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Crimes Against Children (Florida)
Crimes against children are the most heinous crimes and should be handled with priority. A state attorney’s office only files charges if they feel they have enough evidence to go to trial. So why are lenient pleas often agreed upon in such serious crimes against children? We understand that state attorneys have prosecutorial discretion. However, we need to start getting tough and adopt a zero tolerance when it comes to crimes against children.
The following is a list of Florida criminal cases that were monitored by "Haley's Rights" and not handled in an appropriate manner. Most of the crimes below occurred in Palm Beach County, Florida. In some of the cases below, we filed complaints with Governor Jeb Bush, as well as other government agencies with supporting documentation. (Note: Most of the complaints filed by "Haley's Rights" are not posted on this website. However we have posted a few complaints which can be viewed by clicking on the links below which appear on those cases.)
2005 - Former Boynton Beach Teacher gets no jail time for Molestation charge. The former teacher faced 15 years in prison for allegedly molesting 2 students. According to published reports, the state attorney, “declined” to comment on why this case was pleaded to a simple misdemeanor. Plea Deal – Nine months probation, then the former teacher can have his criminal record wiped. (Palm Beach County)
(2005) High school student molests 4 girls between 8 – 10 years old. Plea deal – He is sentenced to only 15 months in prison. (Broward County)
(2004) Babysitter charged with sexual battery on a 7 year old girl. The sentencing guideline for this crime is life in prison. The Babysitter received 2 years in prison followed by 22 years of probation. (Broward County)
(2004) Pastor originally charged with 200 counts of sex crimes against a child under 12, including sexual battery. The state attorney reduced the charges to 4 counts. (State guidelines for sexual battery on a child under 12 calls for life in prison). Plea deal – 5 years probation (oh but if he is good, the judge will allow him to terminate his probation after 2 years). (According to published reports, after the hearing, the victim claimed she was manipulated by the prosecutor). (Palm Beach County)
(2004) After a Thanksgiving dinner, Ms. A. and Mr. C had $500.00 worth of crack cocaine delivered to their house and admitted smoking it in front of their 1 month old baby over the course of 3 days. The couple claimed not remembering when they fed their baby last. After realizing their baby was dead, they called for help. Although the medical examiners report was not even completed, the state attorney’s office decided not to file any charges against the couple stating: “there was no evidence of cocaine absent their statements to support evidence of trauma to the child”. (Palm Beach County)
(2004) Man shoots and kills unarmed 16 year old boy in the back after the 16 year rings the mans doorbell and runs away. The man, who claimed to be in fear of his life from his doorbell ringing late at night, so he opened his door and shot the unarmed 16 year old boy in the back. Plea deal – weekends in jail for one year, except the weekend before tax day since he is an accountant, followed by probation. (Palm Beach County)
(2004) Father leaves his son in his car while going into his dental practice. His son dies from the heat. Aggravated Manslaughter of a child. Plea deal – 10 years probation, 500 hours of community service and so he won’t lose his license to practice dentistry, the allowed adjudication withheld. (Palm Beach County)
(2004) Man arrested on February 25th for allegedly doing crack cocaine and entertaining a prostitute with his 9 year old daughter present. No child abuse charges were filed. While out on bond, he is arrested again on March 13th when police received a call that a vehicle was driving recklessly. When police arrived at the scene, they found 1.5 grams of crack cocaine “in plain view” on the console of his car and a crack pipe in plain view. The state attorney decided on a “No File” in this case, where the crack cocaine was found in plain view. The reason given in the “No File” was: “Based on lack of evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant either knew of the cocaine or exercised dominion and control over it. Therefore, prosecution is not warranted”. Note: During the above period of time, the defendant’s wife was serving prison time for a violation of probation in a case where she killed her 8 year old daughter, from a previous marriage, while driving her daughter to school after consuming cocaine. "Haley's Rights" was able to turn this case into the top story on every news channel. (Palm Beach County)
((2003) University professor convicted of soliciting sex with a minor over the internet. The professor met a 13-year-old girl online and solicited sex with the girl. The girl told her mother who called the police. The 13-year-old girl was wearing a wire, met the professor on a park bench. As soon as he put his arm around her, the police arrested him. The professor was convicted by a jury. At the sentencing hearing, right after the judge walked into the courtroom and sat down, something very odd happened. The prosecutor, defense attorney and judge stood up and all walked into the judges’ chambers without anyone saying a word. They came out of the judges chambers after about 5 minutes. The prosecutor only asked the judge for one year in prison. The judge sentenced the professor to 2 years in prison. About a dozen University professors from Central Florida spoke about the professors’ wonderful character, which says a lot about their character. The sentence was over turned and the professor received 3 years probation and is still allowed to use computers. (Seminole County, Florida)
(2003) 19 year old man charged with sexual battery on a 9-year-old girl. Although the state mandate is “no bond”, the judge sets bond at $15,000.00. In plea negotiations, which the judge accepted, the defendant pleaded guilty and received six years probation. Again, state guidelines call for life in prison. (Broward County)
(2003) DUI Manslaughter of 3-month-old baby. Plea deal – The deal was suppose to be 5 years in prison, but the judge allowed him to reduce his sentence to only 2 years in jail because the defendant paid the victims family $100,000.00. The state attorney’s office did not appeal. “Haley’s Rights” filed a complaint with the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) regarding the judges’ conduct, on behalf of children. Our complaint was rejected by the JQC citing that complaints about sentencing are handled in appeals court. We called the JQC, asking them to reconsider our complaint as it was in regards to the judge’s conduct, not the sentencing. The JQC refused to accept our complaint. (Palm Beach County)
(2003) School teacher molested 2 ninth graders in after care. Plea deal – 5 years probation, must surrender his teaching license, register as a sexual offender [not predator], but adjudication withheld. (Palm Beach County)
(2002) Dora Chong – Aggravated manslaughter of a child. While leaving her 2-year-old son home alone sleeping, Ms. Chong decided to go shopping on Worth Ave. The child wakes up and drowns in the pool. Plea deal – 10 years probation. (After serving less than 1 year on probation, Ms. Chong skips the country to England. (Ms. Chongs passport was not revoked and I believe the probation officer waited over 2 months before violating Ms. Chong). The state attorney’s office claims our extradition treaty with England, does not include violation of probation. I was under the impresision that when a person violates probation, the charge is the original crime, [aggravated manslaughter of a child in this case] not a new crime. Ms. Chong is now a fugitive. (Palm Beach County)
(2000) Brigitte Hartwig – DUI manslaughter of a 9-year-old girl. This one the state attorney’s office waited 8 months to charge Ms. Hartwig and never revoked her passport. Ms. Hartwig sold her house and split the country right before she was charged. According to published reports, The victims' parents state that right before Hartwig fled the U.S., the Assistant State Attorney "told them Hartwig made arrangements with the state attorney's office to spend Christmas at home and then turn herself in to police". The state attorney's office denies that claim. According to a published report, Germany doesn't extradite it's nationals. (Palm Beach County)
(2000) Mother of 8-year-old girl pleads no contest to vehicular homicide and manslaughter by culpable negligence. The mother was driving her daughter to school traveling more than 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, near a school around a curve, on a wet road after consuming cocaine, crashes and child is killed. The sentencing guidelines were 12 – 20 years. The mother received 5 years probation and the court gave permission to consume alcohol and obtain another drivers license if DMV said yes. DMV said yes. (Palm Beach County)
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