The Citadel Child Sex Abuse Tragedy - Louis "Skip" ReVille Chgd with 22 counts

[MuffyBee]

http://www.live5news.com/story/17287647/dorchester-co-grand-jury-to-charge-reville
Dorchester Co. grand jury to indict ReVille
March 29, 2012

DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC (WCSC) -

Accused child predator Louis "Skip" ReVille is set to be indicted by a grand jury on 15 new charges out of Dorchester County.

According to 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, the new charges involve 8 victims, at least 5 of whom are not named in the indictments out of Berkeley and Charleston counties.  
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/17287644/15-more-charges-handed-down-for-louis-reille
15 more charges handed down for Louis ReVille
March 29, 2012

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eVille was indicted on seven counts of criminal solicitation of a minor, four counts of performing a lewd act on a minor, two counts of disseminating pornography to a minor, one count or criminal sexual conduct in the first degree with a minor and one count of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree with a minor. 

Solicitor Pascoe tells us the indictments are from a total of eight victims, ages ranging from 10 to 17.

On March 6, Solicitor Scarlett Wilson announced 22 charges out of Berkeley and Charleston counties.

Wilson said the ages of most of the victims, all male, range from at least 11-years-old to 14. She said there are a few cases in other counties that could involve teens as old as 15 or 16.
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[MuffyBee]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/17385821/diocese-to-hold-special-mass-on-day-new-child-sex-abuse-policies-take-effect
Diocese to hold special mass on day new child sex abuse policies take effect
Posted April 11, 2012, Updated April 12, 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) – The Diocese of Charleston's bishop will hold a special mass on Sunday commemorating child abuse prevention month and the recent policy changes regarding child sexual abuse allegations.

The mass will be offered for the healing of child sexual abuse victims and their families and in recognition of the Diocese's newly adopted policy that addresses sexual abuse allegations, according to a press release.

"This special mass will be an opportunity for the Catholic community to pray for all victims of abuse and to remind everyone about the importance of protecting God's children," said Most Reverend Guglielmone, Bishop of Charleston.

In December, the Diocese adopted new policies following the arrest of Louis ‘Skip' ReVille, who has been charged with molesting several young boys. ReVille worked at Bishop England High School where he coached tennis between 2008-2010. In a press release on November 23, 2011 stated:

The Diocese is unaware of any Bishop England student who has reported being abused by Mr. ReVille while he was the tennis coach at the school.

While ReVille had no prior criminal background, shortly after his arrest Diocese officials admitted he was not subjected to a background screen and did not attend a safe environment training session.

The Diocese then adopted the new policies involving child sexual abuse allegations. The revisions will go into effect on April 15th, the day of the special mass led by Most Reverend Guglielmone.
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/18149868/one-local-youth-program-revised-after-reville-case
Louie's Kids program revamped after Reville case
By Sonya Stevens
sstevens@abcnews4.com
May 4, 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- The Louis "Skip" Reville case this fall caused a local organization to think twice about the set-up for one of their youth programs.

Louie's Kids is an organization with a goal to help fight childhood obesity. In 2010, they created a program called Run Buddies.

"Initially, when it was created, it was to pair adults and children together one-on-one where they would meet together either at the home of the child and go to a park somewhere or run in the neighborhood," said Ashley Gunnin, executive director of Louie's Kids.

But with child molestation in the headlines, the program started to see fewer participants.

"We turned it into clinics so that they are now meeting together at a school, 10 to 12 kids at a time, 4 or 5 adults with the coach with them," said Gunnin. "So, we just completely revamped the program to make it work for everyone."

And the revised program, which started in January, gave the parents the assurance they needed.
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"We still are doing the same background check, and it's actually more extensive than if you just went to get a quick five dollar SLED check. It's a company out of Texas, and they do the last four or five places that people have lived… It's a little bit more money than a normal one would be," Gunnin said.

