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In central Minnesota a man sexually assaulted three children in his home dozens of times, photographing and video-recording some of the acts over a period of three years, according to charges filed Monday.

James S. Whitcomb, 48, of Zimmerman, was charged in Sherburne County District Court with first-degree, second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is jailed on bail of $50,000 bail with conditions.

Authorities said the children are not related to the Whitcomb and the gender of each child was not released. Whitcomb’s alleged crimes occurred from 2008 until this year and were detected during on undercover operation run by the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, authorities said.

A search of Whitcomb’s computers by investigators uncovered photos of children that were taken in the home, leading them to the victims, said County Sheriff Joel Brott.

According to the complaint:
One of the children told investigators that during many visits to Whitcomb’s home, he would induce the child into sex acts with newly purchased video games. The victim, age 10 to 12 at the time, said the contact included fondling and oral sex, and the number of incidents were from 14 to 21 times.

A second child told investigators about playing video games at Whitcomb’s home while age 12 to 14. Contact with that child ranged from fondling to oral sex and totaled 30 to 40 times. The victim was aware of cameras recording the acts. Both children told of a third victim being similarly assaulted.

In Mankato, Minnesota there are some really twisted events which parents of minors might want to know about. A couple there has been charged with repeatedly having sex with a 15-year-old girl who was staying with them. There are reports that say 27-year-old Raymond Jay Schroer and 24-year-old Katherine Lynn Olson were each charged Friday with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

According to prosecutors, the girl had been staying with the couple since June. In a questionable turn of events, the girl told police she loved the couple and that they all planned to live together when she was old enough.

The teen said she usually slept on the couch but sometimes stayed in the couple’s room. Olson told investigators the three would have sex multiple times a day. Schroer told police he’s had sex with the girl three or four times but said there was never sexual activity involving all three people.

Perhaps all three of these people need some counselling to help them deal with the problem. My question however is, where are the girls parents and why was she allowed to stay with these people? It also seems to me that people in general care less and less about morals, and follow whatever the animal side of human nature calls for.

In St. Paul, Minnesota police are looking for a man who reportedly tried to lure a 12-year-old boy into his vehicle outside Maplewood Middle School Wednesday. Police say the incident occurred at 2:45 p.m. outside the school at 2410 Holloway Ave. The boy was walking on a semi-circular driveway in front of the school and was approached by the man driving what was described as a black Pontiac, which was either a Grand Prix or Grand Am.

Police say the man told the boy that the boy’s mother had asked the man to pick him up from school. The boy asked the stranger a question to determine whether he actually had spoken to his mother. The man sped off and was last seen driving east on Holloway Avenue, police said.

Maplewood Police were called immediately and checked the area, while surrounding law enforcement agencies were alerted. Police worked with school officials during the investigation.

The man was described as 45-50 years-old, white, with a medium build. He was bald and had no facial hair or eye glasses. Anyone with information can call the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center at 651-767-0640.

This is just another warning that parents need to tell their kids they literally cannot trust any strangers. The boy obviously knew what to do when he asked the stranger a question that would have demonstrated the legitimacy of the situation.

A man from Hastings, Minnesota man was sentenced to 27 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 9-month-old girl he was baby-sitting for relatives. I am not at all sure what could have been going through such a twisted mind at the time, however it would seem he is paying for his crime. And while 27 years is definitely a long time, the child will probably be permanently affected by this.

Michael Frederick Schmidt, 42, will serve at least two-thirds of that sentence, said Dakota County attorney spokeswoman Monica Jensen. “We’re very pleased with the outcome in this case,” said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. “This is a significant penalty, and it’s clearly warranted given the egregious act of sexual violence committed against this infant.”

Schmidt told the court before sentencing that he didn’t think he could speak in court, Jensen said. The victim’s mother told the court the assault had lasting effects on her daughter.

In September, it took less than an hour for a jury to convict Schmidt of one count of criminal sexual conduct. The jury also found him eligible for an enhanced sentence based on the victim’s vulnerability and the severe extent of her injuries. The maximum prison sentence he faced was 29 1/2 years.

“It’s a long sentence,” Backstrom said. “It’s a warranted sentence given the violent criminal conduct.” Dakota County District Judge Joseph Carter gave Schmidt credit for 167 days served. On April 24, Schmidt’s wife took the infant girl to Regina Medical Center in Hastings with vaginal bleeding, according

to a criminal complaint. The child was taken to Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, where she had surgery to repair a wide tear that penetrated her hymen and into her cervix. She also suffered anal tears, the complaint said. When questioned by authorities, Schmidt said he’d been changing the girl’s diaper on a couch when she slipped out of his grasp. Doctors reviewing the case called his explanation highly unlikely and the degree of injury severe.

Schmidt has been accused of child abuse and domestic violence in the past.

In January 1995, he was charged in Goodhue County with child endangerment, child neglect and fifth-degree assault after authorities discovered a baby he’d been looking after suffered swollen testicles and suspicious marks on his thighs. Prosecutors were unable to prove Schmidt had committed abuse, and he instead was convicted of child endangerment and sentenced to a year in jail with work release. In 1999 in Dakota County, he was convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault and interfering with a 911 call.

This is just another example of how you have to be extremely careful when letting anyone at all babysit your children. The man was a relative, but even so he had a past record of such behavior. The moral of the story is, when in doubt make sure you go the extra mile to ensure your child is safe. This may mean talking with other relatives, checking sex offender records (they are free), or conducting a criminal records search on the person.

A woman cross-country skiing with her two children in a Minneapolis park, Minnesota was raped and robbed at gunpoint by three teenagers, and the suspects were caught while raping two teenage girls in a nearby garage about 90 minutes later, according to authorities.

The three suspects, boys ages 14, 15 and 16, are under arrest in connection with the stranger attacks Wednesday evening in Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota police said. A handgun used in both incidents was recovered, said police Sgt. William Palmer, adding that authorities are looking for two other boys who were present during the park assault.

The victim of the park attack is a 45-year-old woman, police said. With her were sons ages 10 and 13. The victims in the garage assault are 16 and 18 years old and are related, according to police. Palmer said that the two victims were walking near 33rd Street and Bloomington, and were ordered from there to the garage.

Minneapolis Park Police were called to Powderhorn concerning the first attack and followed footprints in the snow to the garage, where they interrupted the assault in progress and apprehended the three boys, Palmer said. The suspects are being held on suspicion of rape, aggravated robbery and false imprisonment.

You may have noticed that these types of crimes are on the upswing in the twin cities in Minnesota. What used to be a fairly peaceable city is starting to resemble such places as New York City, and Chicago. Unfortunately this means if you live there, you will need to take further measures to ensure your personal security. These might include buying a German Shepherd dog, or purchasing a Colt .45. Just kidding, but seriously folks, don’t assume this is a random event that can’t happen again.