Southeast Valley cities battle Domestic Violence

"Thousands of domestic violence calls each year keep Southeast Valley police and prosecutors busy helping victims and holding abusers accountable.

Most of the crimes are assaults, threats, criminal damage, disorderly conduct and orders of protection violations but often escalate to more serious injuries and death.

Four lives have been lost to domestic violence in the East Valley this year.

"It touches every part of society," Tempe police Detective David Larson said. "The goal is to keep it from happening over and over."
Many of the culprits are repeat offenders. Two weeks ago, however, the state domestic violence "three strikes" law got stronger.

The law, enacted in 2005, made an offender's third misdemeanor in five years a felony. The law extends the criminal history to seven years. The domestic violence aggravated charge is a Class 5 felony requiring four months in jail for the first offense and eight months thereafter." |Read more|

Stopping "Domestic Violence" Is A Must

"Domestic violence claimed the lives of four women in Franklin County during a three-month period last year.

So far this year, thankfully, there haven't been any deaths due to domestic violence. But the lack of high-profile incidents doesn't mean domestic violence is on the decline locally.

High-profile murder-suicides are just the tip of the iceberg, according to Barbara Channing, executive director of Women In Need. Between July 1, 2006, and June 30 this year, WIN worked with more than 1,300 victims and "significant others," providing more than 7,500 hours of counseling, advocacy and support.

The number of Protection from Abuse orders granted in the county is running ahead of last year: 100 were issued for all of last year, compared to 99 so far this year.

Education is the key to helping people understand violence and its effects, according to WIN, which has a variety of educational events and observances planned for this month, designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

But equally important is having law enforcement and court systems that treat domestic violence seriously and make it a priority to help protect victims from further abuse." |Read more|

Vigil Shines Light on Domestic Violence

"More than 100 people took part in a candlelight vigil in Sanford to expose the problem of domestic violence.

The rally was held Wednesday night in conjuction with the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

People affected in some way by abuse shared emotional stories and demanded stiffer laws for violators." |Read more|

Plea for schools to back domestic violence campaign

"SCHOOLS in Banburyshire are being urged to back a campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence.
The Daventry and South Northants Domestic Violence Forum has invited all secondary schools in its area to get involved in a poster competition.

Youngsters aged between 14 and 18 have been invited to take part.

The National Violence Awareness Week will take place in November and to mark the event the Forum will be organising a poster campaign.

They have asked students to design poster designs that can be put up around Daventry and South Northants detailing the work of the Forum and giving important contact details.

First, second and third place prizes are on offer for those youngsters who choose to get involved and the closing date is Monday November 5.

A police spokesperson said: "We have invited the school students to design posters which will then be used as part of the National Violence Awareness Week.

"It will help promote the work of the South Northants Domestic Violence Forum during the week as well as start discussions in schools about the issues around domestic violence."" |Read more|

Verizon Wireless Technology Helps Domestic Violence Survivors Rebuild Lives

"Continuing its commitment to domestic violence prevention and awareness, Verizon Wireless recently donated more than 100 wireless phones and free airtime to Manhattan-based Sanctuary for Families and Safe Horizon, two non-profit agencies providing life-saving services to victims of domestic violence and their families.

The donations were made possible through the company's HopeLine(R) phone recycling program, which collects old, no-longer-used cell phones at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores throughout the New York Metro area. The phones are refurbished, recycled or sold and the proceeds are donated to domestic violence advocacy groups in the form of cash grants and prepaid wireless phones for victims. Phones that cannot be refurbished are disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

Other local agencies receiving recent HopeLine phone donations include Victims Intervention Program in the Bronx and Seamen's Society on Staten Island." |Read more|

Victim speaks out to help stop Domestic Violence

"She doesn't have a pulpit, fame or a national spotlight to shine on her pain.
Ladonna Wilkerson and her 4-year-old son, Austin Tyler Hayslip, were victims of domestic violence. They were both shot by the boy's father. Wilkerson survived, but her son did not.

She's one of the real faces of domestic violence. The everyday woman whose smile masks a terrible secret. Hers is chilling. Wilkerson, 34, a Medicaid investigator, and her 4-year-old son, Austin Tyler Hayslip, were shot by the man who asked to marry her.

She lives in agony at home.

Victims of abuse and their advocates are counting on public interest surrounding the alleged attack on national evangelist Juanita Bynum to build momentum for their fight against partner abuse during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is October.

Bynum declared herself to be the new "face of domestic violence" after she was allegedly beaten, choked and stomped to the ground by her estranged husband in August.

Wilkerson says there are many other faces of domestic violence too, who hope their lives will inspire others to recognize abuse and end dangerous relationships.

"Everyone who has been through a situation like that has a story," Wilkerson said. "We have got to do something to stop this."

The Partnership Against Domestic Violence will sponsor two events in the metro area this month to honor the memories of victims who have been hurt or killed by loved ones.