The changes have proved to be successful, and they are hoping to expand the run clinics to other parts of the Lowcountry in the future.

ABC News 4 also reached out to Big Brothers Big Sisters to see if their policies had changed.
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(Statement in article at link)

[MuffyBee]

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120612/PC16/120619740/admitted-molester-reville-due-in-court-source-says-guilty-plea-in-cards
Admitted molester ReVille due in court; source says guilty plea in cards
June 12, 2012

Admitted molester Louis “Skip” ReVille is scheduled to appear in a Charleston County courtroom Wednesday morning in connection with the host of charges he faces in three counties, First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe confirmed this morning.

Pascoe would not discuss the nature of the proceeding, and 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson, who represents Charleston County, has not returned phone calls from The Post and Courier.

But a source close to the investigation said ReVille is scheduled to plead guilty to several molestation charges during the morning appearance.

His attorney, Craig Jones of Mount Pleasant, was unavailable for comment this morning.

ReVille is accused of molesting 23 young men over the past decade. He faces 22 charges in Charleston County, 15 counts in Dorchester County and 11 counts in Berkeley County. In all, he could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison.

He has been jailed since his arrest in Mount Pleasant in October, and his attorney has said he is cooperating with police investigating his crimes. His bail is set at more than $1 million.
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[MuffyBee]

http://charleston.thedigitel.com/crime/pleading-guilty-molesting-23-boys-reville-sentence-39600-0614
Pleading guilty to molesting 23 boys, ReVille sentenced to 50 years
Former teacher, basketball coach, Bible leader, and principal Louis "Skip" ReVille plead guilty in Charleston County court on Wednesday to charges of child sexual abuse.
June 14, 2012

The sentence came down at 50 years for accusations that spanned the Charleston-Berkley-Dorchester area, and ReVille will have to serve at least 85% before being eligible for parol.
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/us/south-carolina-man-gets-50-years-for-molesting-over-20-children.html
South Carolina: Man Gets 50 Years for Molesting Over 20 Children
June 13, 2012

A graduate of The Citadel who went on to work with children there and at other schools and served as a foster parent pleaded guilty to 22 counts of child sexual abuse and was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Wednesday. The man, Louis ReVille, 32, who was arrested in October after an investigation revealed he molested more than 20 children he taught and coached in the Charleston area, apologized to his victims.
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The college, which investigated the complaint but did not report it to police, apologized.

[MuffyBee]

http://www2.counton2.com/news/2012/jun/13/4/reville-sentenced-50-years-ar-3967457/
Reville sentenced to 50 years
Published: June 13, 2012
Updated: June 14, 2012 - 2:03 PM

A former South Carolina teacher and coach has been sentenced to 50 years after pleading guilty to nearly two dozen child sex charges.

 Louis ReVille entered the plea in Charleston Wednesday, saying he is sorry and is the only one responsible for his actions.

 He received 50 years on the most serious charge, first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. On the other counts, Circuit Judge Markley Dennis gave ReVille sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years, with the terms to run at the same time.
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ReVille was transferred from the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center to Kirkland Correctional Facility in Columbia Thursday June 14.
Video at Link

[MuffyBee]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57517060-504083/ten-years-after-revelations-of-massive-sex-abuse-cover-ups-many-victims-never-get-their-day-in-court/
Ten years after revelations of massive sex abuse cover-ups, many victims never get their day in court
September 21, 2012

(CBS) NEW YORK - The recent revelations that the Boy Scouts of America have spent years covering up sexual abuse reports against their scout leaders came as no surprise to Professor Marci Hamilton.

"Boy Scouts, the Catholic church, the Citadel, Penn State, the Mormon church - it's all the identical problem," says Hamilton, a professor at Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University and the author of "God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law."

"They'll ignore wrong-doing and bad behavior because it's in the best interest of the institution not to have bad publicity."
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/aug/24/citadel-board-meets-discuss-abuse-investigation/
Citadel board meets to discuss abuse investigation
August 24, 2012

CHARLESTON, SC — The Citadel Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet and discuss a probe into how the Charleston military school handled a complaint about a former camp counselor now serving a 50-year sentence for molesting boys.

