ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Catholic priest who has admitted abusing as many as 30 youths in Illinois, California and Missouri over 25 years faces new charges.
74-year-old Fred Lenczycki photo courtesy child Sex Offender of Illinois
74-year-old Fred Lenczycki, of the Chicago suburb of Berkeley, Illinois, was charged Thursday in St. Louis County with two counts each of deviate sexual assault and sodomy. Charging documents say he abused two boys in the 1990s in the St. Louis suburb of Bridgeton.
He was removed from the ministry in 2002, when he was charged with sexually abusing three boys in the mid-1980s in Illinois. Prosecutors say he was transferred to Missouri after the parents of one of those victims complained.
He isn’t yet in custody in Missouri. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.
A federal judge has frozen the assets of a Kansas City, Kansas-based sect that was hit with a $7.9 million judgment last year for human trafficking.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson found that members of the group formerly known as the United Nation of Islam had fraudulently transferred assets to non-profit groups they created in order to prevent Kendra Ross, the woman who obtained the judgment, from collecting the money.
Royall Jenkins, as he appears on the United Nation of Islam’s Wikipedia page. CREDIT CREATIVE COMMONS
The United Nation of Islam was formed four decades ago by a Kansas City, Kansas, truck driver named Royall Jenkins who once proclaimed himself to be Allah. Once a member of the Nation of Islam, Jenkins formed the splinter group after he fell out with the Nation of Islam.
Last May, U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree ordered Jenkins and The Value Creators Inc., a successor group to the United Nation of Islam, to pay $7.9 million in damages to Ross for making her work for them without pay over the course of a decade. The judgment is thought to be the largest ever handed down in a human trafficking case.
“Here, with reckless disregard for plaintiff’s health and safety, defendants intentionally and maliciously trafficked and forced her to work in their residences for excessive hours – all with no pay or benefits,” Crabtree wrote in his 57-page ruling.
Ross, who said she was forced to work for the sect starting when she was 11 years old, alleged that Jenkins had at least 13 wives and 20 children. She said she was forced to cook, clean, babysit and work without pay or benefits. She also said she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and was rarely given time off.
The Value Creators once operated a variety of businesses in the Quindaro district of Kansas City, Kansas, with names like Your Diner, Your Supermarket, Your Service Station and Your Colonic Center.
More recently, it opened a “teaching restaurant” called The Royall Touch directly across the street from the federal courthouse where it was sued by Ross. The Kansas City Business Journal reported in December that the restaurant received zoning, planning and building inspection approvals from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas and passed a health inspection.
Members of The Value Creators did not return a phone message left for them at the restaurant.
On the day Crabtree handed down his judgment, a member of The Value Creators incorporated a nonprofit called The Promise Keepers, Inc. and a few months later another group called The Promise Keepers 417 Inc. The assets of The Value Creators were subsequently transferred to the newly formed groups.
Judge Robinson’s temporary restraining order prohibits new groups from disposing of their assets. It also bars them from opening or closing accounts and from opening “any new entities or trusts” without prior court approval.
Elizabeth Hutson, one of Ross’ attorneys, said she was pleased with the ruling.
“Our goal is to prevent the transfer of assets in further frustration of Ms. Ross’ ability to collect on the judgment entered last May,” she said.
Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor in conjunction with the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 25-year-old political consultant and former state legislative aide pleaded guilty to engaging in activities related to child pornography.
Carter Clinton Ballmann-photo Boone Co.
In exchange for Carter Clinton Ballmann’s plea on Thursday, a count of selling or buying children was dropped.
Ballman, of Jefferson City, was arrested April 17 at the Missouri State Capitol as part of a child predator sting by the Boone County Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Prosecutors say Ballmann responded to an online post purporting to be from a 14-year-old girl.
He discussed sex acts he wanted to engage in with the girl. Investigators also uncovered various Columbia Middle School hours and honor rolls during the time Ballman was communicating with the decoy.
Ballmann was a legislative assistant to Rep. Mark Matthiesen, R-Maryland Heights. He was fired after the arrest.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Republican-controlled legislative committee has rejected a Democratic proposalto allow Kansas residents to register to vote on the same day they cast their ballots.
The House Elections Committee’s vote Thursday was 7-5 against the measure. The state’s current registration deadline is three weeks before an election.
