HBO Releases Trailer For Upcoming Michael Jackson Documentary 'Leaving Neverland'

(promo image via HBO)

HBO has released the trailer for the upcoming Michael Jackson documentary, Leaving Neverland.

The two-part, four-hour documentary explores the separate (but similar) allegations of two men who were both befriended as children by Michael Jackson.

James Safechuck (who met Jackson when he was ten years old) and Wade Robson (who met the singer at age five) both allege they experienced numerous incidents of sexual abuse by Jackson.

In 2005, Robson testified in Jackson’s defense during the singer’s criminal trial saying he had stayed at the Neverland Ranch more than 20 times - usually sleeping in Jackson’s room - and Jackson never sexually abused him.

But in 2013, years after Jackson’s death, he changed his story and sued the Jackson estate for what he described as seven years of molestation. The judge in that case dismissed the lawsuit saying the estate “couldn’t be held responsible for Robson’s exposure to Jackson.”

Safechuck filed a complaint in 2016 alleging Jackson had sex with him “hundreds” of times when he was a boy. That case was also dismissed.

Directed by Dan Reed, the film features in-depth interviews with both men as well as family members.

According to The Guardian, the Jackson estate dispatched a ten-page letter to HBO’s CEO denying the allegations and denouncing Reed for not interviewing anyone from Jackson’s family or legal team.

Robson, who became a successful choreographer in the 2000s for acts like Britney Spears and *NSYNC, says in the trailer that Jackson “told me if they ever found out what we were doing, he and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives.”

"I want to be able to speak the truth as loud as I had to speak the lie for so long," added Robson.

"Secrets will eat you up," Safechuck tells the camera. "You feel so alone."

The comments on the YouTube page for the trailer are overwhelmingly negative about the film and the allegations with the ‘Dislikes’ outweighing the ‘Likes’ 5 to 1.

Part one of Leaving Neverland airs Sunday, March 3, on HBO, with the second part following on Monday, March 4.

Watch the trailer below.

Minneapolis: Rabbi Pleads Guilty To Sexting With Underage Teen

Aryeh Leiv Cohen (mug shot)

A former Rabbi in Minnesota pleaded guilty last Friday to engaging in electronic communication describing sexual conduct with a child.

Aryeh Leiv Cohen thought he was exchanging messages with a 16-year-old boy on Grindr back in January, but in reality, he was chatting with an undercover cop.

According to court documents, the undercover agent told Cohen several times he wouldn't turn 16-years-old until August, to which Cohen responded, “It’s a little illegal…” but would then go on to describe the sex acts he was hoping to engage in.

On February 1, a meeting was setup between the former rabbi and the ’16-year-old’ at an apartment building in North St. Paul.

Upon his arrest, the 44-year-old reportedly told the police, “I sort of deserve it.”

He also allegedly told the officers that he didn’t “think much would happen” when he arrived at the apartment because the person he believed he was meeting was 'sexually inexperienced.'

The arrest was part of a sting operation aimed at combating the online solicitation of sex with minors. Several others were also arrested in conjunction with the undercover operation.

Cohen had been working as a rabbi and director of youth outreach for the Minneapolis Community Kollel, a Jewish learning center.

The center immediately issued a statement upon learning of his arrest that he’d been relieved of his duties.

Local ABC News affiliate KSTP reports that Cohen is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on January 16.

Oklahoma State Chair For Trump Campaign Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Child Sex Trafficking

Ralph Shortey

You may recall the sad tale of former Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey, who was found in a room at a Motel 6 with a 17-year-old boy on March 9, 2017.

Police found through text messages that Shortey had offered the teen cash in exchange for "sexual stuff." When police entered the hotel room it reeked of marijuana, according to police reports.

In November of last year, Shortey, who was the Oklahoma state chair for Donald Trump's presidential campaign, agreed to a guilty plea of child sex trafficking.

Text messages were found on Shortey's phone between him and the underage teen that showed the boy needed money. Shortey apparently replied “I don’t really have any legitimate things I need help right now. Would you be interested in ‘sexual’ stuff?”

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped three other charges of child pornography that had been filed against him.

Had he faced all of the charges brought against him in court he could have spent close to the rest of his life in prison.