Board members are set to meet on Friday to hire an outside firm to assist Columbia attorney Joe McCulloch in an independent investigation.

The probe centers on how the college handled a 2007 complaint against Louis "Skip" ReVille, who was sentenced in June after pleading guilty to 22 counts of abuse.
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[MuffyBee]

http://www.theitem.com/news/ap_state_news/article_58b79997-a6a5-5d5e-8f9a-43cde5273bd7.html
Citadel hires firms to assist in abuse investigation
Posted: Saturday, August 25, 2012 6:00 am | Updated: 10:25 pm, Fri Aug 24, 2012.



CHARLESTON - The Citadel Board of Visitors agreed Friday to hire two outside firms to handle an independent probe of how the military college handled a 2007 complaint about a former camp counselor now serving 50 years in prison for molesting boys.

The board, after meeting three hours in executive session, agreed to hire MDB International of Alexandria, Va., and Anne Franke, who founded Wise Results LLC in Washington, D.C.

The investigation centers on how the college handled a complaint about Louis "Skip" ReVille, a Citadel graduate and former teacher who worked at schools, camps, churches and recreation programs in the Charleston area. He was sentenced in June after pleading guilty to 22 abuse counts.

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Columbia attorney Joe McCulloch was hired earlier this month as special counsel to handle the investigation. It will not only focus on what happened five years ago, but also evaluate current college policies.

MDB International is an internationally known investigative firm.

"They are staffed with a full staff of top-notch investigative expertise, many of them former FBI agents," McCulloch said. He said Franke is an expert in the area of protecting minors on campus and policy evaluation.

McCulloch said the two firms, selected from a pool of 15, will handle the investigation and report their findings to him, which, in turn, he will give the board.
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[MuffyBee]

http://westashley.patch.com/articles/firm-investigating-citadel-s-handling-of-reville
Firm Investigating Citadel's Handling of ReVille
Board votes to hire outside firm to probe its handling of molestation claims.
August 25, 2012

The Citadel Board of Visitors has hired an outside firm to investigate the school's handling of allegations of sexual contact between now-convicted pedophile Louis "Skip" ReVille and a summer camper at the public military college.
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Manuel, Daniels, Burke International will undertake the investigation and Ann H. Franke of Wise Results LLP will review the school's policies, according to a Citadel news release.
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“The independent review team’s work will result in a better understanding of what happened and our response, and help The Citadel develop and implement best practices to safeguard everyone on campus."

ReVille pleaded guilty in June to 48 counts of child sex abuse. He was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison for molesting more than 20 teenage boys over a 10-year period.

The outside investigation at the Citadel will begin immediately, but there is no deadline for a final report.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/19567348/judge-dismisses-parts-of-lawsuit-aimed-at-citadel-president
Judge dismisses parts of lawsuit aimed at Citadel president
September 17, 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- A federal judge has dismissed portions of a lawsuit against Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa.
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The lawsuit named the Citadel's president because the plaintiff claimed Rosa was liable as ReVille's supervisor and that Rosa worked to try to cover up the abuse.

The judge on Friday threw out those claims but let stand a portion of the lawsuit that alleges Rosa violated the man's "right to substantive due process of the law."

[MuffyBee]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/19571639/citadel-dealing-with-more-charges-of-sex-abuse
Citadel dealing with more charges of sex abuse
September 18, 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Officials at the Citadel have confirmed that more sexual assault complaints have been reported at the military college.

According to Charlene Gunnels with the Citadel Office of External Affairs,  two cadets reported incidents to Citadel Public Safety officers last week.

Gunnels says the accused was a 2011 graduate and is no longer at the Citadel.