Republicans argued Thursday that the change would increase costs for county election offices. They’ve worried in the past about potential voter fraud.
Same-day registration is a longstanding goal of Democrats and voting-rights groups. They see it as a way to boost turnout.
Democratic Rep. Tim Hodge of North Newton said: “Why do want to keep people from voting?”
Republicans control the committee because they have a House majority. GOP Rep. J.C. Moore of Clearwater joined the committee’s four Democrats in supporting the bill.
CHRISTIAN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 1:30 a.m. Thursday in Christian County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Ford Ranger driven by John W. Arnold, 41, Ozark, was northbound on Highway 13 just south of Nixa. The vehicle left the road and struck an embankment.
Arnold was pronounced dead at the scene. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old Olathe girl has been charged along with an adult suspect in the death of an Overland Park teenager.
Alan Hicks -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff
The girl was charged as a juvenile with first-degree felony murder in the January death of 17-year-old Ben Workman-Greco, who was fatally shot at his apartment. Prosecutors have filed notice that they will seek to have her tried as an adult.
Prosecutors allege Workman-Greco was killed during a robbery.
Her co-defendant, 21-year-old Alan MIchael Hicks, is charged in Johnson County District Court with first-degree felony murder. He was arrested in Las Vegas last week and booked into the Johnson County jail Wednesday night.
Hicks made his first court appearance Thursday. He’s being held on $1 million bond.
JEFFERSON COUNTY (AP) — A Missouri man already facing state charges of animal abuse is now facing federal charges, too.
Garcia -photo Jefferson Co.
A federal indictment announced Thursday charges 39-year-old Paul Garcia of Barnhart with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges Garcia already had a felony record when he possessed a weapon on Sept. 14. No further details about that crime were released.
Garcia was charged earlier this month after a Jefferson County deputy found a small dog in a ditch and wrapped in tape. Fingerprints from the tape led police to Garcia, who allegedly told authorities he believed the animal was spying on him for police.
The dog recovered and was reunited with its owner.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY (AP) A man faces charges accusing him of binding a dog’s legs and mouth with tape and throwing the animal into a ditch, where it was found 12 hours later in the bitter cold.
Jefferson County Missouri Sheriff Dave Marshak on Thursday announced the arrest and charges against 39-year-old Paul Garcia of Barnhart. He is jailed on $50,000 bond on charges of animal abuse and armed criminal action.
The rescued black and brown dachshund, Jimmy, is improving.
The small dog was found early Saturday along Highway M. Marshak says electrical and duct tape was wrapped around Jimmy’s mouth and muzzle; the front legs were bound together by tape, as were the back legs.
A deputy found the dog. Authorities believe Jimmy had been at the spot for around 12 hours.
ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) — An 85-year-old Missouri man who fatally shot his wife and didn’t call for medical help has been sentenced to five years of probation.
Hipp -photo Jefferson Co.
Edwin Hipp, of Arnold, was placed on probation as part of a plea deal in the April 2016 death of his wife, 82-year-old Irma Hipp at their home.
Hipp pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder. The plea deal suspended a 20-year prison term and requires him to remain under house arrest. He can leave his home only for medical and legal appointments.
Investigators say Hipp killed his wife during an argument. Charges said Irma Hipp retrieved a gun during the argument and her husband took the gun from her and shot her twice.
JOHNSON COUNTY — Lenexa police reported Thursday they had identified the suspect in the alleged checkbook theft. The investigation continues, according to police. They released no additional details.
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JOHNSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged theft.
According to Wednesday afternoon social media report from Lenexa police, a victim accidentally left behind a checkbook on the store check-out counter.
Here’s the story: vic accidentally left her checkbook on the store counter. This shopper (suspect) picks it up and rather than turning it in to the clerk, stuffs it into her purse (theft of lost or mislaid property). If you can help us ID this suspect, DM or call 913-825-8097 pic.twitter.com/P3tHwWeKEq
The shopper(suspect) in the security camera video picks it up, and rather than turning it in to the clerk, stuffs it into a purse. This is a theft of lost or mislaid property, according to police.
If you can help ID this suspect and the victim, send a direct message to Lenexa Police or call 913-825-8097.