Shortey was sentenced today to 15 years in prison plus 10 years of supervision upon release from prison.

Shortey was infamous for introducing strange legislation like banning human fetuses in food products (that happens?) and, of course, voting for every piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation put before him.

He had been married to his high school sweetheart since 2002. She filed for divorce, and it was granted this past April.

Hypocrisy: Alabama Evangelical Youth Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Paul Edward Acton Bowen

Yet another evangelical hypocrite has been arrested on child sex charges. This time its an Alabama youth pastor.

From AL.com:

Paul Edward Acton Bowen, a 37-year-old Gadsden native who now lives in Etowah County's Southside community, was taken into custody by Hoover police about 12:35 p.m.

The founder of Acton Bowen Outreach Ministries is charged with second-degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes, and second-degree sex abuse.

The victim was a young male, but police did not release his age except to say he is over 12 and under 16.

Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said the department's Special Victim's Unit first launched an investigation three weeks ago. The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office issued the warrants on Monday.

"This is certainly one of the more disturbing cases that we've investigated in quite some time,'' Rector said. "Mr. Bowen is in a highly-respected position of influence and he is trusted by many. We believe he betrayed that trust in the worst kind of way."

Bowen was taken into custody in Pelham and transported to the Hoover City Jail. He was moved to the Jefferson County Jail where he was released early Wednesday on $90,300 bond.

Watch the local NBC affiliate's report below.

Former Oklahoma "Family Values" State Senator Requests And Is Denied Release Pending Sentencing For Child Sex Trafficking

On Thursday, former Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey, who pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking in connection to meeting a 17-year-old boy at a motel for paid sexual favors, asked Judge Timothy Deguisti to release him pending sentencing.

According to police investigations, the teenager apparently needed money and offered sex acts in exchange for money. Shortey showed up with marijuana and condoms.

Shortey's lawyer based the request for release predicated on Shortey not being a flight risk due to having a wife and his four children who are all homeschooled.

Judge Deguisti denied the request and had Shortey taken into custody.

Shortey, an anti-LGBT, "family values" Republican acted as Donald Trump's Oklahoma state campaign chair during the 2016 presidential election.

(source)

Former OK State Sen. Ralph Shortey Agrees To Plea Deal For Child Sex Trafficking

Former Republican state Sen. Ralph Shortey, who was the Oklahoma state chair for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, has agreed to a guilty plea of child sex trafficking after being caught offering to pay a 17-year-old boy for sexual “stuff” last March.

Shortey was found in a Super 8 Motel room with the teenager on March 9. According to the investigating officers, when they entered the motel room it reeked of marijuana.

Text messages were found on Shortey's phone between him and the underage teen that showed the boy needed money. Shortey apparently replied “I don’t really have any legitimate things I need help right now. Would you be interested in ‘sexual’ stuff?”

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will drop three other charges of child pornography that has been filed against him.

With a jury trial date of December 5 looming, the former "family values" lawmaker was running short on time and options. Had he faced all of the charges brought against him in court he could have spent close to the rest of his life in prison.

He'll be sentenced on November 30. The mandatory minimum sentence for sex trafficking is ten years.

Shortey, who was infamous for introducing strange legislation like banning human fetuses in food products (that happens?) has been married to his high school sweetheart since 2002.

(source)

Pastor Ken "Pulse Nightclub Gays Got What They Deserve" Adkins Arrested For Child Molestation

Pastor Ken Adkins, who earlier this summer tweeted that the folks killed in the Pulse Nightclub massacre got "what they deserve," has been arrested this morning for child molestation.

From the local CBS affiliate:

A Georgia pastor and and conservative political activist was arrested Friday morning on charges of child molestation and aggravated child molestation.

Ken Adkins, 56, of St. Simons Island turned himself into police at about 9 a.m., according to officials with Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

GBI was requested on Aug. 12 to assist officials with the accusations against Adkins. Adkins is currently in the Glynn County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing. Adkins has one church with locations in Brunswick, Jacksonville and Atlanta, according to his website.

Adkins recently came under fire when he tweeted “homosexuals got what they deserved” after the deadly mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub. His Twitter account has been set to private.

