfect for Judge to give Rittenhouse a stern slap on the wrist & proclaim justice is done. Ain’t that America?”

CBS’s Blood and Treasure producer Matthew Federman tweeted:

“Having Kavanaugh confirmation hearing flashbacks from seeing clips of Rittenhouse’s performance. Do self-victimizing white dues all go to the same acting coach?”

TV writer Bryan Behar, who wrote for Netflix’s Fuller House, accused Rittenhouse of being a murdered and flashing a “white power” sign.” He wrote:

“Kyle Rittenhouse flashing a “White Power” sign is definitely a bad look. So is murdering people.”

Editor note: In 2020, we saw a nationwide push to “defund the police”.  While we all stood here shaking our heads wondering if these people were serious… they cut billions of dollars in funding for police officers. 

And as a result, crime has skyrocketed – all while the same politicians who said “you don’t need guns, the government will protect you” continued their attacks on both our police officers and our Second Amendment rights.

And that’s exactly why we’re launching this national crowdfunding campaign as part of our efforts to help “re-fund the police”.

For those looking for a quick link to get in the fight and support the cause, click here.

Do you want to join our private family of first responders and supporters?  Get unprecedented access to some of the most powerful stories that the media refuses to show you.  Proceeds get reinvested into having active, retired and wounded officers, their families and supporters tell more of these stories.  Click to check it out.

LET Unity

Hollywood celebrity, co-owner of acting studio arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a child

November 6th, 2021

SANTA FE, NM – The name Christopher Ranney may not ring a bell.

You may recognize him as Albuquerque Police Detective #2 in Season 3, Episode 7 of Breaking Bad.

While that is likely the most notable credit to his name, he has more than 300 credits as an actor, producer and other various roles on set. 

https://twitter.com/ChrisRanney/status/369389040807604224

But, assuming he is convicted on the charges he is now facing, he will be the guy that sexually abused a young girl, to whom he is related. 

Here is what we know so far. 

According to Tarrant Cares, the 48-year-old, “was charged with criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13, criminal sexual contact of a minor and bribery of a witness after the girl told her mother Ranney had been touching her inappropriately since she was 8.” 

The charges allege that the abuse began back in 2016. 

While Bernalillo County does allow a public records search, those documents were not viewable as of this article being published. If we are able to obtain those records, we will update the story with as much detail as we are able. 

Ranney was a co-owner of an acting studio, called Sol. 

The studio released a statement just before Raney’s arrest saying in part, that he was no longer affiliated with the studio. 

“The allegations against Ranney involve abhorrent behavior which Sol unambiguously condemns,” Ron Wiesberg said in the statement.

“We have prided ourselves for years on providing a safe, nurturing environment for all ages, and will continue to do so. Should the allegations against Ranney prove true, he will have betrayed not just his family, but all of us here at Sol, faculty and students alike.

Like the rest of the community, we are horrified and bewildered.”

The studio ran classes for acting students of all ages, some of whom Ranney instructed. 

According to the Albuquerque Journal, Wiesberg said:

“Mr. Ranney never once ran a youth program at Sol, and we are equipped with cameras in our building so that nothing like this can happen within our walls.

We can only continue to reassure our clients and associates, again, that we saw no evidence of these activities, nor would we have sat idly by had we known. We have put our hearts and souls into this endeavor, and will continue to do so.”

There are no other charges being filed or other potential victims know at this time. 

Student groups at Arizona State University demanding administration "withdraw" Kyle Rittenhouse, calling him a "murderer"
Public records search screenshot

Ranney reportedly acknowledged the allegations when confronted and apologized for his actions. 

Others who new Ranney are speaking out as well. 

Not exactly a scathing rebuke by Oliver, with focus on the obvious reference to the New Mexico film industry’s other recent tragedy, the shooting death of Halyna Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin. The investigation in that case is ongoing. 

Stay tuned to LET for updates on developments in this case. 

Do you want to join our private family of first responders and supporters?  Get unprecedented access to some of the most powerful stories that the media refuses to show you.  Proceeds get reinvested into having active, retired and wounded officers, their families and supporters tell more of these stories.  Click to check it out.

LET Unity

Child sex offender who was released early, removed from sex offender registry, now charged with at least 9 child sex abuse offenses

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA – A convicted child sex offender who served only 4 years of his 20-year prison sentence, and was removed from the sex offender registry, has been arrested and charged with at least 9 child sexual abuse offenses.

According to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) press release, previously convicted child sex offender Derrick Crooms, 45, was recently arrested due to coordinated efforts by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.

The press release goes on to note:

“On October 15, 2021, Derrick Crooms, age 45, was arrested and charged with the following offenses:

  • Incest (2 counts)
  • Aggravated Sexual Battery (2 counts)
  • Aggravated Child Molestation (2 counts)
  • Child Molestation (2 counts)
  • Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes.”

These crimes occurred not only in Georgia, but in several locations throughout the United States.

It appears that even more charges may have been filed after the press release went public, as Fox5Atlanta reports that Crooms has been charged with 18 counts of “charges related to molesting children.”  The news outlet did not detail those charges.

Crooms first came to the attention of law enforcement for sex offenses in the mid-1990s.  In 1996, he pled guilty to child molestation charges, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

However, Crooms was released after serving only four years.

