Tag Archives: sex crimes

One crime Texas isn’t so tuff on

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

And that’s sexual assault, in the category of crimes Deshaun Watson has been accused of. As the Houston Police Department investigates at least one criminal complaint against Deshaun Watson, a review of the allegations made in civil court against the … Continue reading →

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Investigating the Karolyis

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m fine with this, but I feel like we’re overlooking something. Nearly a week after prominent USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of several female gymnasts, Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas … Continue reading →

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The Karolyi Ranch

Posted on January 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. Once viewed as a beacon of “dreams, desire and dedication” for a generation of young women, now symbolic of years of abuse and betrayal, the Karolyi Ranch north of Houston will no longer serve as the national training … Continue reading →

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What about Roy?

Posted on November 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Who wants to stand with this particular predator? Texas’ two U.S. senators found themselves under intense pressure Thursday after explosive allegations surfaced that a candidate both men have endorsed pursued underage teenage girls decades ago. The Washington Post is reporting … Continue reading →

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The phony “bathroom” issue

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I am so tired of this. Although Houston’s 36-page equal rights ordinance makes no mention of public restrooms, access to restrooms has become the focus of a raging public debate with the law set to go before voters on election … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Who cares about Bob McNair?

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Another bad decision. Houston Texans owner Bob McNair donated $10,000 this week to opponents of the city’s embattled equal rights ordinance, entering the political fray over the law headed to voters in November. McNair, a frequent GOP donor, mailed the … Continue reading →

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Legislative quick hits

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is the time of the session where there’s lots happening, and there isn’t always the time or space to stay on top of it all. So here are a few quick updates on things that are happening in an … Continue reading →

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Senate committee votes to repeal state sodomy law

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

About time. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted on Wednesday to repeal the state’s anti-gay sodomy law, a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. Texas, along with Oklahoma and Kansas, will be the only states that still … Continue reading →

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Romeo and Romeo and Juliet and Juliet

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is a small step forward, but it’s an important step. In a state where attempts to expand gay rights have hit a wall of conservative Republicans, a Senate committee on Tuesday approved a bill to provide a new legal … Continue reading →

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Going after human traffickers

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is a great story about Ann Johnson, the Democratic candidate in HD134 last year, who is now back with the District Attorney’s office fighting against pimps and traffickers who prey on kids. Johnson, a 39-year-old juvenile law attorney, is … Continue reading →

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On the NCAA hammering Penn State

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been thinking about the punishment the NCAA meted out to Penn State earlier this week. The NCAA has hit Penn State with a $60 million sanction, a four-year football postseason ban and a vacation of all wins dating to … Continue reading →

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Alan Rosen: A Call To Protect Our Children

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from a series of guest posts that I will be presenting over the next few weeks. Every day, the internet opens up new doors for communication, commerce, and the betterment of all our lives. But, with great … Continue reading →

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Ray Brookins convicted

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ray Brookins, the former administrator of the Texas Youth Commission facility in Pyote who was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting teenagers at that facility in 2007 was convicted Thursday in Odessa. The one-word verdict came after a four-day trial … Continue reading →

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Judge Jackson resigns

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Criminal Court At Law Judge Donald Jackson, who was recently convicted of misdemeanor official oppression, has resigned his bench, effective Thursday. Given his conviction, I’d say this counts as no surprise. Jackson was one of many judges up … Continue reading →

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Judge Jackson convicted

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall the case of Harris County Criminal Court-at-Law Judge Don Jackson, who was indicted in August on a misdemeanor charge of official oppression, after being accused of offering a DWI defendant a chance to get out of her … Continue reading →

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Helping teen parents in schools

Posted on September 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting article about how HISD high schools helps the moms and moms-to-be among its students. Two points to make: Most teen moms don’t graduate high school, and national statistics show that far fewer — only 2 percent — go on … Continue reading →

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More on Judge Jackson

Posted on August 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Prosecutors aren’t done investigating Harris County Criminal Court Judge Don Jackson, who was indicted this week on charges of official oppression. Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, said investigators in the public integrity division want … Continue reading →

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Harris County criminal court judge indicted

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. A Harris County Criminal Court-at-Law judge was indicted Thursday on a misdemeanor charge of official oppression, accused of offering to get a DWI defendant in his court help getting her case dismissed in exchange for a sexual relationship. According … Continue reading →

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Texas Voices update

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Grits gives a report. I was pleased to get to spend a little time with Mary Sue Molnar and the folks at Texas Voices (a group made up of families of registered sex offenders) at their statewide conference here in … Continue reading →

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No sexting at school

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I guess I’m a little surprised this wasn’t already against the rules. Students in the Houston Independent School District soon could face punishment if they are caught engaging in [sexting] — which, for those not of the wireless generation, means … Continue reading →

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Smith bashes Perry for vetoing HB3148

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Todd Smith takes Governor Perry to task for vetoing HB3148, which would have exempted some teenagers who had engaged in consensual sex with a minor less than four years younger than themselves from having to register as sex offenders. … Continue reading →

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And here are the vetoes

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the full list, with links to statements about individual bills, here’s his press release, and here’s his budget statement. A few points of interest: – Perry wimped out and allowed HB770, the Wayne Christian Homestead Bill, to become law … Continue reading →

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You there! Put down the Internet and slowly back away!

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hair Balls tries to make sense of a Senate criminal justice bill that is currently in committee in the House. [The bill,] authored by Republican State Senator Florence Shapiro of Plano seems remarkably straightforward: It prohibits registered sex offenders from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Cohen pulls strip club bill

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The battle of the strip club bills is over, as Rep. Ellen Cohen has pulled her bill, thus killing it for the session. She said “it was clear there was an attempt to find a point of order” — a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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More on the alternate strip club tax

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

After publishing about the alternate strip club tax that passed the House yesterday, HB982, I had some correspondence with the offices of Rep. Ellen Cohen and Rep. Senfronia Thompson about the revenue estimates, which I noted seemed quite divergent. Rep. … Continue reading →

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Alternate strip club fee bill passes House

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t realize there was another bill dealing with the strip club fee out there, but there is, and it passed in the House. Sexually oriented businesses, including adult video stores and nude dancing clubs, would pay a 10 percent … Continue reading →

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