Why is it always these super-religious zealots that end up being the child predators?

Watch the report below.

(image via JoeMyGod)

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Former GOP Speaker Of The House Dennis Hastert Admits To Sex Abuse, Sentenced to 15 Months In Prison

Former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in jail for bank fraud charges after admitting in court that he had sexually abused students during his tenure as a high school wrestling coach years ago.

From Huffington Post:

U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin sentenced Hastert to the jail time, followed by two years of supervised release, and issued him a $250,000 fine. The former speaker must also attend sex offender treatment and will not be allowed to contact his alleged victims, Durkin added.

The statute of limitations for the abuse allegations has lapsed, and the banking charges carry a maximum sentence of five years. The recommended sentence was zero to five months, and Hastert’s defense argued that the 74-year-old should be given probation due in part to his age and his failing health.

While looking into some large, unreported cash withdrawals Hastert had made, federal investigators learned the former speaker had been accused of abusing or having inappropriate sexual contact with at least five students while working as a high school teacher and wrestling coach some 40 years ago.

They determined that Hastert began structuring cash withdrawals to avoid bank reporting rules in 2010, and that he used the money to pay off an alleged victim known in court filings as “Individual A.”

Hastert said in court that he had “mistreated” his students and athletes.

“I’m deeply ashamed to be standing here today,” Hastert told the judge, adding that he is getting professional help.

An alleged victim previously known only as Individual D testified in court on Wednesday, and identified himself as 53-year-old Scott Cross.

“I respected and trusted Coach Hastert,” Cross said. “Coach Hastert sexually abused me in 1979, my senior year in high school.”

Cross described how Hastert offered to massage him after wrestling practice one day under the guise of helping him make weight. He said Hastert asked him to lie down, then removed his shorts and fondled his genitals.

“I always felt what Coach Hastert had done to me was my darkest secret,” said Cross, who was 17 when the alleged abuse took place.

Cross’ brother, Tom Cross, is one of Hastert’s longtime political allies.

As Speaker of the House, Hastert was second in line for the presidency.
Sadly ironic, before Hastert retired from politics, he 'championed' tough consequences for child molesters.

TLC To Revive "19 Kids & Counting" In Spite Of Scandalous History

Here's some news you probably thought you'd never read.

TLC is reviving it's once hit show "19 Kids & Counting" in spite of the Duggar family's wide-spread scandals last year which included hiring prostitutes, infidelity and child molestation.

Via the Christian Post:

The stars of the series recently suffered through some scandals when it was revealed that Joshua Duggar took part in AshleyMadison.com, a website that serves as an online dating site for married men. With the family known as devout Christians, the news of Joshua's infidelity led to the show's cancellation.

According to Variety, the executive vice president of TLC, Nancy Daniels, recently shared some details about how the series coped with the scandals. She stated, "Every decision we've made has been done very thoughtfully and very carefully about what is in the best interests of the people involved and the network. Our first priority is making sure that there's a health and well-being of our families first and foremost. We feature stories of different families with real people and real things happen."

Fans are still interested in learning more about the rest of the family and how the scandal had affected them. With that, TLC released several episodes of "Jill & Jessa: Counting On," which showed the sisters coping with the scandal's aftermath.

After seeing the success of the short series, it was announced that TLC will be bringing back "19 Kids & Counting" to the small screen.

Throughout the show, the family was presented as the pristine, perfect "Christian" family. The picture was complete with episodes of campaigning against LGBT rights and what eventually was revealed to be hypocritical behavior.

Click here for more of my coverage of the Duggars.

TLC Officially Cancels Scandal-Ridden "19 Kids and Counting"

TLC has officially announced the cancellation of the reality series "19 Kids and Counting" featuring the scandal-ridden Duggar family.

"We spent the past month and a half in thoughtful consideration about what is the best way forward here," said Marjorie Kaplan, group president of TLC, Animal Planet and Velocity networks.

In a move to redirect the attention and public outcry, TLC also announced it has teamed with two prominent child-protection organizations for an ongoing campaign to raise awareness about child sexual abuse.

The multi-platform initiative will begin with a one-hour, commercial-free documentary likely airing in late August, the network said. It will include the participation of Jill and Jessa Duggar, two of the sisters Josh Duggar touched inappropriately, as well as other survivors and families affected by such abuse.