Later, in 2017, Crooms succeeded in having a judge remove his name from the sex offender registry, over the objections of his previous victim Jeanie Fulcher, whom he had molested in 1996.

Fulcher is Crooms’ cousin by marriage, and she told Fox5Atlanta that when she was a seven-year-old child, Crooms molested her while living at her house.  After a year of molestation, she was able to work up the courage to come forward.

She said of the decision to remove Crooms from the registry:

“Their argument was that he was a changed man and he was a model citizen and didn’t get in trouble anymore, hasn’t committed a crime since.”

Not being on the registry meant that Crooms had been free since 2017 to travel about the country with his wife, Rachel Overton, a traveling nurse, without having to notify anyone of his history as a child sex offender.

According to the GBI, Crooms committed many of his child sex abuse offenses during those travels.

In addition, the GBI reports that Overton, a mandated reporter of child abuse by virtue of her profession, was aware of Crooms’ sex offenses but did not report them to law enforcement. Overton has been arrested and charged with “Cruelty to Children-3rd Degree and Failure to Report as a Mandated Reporter.”

 

A victim no more, Jeanie Fulcher was actually instrumental in helping capture Crooms after his far-ranging sexual abuses against children.

She told Fox5Atlanta:

“He took my innocence when I was seven.  You know, I don’t know if you ever really heal from that.”

However, Fulcher displayed the strength of a survivor when, after hearing that Crooms was wanted on new child sexual abuse charges, she “flooded Facebook with his picture.”

Her social media blast paid off, as she received a tip on Crooms’ location via direct message.

She said:

“It panned out.  The tips led to his arrest in Stone Mountain.”

Still, Fulcher remains “frustrated” because Crooms was released early and was free to move about without notifying anyone of his sex offender status.

She told Fox5Atlanta:

“I do think that our justice system has failed us.

“I believe that… if you plead guilty to raping children, or child molestation charges, that you shouldn’t get out of prison at all.

“You shouldn’t get a second chance.”

Mayor hires convicted sex offender who kidnapped and gang raped two children to be code enforcement officer

Originally published October 24, 2021

DOLTON, IL- According to reports, the Dolton mayor just hired a man who spent 24 years in prison for kidnapping two young teenage girls as a code enforcement officer.

Trustees in Dolton say they are stunned and appalled by the latest hire made by the mayor, which trustees say was done without their consent. FOX 32 reported that on September 20th, records show that Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard hired 46-year-old Lavelle Redmond as a code enforcement officer. 

As a code enforcement officer, Redmond would go into Dolton homes and businesses to inspect them and make sure they are up to code. However, Redmond is a registered sex offender and he is on the Illinois State Police child sex offender registry.

In 1991, he participated in a gang rape and beating in the Roseland area. He and three other people kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girls, ages 13 and 14. 

Now, trustees in Dolton are demanding that they mayor explain how and why she hired Redmond into a job that puts him in constant contact with the public. Dolton residents that spoke to FOX 32 stated they are stunned as well. One woman said:

“Crazy. I don’t know. He won’t get on my house though.”

Another resident said:

“I will be terrified to know now if he had come to my house to do a code inspection. I’ll be terrified.”

A third woman said:

“Oh my God. Don’t they supposed to do background checks before they allow these people in these kind of positions?”

Henyard, a single mom who grew up in Dolton, was elected mayor overwhelmingly in April with 82 percent of the vote. Henyard is the first female mayor of Dolton and the youngest. After being sworn in, she stated:

“Dolton residents, I am reporting for duty … I grew up with safe streets and I did not have any problems. It was a suburb. I want to bring that back to Dolton.”

A spokesperson for Mayor Henyard stated that they are taking this very seriously and are conducting an investigation into the hire and into Redmond’s background. The spokesperson could not state if Redmond was still on the payroll or not and said the office would not have any further comment until the investigation is complete.

Just a week prior to this incident, Dolton trustees aired concerns regarding Henyard because former Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, who had been in charge of the nation’s largest court system, stepped down from her position and then was hired by Henyard last May.

Despite assurances that she was only hired for a transition period, some remain concerned that she will end up staying in her new position. Their protests came in October and Henyard said Brown would be gone by November. However, the trustees remain worried. Dolton Trustee Jason House said:

“We are five months into this administration, the position still has not been posted, no applications have been taken. I feel like I’ve been lied to about the transition of Dorothy Brown.”

Dolton Trustee Brittney Norwood said that when the trustees asked Brown whom Henyard had appointed as Village Administrator, a job that carries a $100,000 a year salary, Brown stated:

“This is the mayor. She makes the decisions. And you all need to follow her lead and do what’s asked of you and not ask any questions.”

When raising concerns about Brown’s appointment, Dolton Trustee Tammy Brown said:

“We believe that Dorothy Brown’s control over administrative affairs and her influence on the mayor has not been in the best interest of the village.”

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Editor note: In 2020, we saw a nationwide push to “defund the police”.  While we all stood here shaking our heads wondering if these people were serious… they cut billions of dollars in funding for police officers.  And as a result, crime has skyrocketed – all while the same politicians who said “you don’t need guns, the government will protect you” continued their attacks on both our police officers and our Second Amendment rights.

And that’s exactly why we’re launching this national crowdfunding campaign as part of our efforts to help “re-fund the police”.

For those looking for a quick link to get in the fight and support the cause, click here.

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