Sexual abuse within juvenile detention centers is a deeply troubling issue in Chicago and across Illinois. A federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Illinois ranked among the four worst states in the nation for sexual abuse in juvenile facilities, with 15% of youth in state custody reporting some form of sexual victimization, a rate 35% higher ...

In the wake of the horrific allegations of sexual abuse against Cesar Chávez, co-founder of the United Farm Workers and an iconic civil rights leader, several Senate Republicans are amending legislation to include changing March 31 in California from recognizing Cesar Chávez Day to Farmworkers Day instead. “As the daughter and granddaughter of farmworkers, this is deeply personal. The legacy ...

A Santa Maria man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly sexually abusing a child in Canyon Country last month. On Dec. 11, 2025, detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau began investigating a reported sexual abuse incident involving a minor in Canyon Country,said Sgt. Joseph Mesa, with the Special Victims Bureau. Following an investigation, the suspect was located ...

Sexual abuse and molestation are extremely widespread in California and across the country, but victims should be aware that offenders in these circumstances do not need to be convicted of crimes or even face criminal charges in order to pursue civil claims. Victims of sexual assault can seek both compensatory and punitive damages, which may include compensation for medical bills, ...

You may be surprised to learn competitive cheerleading is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Millions of children and young adults participate at schools and universities in every state. Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to this growth. In the last year alone, allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced in competitive cheerleading programs in Florida, New Jersey and California. ...

A Canyon Country man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage girl he met at work.  The sexual relationship occurred when a 17-year-old girl and a 26-year-old man worked together and began to date, said Sgt. Joseph Mesa, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau.  “At some point, they were physically involved, ...

A lawsuit filed Wednesday against the Canyons Aquatic Club by the former head coach alleges the organization ignored reports of sexual abuse, officials said.  David Kuck filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging Canyons Aquatic Club did not act on allegations of sexual abuse by Swim Coach Jeremy Anderson, calling it a “shameless campaign to silence,” ...

A lawsuit has been filed against the William S. Hart Union High School District and a former Canyon High School basketball coach, alleging four years of sexual abuse of a student. The suit, on behalf of an unidentified victim who was a minor at the time of the reported abuse, is against the Hart District, Coach Jeremy Haggerty and 60 ...

Disney Executive Jonathan Blake Heely, 58, of Santa Clarita, who was charged with child sex abuse, appeared in court Tuesday for a phase of the pre-trial process, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Heely, was charged in December 2017 by the Los Angeles ...

Governor Jerry Brown signed Senator Henry Stern’s first bill into law Friday, which provides assistance for child victims of sexual abuse. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. The signing of SB 756 marks the first official piece of legislation signed into law by California’s youngest senator. “Our kids deserve better,” Stern said, ...