"We took it as an opportunity to step further than just 'How do we protect ourselves?' and step into 'How do we protect our audience and protect children?'" Kaplan said. "Our hope is to do more of that, in a way that's thoughtful and respectful of the victims of child abuse — in the Duggar family and across America."

TLC is partnering with Darkness to Light, whose mission is providing interested parties with techniques for protecting children from sexual abuse, and RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), which describes itself as the nation's largest anti-sexual-violence organization.

A series of reports surfaced in May regarding eldest son Josh Duggar, who had apparently molested his sisters and others 12 years ago while still a teen.

During the run of "19 Kids" the Duggar family presented itself as morally superior due to their "Christian" lifestyle, and had openly campaigned against civil rights for LGBT Americans.

Just a few weeks ago, a non-Duggar family member was reported to be preparing a civil suit against Josh Duggar for the alleged molestation.

Non-Family Victim Prepares To File Civil Lawsuit Against Josh Duggar

The Duggar family molestation story returns to the headlines as it seems a non-Duggar family victim is preparing to file a civil lawsuit against Josh Duggar.

The shocking development means that Josh and his parents Jim Bob and Michelle could be forced to give depositions and testify about Josh’s molestation scandal. The Duggars likely will have to answer every question as they will not be able to invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination because the criminal statute of limitations has expired.

The family is once again under investigation the Department of Human Services and the fate of their reality show 19 Kids and Counting is still undecided.

The impending lawsuit sets up a nightmare scenario for TLC: if the network brings back 19 Kids and Counting, the show could be on the air while the Duggars are fighting a lawsuit that exposes all of Josh’s secrets surrounding the molestations and how the family covered it up.

Duggars: Josh Is "Technically" Not A Pedophile Because He Wasn't An Adult When He Molested Sisters

Josh Duggar

Last night, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar (of 19 Kids and Counting fame) spoke with Fox News' Megyn Kelly about the ongoing scandal regarding their son's admission of sexually molesting several young girls (including his sisters) when he was in his mid-teens.

The Duggars came armed with statements like:

“He said he was just curious about girls and he had gone in and just basically touched them over their clothes while they were sleeping; they didn’t even know he had done it.”

“This was like touching somebody over their clothes. There were a couple instances where he touched them under their clothes. This was not rape or anything like that.”

The parents explained that Josh gave a full account of his actions to an Arkansas State Trooper. Although no charges were filed, the teenager received a “stern” talking-to from the officer.

That officer, Joseph Hutchens, now serving a decades-long prison sentence for child pornography. “We had no idea what that officer was going through,” Jim Bob said.

When asked about robocalls Michelle Duggar recorded opposing transgender rights that suggested transgender folks were just trying to get into girls bathroom for sexual reasons, Jim Bob Duggar told Kelly that his wife “actually said pedophile in that robocall. And actually a pedophile is an adult that preys on children. Joshua was actually 14 and just turned 15 when he did what he did. I think the legal definition is 16 and up for an adult preying on a child. He was a child preying on a child.”

Josh Duggar, himself, has not commented on the scandal since it broke two weeks ago. At the time he issued a short statement saying he had “acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends.”

View the full interview with Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar below:

Police Report Indicates Josh Duggar Confessed On Three Occasions To Multiple Acts Of Sexual Molestation

Josh Duggar

From In Touch:

Josh Duggar confessed to his father Jim Bob Duggar on THREE separate occasions to multiple acts of sexual molestation against his sisters and a family friend, according to a new police report obtained exclusively by In Touch magazine.

The document also makes clear that Josh was 15 years old when he molested his 5-year-old sister and committed at least SEVEN acts of sexual molestation.

The new report is from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and was obtained by In Touch using the Freedom of Information Act. In Touch broke the story about Josh’s dark past and previously obtained and published a Springdale Police Department report about the molestations, also by using FOIA.

With fewer redactions than the first report, the Washington County Sheriff’s document makes it clear that despite Josh’s chilling confessions the Duggars waited at least 16 months before contacting authorities about the molestations, even though the behavior was continuing and growing worse.