According to the report from the Citadel's Department of Public Safety, there are two separate complaints filed against the same former cadet, involving a total of four incidents. Both victims claim they were attacked in the suspect's dorm room. Another assault allegedly took place while on a trip to Washington D.C.
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No one has been arrested as both victims said they did not wish to pursue the case further than filing reports with the school. The Citadel requested all names be withheld from this report, to protect the identities of current cadets.

The Citadel has asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate as required under the Jessica Horton Act.
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[MuffyBee]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/19627695/review
Report: 'The Citadel at odds with own ideals'
September 24, 2012

CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV) -- A Citadel self-evaluation has been made available to the public.

The Citadel released the 23-page report to ABC News 4 Monday. In it, The Citadel is called "an institution at odds with its own ideals and values."

Leaders held the review from January to July. In the wake of past shortcomings and successes, the goal was to include the entire campus, to identify the biggest issues.

The report was commissioned by The Citadel and completed by the Institutional Program Assessment Committee, or IPAC.

The committee listed 14 recommendations, which The Citadel must immediately address and improve upon.

"What you see in there are all the things that you need work, and some of the things are alarming to you," said Citadel President, Lt. Gen. John Rosa.

IPAC consisted of six panels to examine campus issues ranging from hazing, discipline and alcohol as well as sexual abuse and harassment. The review was critical of The Citadel's disciplinary system, calling it broken.
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Video at Link

[MuffyBee]

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120927/PC16/120929364
Skip ReVille is in protective custody in prison
September 27, 2012

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Due to concerns for his safety, prison officials chose to keep ReVille at Kirkland within the Department of Corrections’ protective custody unit. It houses inmates with special security concerns in a controlled environment, Newsom said.

ReVille is separated from the general population of inmates, about 256 of them, and even eats his meals in his single-person cell, according to Newsom. He’s not the only one with protection at the state prison’s unit. Twenty-seven other inmates also are housed in protective custody.

The state has no special facility for sex offenders, so ReVille could have ended up in the general inmate population, where child molesters exist at the bottom of the pecking order and often are targeted for violence and abuse, authorities have said.
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During his sentencing, Circuit Judge Markley Dennis called the case a tragedy and admitted he had wrestled with the decision when he learned he would rule over the case.

“Part of me would like to put you where you couldn’t possibly see daylight again,” he said in court.

Dennis sentenced him to 50 years in prison. Prison officials couldn’t speculate whether ReVille will remain there during his entire sentence.

“He will stay there until they feel it’s safe to move him,” Newsom said.

He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. He will be 74 years old when he is eligible for release in the year 2054. ReVille already has filed a motion for a judge to reconsider his sentence, according to court records.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/19724853/citadel-to-partner-with-d2l-to-combat-sexual-abuse
Citadel to partner with D2L to combat sexual abuse
October 3, 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- In the wake of an internal review accusing the military college of "being at odds with its own ideals," Citadel officials have announced an expanded partnership with Darkness to Light.

The review, performed by the college from January to July of this year, was highly critical of The Citadel's procedures on youth related programs. It even went so far as to call the Citadel an "incident waiting to happen."
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To better protect minors on campus, the report recommended all employees, campus residents, students and volunteers receive Darkness to Light, stewards of children training.

Rosa announced the extended partnership with D2L Monday, including universal training. Faculty training will begin as soon as next week. Cadets will begin sexual abuse prevention training in January. In all, more than 3,600 people will go through the program.

"It's a combination of video, where they will watch video of adult survivors talking about this issue," said Jolie Logan, of Darkness to Light. "They also do some work in a workbook, and then there's discussion."

By next fall it will become part of The Citadel curriculum.

"We have a program called Citadel 101, it's an orientation for freshman," Rosa said. "We'll offer this training for freshman in Citadel 101."

Leaders say The Citadel is the only college in the country to offer the comprehensive training on child sexual abuse prevention. The college will pay more than $24,000 to D2L to fund the first year of training.

The training is mandatory every three years for faculty members.