Child sexual abuse

Following the conviction of a former North Carolina police officer and youth volunteer, the attorneys representing the families of several children say senior leaders of MorningStar Fellowship Church did nothing to stop years of sexual abuse and exploitation. Church representatives say the volunteer managed to hide his background from them and even from his former employers.

During a press conference on Tues. morning, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson praised the filing of multiple bills targeting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and has urged a quick passing.

A third student now claims sexual abuse by a former Olympic figure skater who coached in Irmo.

Authorities have charged a former Delaware middle school teacher with multiple counts of rape of a student. Delaware State Police say 42-year-old Reed Messer was extradited to Delaware on Monday after being arrested at her home in Greenville, South Carolina. Authorities say the former Stanton Middle School teacher began a sexual relationship with a juvenile student in 2014 in Wilmington that lasted for about two months. Messer has been certified as a teacher in South Carolina since 2015. She faces more than 20 felony counts and is being held in custody with bond set at $310,000 cash. The court docket did not list an attorney for Messer.