The organization is sponsoring the Silent No More candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site Visitors Center on Auburn Avenue. The names of more than 90 victims and those by-standers caught in the cross-fire of domestic violence will be read.

The partnership also will gather for the Domestic Violence Speak-Out on Oct. 25 in Gwinnett County.

Wilkerson plans to share her chilling testimony at both events, which are free and open to the public. Her son was shot to death Sept. 21, 2004, as he stood outside with his mother at the Dougherty County Pre-K building.

Wilkerson's estranged boyfriend, a police officer who had taken an oath to protect and serve, said he was angry because Wilkerson planned to move to metro Atlanta with their son. He shot his girlfriend, shot her son and then killed himself, police said at the time.

Like Bynum, who filed for divorce in Gwinnett County last week and is moving forward with plans for domestic violence ministry, Wilkerson has found a way to cope with the pain.

She lectures and has developed a nonprofit organization to help other victims move forward with their lives." |Read more|

ConVicted Felon Tricked His Cousin

In her job as an income tax preparer, Reimonenq said she is always dispensing advice. It's a talent that she said could be put to good use on the council.

"I'm in touch with a lot of people," she said. "When Oliver Thomas resigned, something inside of me said, 'Gail, go for it!' "

Reimonenq's only previous brush with politics came in 2002 when she assisted a then-secret group of political operatives who bankrolled TV attack ads that helped sink former state Sen. Paulette Irons' mayoral campaign. Reimonenq was listed as chairwoman of a political action committee that bought air time for the TV spots.

The participants finally were revealed in 2005, after an investigation by the state Board of Ethics approved a settlement with the PAC's members that revealed their names.

Reimonenq said she got involved after being "tricked" by the scheme's architect, Stan "Pampy" Barré, her cousin. Barré is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to federal charges of skimming money from a City Hall contract.

At Barré's request, Reimonenq said, she opened four bank accounts where the group deposited the money used to pay for the Irons attack ads.

"I signed blank checks," she said. "I didn't know where the money was going. They were hiding behind me. I was the fall guy."

Domestic abuse victims suffer silently, alone

"Too often, victims of domestic violence are shamed into silence. Before her death, I doubt if friends of 21-year-old Jwonda Thurston, a pregnant Chicago woman who police say was killed by her boyfriend last March, knew she was a domestic violence victim.

When it comes to prominent people, domestic violence is often construed as a "big misunderstanding," as was the case when Joseph Terry, a producer for the Oprah Winfrey show, was arrested in July for allegedly "grabbing" his ex-wife's arm and "pulling her hair."

As columnist Sandra Kobrin noted recently, the public is more outraged by Michael Vick's alleged mistreatment of dogs than we are when professional athletes abuse their spouses and girlfriends.

I also doubt that the relationship between Christopher and Kimberly Vaughn was as loving as has been portrayed. Vaughn is about to go on trial for allegedly murdering his wife and three young children in the family's SUV last summer.

More often than not, domestic violence victims suffer alone.

That's why Andrea Brown's story, which originally appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times on Aug. 19, is important. She fought back. In breaking the silence, she has shown other victims how to fight back, too.

Brown is the Metra engineer who was allegedly stalked and terrorized by her ex-husband for more than a year." |Read more|

Myspace Predator Sentenced

We all know there are predators on Myspace. It comes as no surprise that another sexual predator has been caught. It is difficult for myspace and the law to catch all predators. There are scammers, burglars and thieves on Myspace. Not only are there sexual predators, burglars and thieves on myspace, you can find drug peddlers also. Let's hope they are one day eliminated.

Congressman Jefferson In The Spotlight

Maybe Congressman's Jefferson's name would not be so popular right now if he was in Stan "Pampy" Barre's shoes. He could take a break from the spotlight if he had someone else to snitch on like "The Pamp".

Fatherless Children On Myspace

It is sad when the only place a father can communicate, with his children is on myspace. Can you imagine being a forty-one year old pathetic creature, who will soon be going to prison and the only thing you can offer your children is a few minutes of your time on myspace. Well they say, Myspace is a place for friends. I guess it is also a place for pathetic fathers.

Sheriff Deputies Hand Out Chatline Number

Gee, I wonder if "Dina Kaylor" got one of these tickets since she is the queen of the chatline circuit. Yes, Dina Kaylor is a real person. She is someone who spends a fortune on chatlines. In fact, that is how she met Stan. After a few sex talks, she paid his bail. How pathetic. What would one expect from a tatooed freak.

"Along with her speeding ticket, the deputy handed Martinez a brochure with a list of numbers to defensive driving schools.

She called one of the toll-free numbers and got a recording about meeting people.

It was a strange recording, but Martinez dialed the number she was given so she could register for driving school.

"I called the 1-800 number and it's a sex line," Martinez said. "I was shocked."

"Lie back, baby," the recording said. "Relax and get ready to meet real local students, housewives and working girls. Hundreds of hot girls all day and night because we love nasty talk as much as you do."" |Read more|