During that period they did not get professional counseling for Josh or his victims.

Legal experts tell In Touch that Jim Bob and Michelle could have faced six years in prison for their inaction, if the statute of limitations had not expired.

Fox News' Megyn Kelly will interview Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar tonight on her show. It will be interesting to see if Kelly brings up this new information.

The Duggars Respond To Sexual Abuse Debacle

From Funny Or Die, this parody is actually more funny in that the two actors are pretty much telling the true story of the Josh Duggar scandal.

Clip description: Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of 19 Kids and Counting, finally come forward to tell their side of totally covering up their son Josh's sexual molestation scandal.

Comedy Central's Larry Wilmore Breaks Down The Josh Duggar Scandal

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Jim Bob Duggar: Incest Should Be Punishable By Death

Gawker has an interesting story regarding 19 Kids& Counting celeb Jim Bob Duggar, father of admitted child molester Josh Duggar, whose position on incest seems to have evolved since his 2002 campaign for US Senate.

Jim Bob’s platform on his campaign website—preserved via web cache—states that he believes “rape and incest represent heinous crimes and as such should be treated as capital crimes.” Jim Bob offered this belief to explain his position on abortion (only acceptable if both the mother and the baby were going to die anyway, of course):

Click pic to enlarge

Jim Bob lost the Republican nomination for Senate to Arkansas’ incumbent Senator Tim Hutchinson. His son Josh remained very much alive and went on to molest several underage girls including some of his sisters from 2002-2003.

Mike Huckabee Stands By Josh Duggar

Mike Huckabee (L) with 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar

Mike Huckabee, currently seeking the 2016 GOP nomination for president, has issued a statement of support for reality TV celeb Josh Duggar.

From Mike Huckabee's Facebook page:

Janet and I want to affirm our support for the Duggar family. Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, 'inexcusable,' but that doesn’t mean 'unforgivable.'

He and his family dealt with it and were honest and open about it with the victims and the authorities.

No purpose whatsoever is served by those who are now trying to discredit Josh or his family by sensationalizing the story. Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things.

There's more on the Huckster's FB page, but you get the picture.

Interesting that the Huckabees and Duggars of the world feel it's perfectly ok to attack gays and lesbians from a position of moral superiority, but child molesters get to pray and it should all go away?

Entertainment Tonight Covers The Josh Duggar Molestation Scandal

As you would expect, just about every major news outlet is reporting on the Josh Duggar child molestation story.

Last night, ET posted this report.

Josh Duggar Cops To Molestation Rumors; Resigns From Family Research Council

Josh Duggar, the eldest son of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, has admitted to "very bad mistakes" involving young girls (including his sisters) as a teenager twelve years ago. In light of those "mistakes," Duggar has resigned from his position with the virulently anti-gay Family Research Council.

In Touch Magazine has apparently obtained a copy of a December 2006 Springdale, Ark., police report that showed Josh had been investigated for several offenses against five female minors, including “forcible fondling,” with some of the offenses investigated as felonies.

Josh Duggar issued this statement to People Magazine:

"Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends.

"I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling.

"I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life. I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God's grace, mercy and redemption."

People Magazine also has this from Duggar's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle:

"Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives, When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong.

"That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before. Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God.

"We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family. We have challenges and struggles everyday. It is one of the reasons we treasure our faith so much because God's kindness and goodness and forgiveness are extended to us – even though we are so undeserving.

"We hope somehow the story of our journey – the good times and the difficult times – cause you to see the kindness of God and learn that He can bring you through anything."

I'm not one to celebrate someone's moral downfall. Except when those folks actively work against the rights of others under the guise of moral superiority.

The Duggars have publicly campaigned against equal rights for LGBTs based on their "deeply held" moral and religious beliefs.

Josh Duggar, specifically, has worked against the rights of transgender women using ladies public restrooms because he was "worried" that small children might be attacked. Well, now we know why, don't we?

How ironic that these charges come regarding someone who worked for the Family Research Council, which has repeatedly made the accusation that gays are inherent pedophiles. And that same-sex marriage is a "threat" to children?

This proves, once again, that old adage - "Ye who protesteth the loudest, do it the mosteth."