Sexual Exploitation

Court Upholds Masterson’s Rape Convictions, Sentence

California appeals court unanimously upholds Danny Masterson’s 2023 rape convictions and 30-years-to-life sentence; lawyers will seek state Supreme Court review.

Cornell Faculty to Begin No-Confidence Vote

Cornell faculty are voting on a largely symbolic no-confidence resolution over the administration’s handling of a woman’s allegation that she was sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024. President Michael Kotlikoff has acknowledged he did not follow up on the case, while defending his leadership and pointing to an independent review and planned reforms.

New York Archdiocese nears $800M abuse deal

The Archdiocese of New York is nearing an $800 million-plus settlement with about 1,300 people who say they were sexually abused by clergy and church leaders, though the agreement is not yet final. It would offer claimants at least $250,000 each, with some eligible for more, and includes provisions for holdouts and publishing the names of credibly accused individuals; the deal is intended to resolve years of litigation and avert potential bankruptcy.

Ex-Wife Reportedly Authored 2019 Markle Abuse Letter

Roslyn Loveless, Thomas Markle’s first wife, was identified as the author of a 2019 letter to London police alleging sex offenses; the Met passed it to Meghan and Prince Harry but did not share its contents with overseas authorities and is reviewing its handling. Markle denies wrongdoing and is also under investigation in the Philippines over alleged child sexual abuse images.

Man convicted in 2012 UNC student murder gets life without parole

Miguel Salguero Olivares was convicted of first-degree murder, rape, sexual assault and burglary in the 2012 killing of UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth, and sentenced to life without parole plus additional prison time. Prosecutors pointed to DNA evidence, while the defense challenged the investigation; Hedgepeth’s parents said they forgave him, and he plans to appeal.

Cornell Faces Anger Over Sexual Assault Case

The renewed Cornell sexual-assault investigation has spotlighted how trauma can affect survivors’ memory and how institutions and investigators handle reports and preserve evidence. Survivors and advocates are also pressing for stronger accountability and child protection, while Yale’s president defended campus support and disciplinary systems and said university policies are under review.

Jury selection begins in Russell Brand rape and assault trial

Russell Brand’s trial is beginning at Southwark Crown Court, where he faces three rape charges, three sexual assault charges and one indecent assault charge involving six women and allegations dating from 1999 to 2009. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges; the trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks.

Prosecutors Investigate LSU Rape Allegation After Penalty Cut

Louisiana prosecutors and campus police are investigating LSU defensive end Damien Shanklin over a student’s rape allegation, after the university’s Title IX office found him responsible for forcible rape. LSU initially suspended him, but an appeal reduced the penalty to probation; Shanklin denies the allegation, and coach Lane Kiffin says he will not play while the criminal investigation continues.

New York Lawmakers Push Intoxication Rape-Law Change

Renewed attention to an alleged gang rape at Cornell has intensified calls to change New York law, which can make it harder to prosecute sexual assault when a victim voluntarily used alcohol or drugs. Lawmakers and advocates support legislation that would let prosecutors focus on whether someone could consent, regardless of how they became intoxicated.

Trump drops Ploy

DA defends decision not to prosecute alleged Cornell gang rape case

Jay-Z Accuser Recants Allegations, Says She Misidentified Him

A woman who accused Jay-Z of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 has recanted in a court declaration, saying she never met him and that her claims against him were false; her lawyer says she maintains she was assaulted but misidentified Carter. The declaration accompanied Carter’s dismissal of her as a defendant in his malicious-prosecution lawsuit, which continues against her former lawyers.

Omaha Firefighter Charged With Eight Child Porn Felonies

Omaha firefighter Brandon Wilson, 55, faces eight felony charges over allegations that he secretly recorded his former girlfriend’s daughter, then 12 to 15, in a bedroom and bathroom from 2017 to 2020. A judge set his bond at $400,000, and he has been placed on paid administrative leave while the case proceeds.

Cornell Case Faces Reviews as Prosecutors Weigh Charges

A Cornell student has sued the university and seven Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted during a 2024 party. No criminal charges were filed; the university disciplined some of the accused, while her attorney says the alleged assault’s lasting trauma and the investigation’s handling remain central concerns.

Essex Cricketer Suspended After Two Rape Charges

Essex batter Robin Das, 24, was charged on 23 July 2026 with two counts of rape, suspended by the club, and is due at Inner London Crown Court on 9 October.

Clavicular faces rape, drugging charges in Massachusetts

Looksmaxxing influencer Braden Peters, known online as Clavicular, faces Massachusetts charges of rape, drugging someone for sex and providing alcohol to a 17-year-old over an alleged May 2025 incident. Peters denies the allegations and is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 14.

Clavicular Charged With Rape, Drugging in Massachusetts

Clavicular faces Massachusetts rape and drugging charges after a livestream clip showed a 17-year-old saying she was "so drunk" and him answering "It's OK"; arraignment is Oct. 14.

UN Report Attributes 1,004 Ukraine Sexual Violence Cases Mostly to Russia

UN report documents 1,004 sexual violence cases in Ukraine since 2022, attributing 89% to Russia; majority of survivors are men, including via electric shocks with a Soviet-era tapik.

Women sue Epstein estate over childhood images in photo collection

Two women sued Epstein's estate in a class action for 40-plus people, saying few if any were told their childhood images were in his child sexual abuse material files.

Former Youth Minister Indicted in Multistate Sex-Abuse Case

Jeffrey Turner Taylor, a 66-year-old Milford, Ohio man and former Falls Church youth minister, was indicted on federal charges alleging grooming and sexual abuse of boys from 1990 to 2008, including traveling with minors to ministry events with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He is set for arraignment in the Eastern District of Virginia on September 24 and faces up to 105 years in prison if convicted, with investigations linking his acts to multiple churches in Virginia and Atlanta.

Former Virginia Democratic official sentenced to 10 years for distributing child abuse material

Randon Alexander Sprinkle, a 31-year-old former Virginia Democratic Party official, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material after contacting an undercover FBI agent, sending a video of abuse, and possessing dozens of CSAM files on his devices. The case, linked to Project Safe Childhood, involved federal investigators and highlighted disturbing criminal activity uncovered through undercover operations and searches of his Richmond residence.

Winona-Rochester Diocese Settles Abuse Claims for $30M

The Diocese of Winona-Rochester has settled with US Fire Insurance for $30 million to compensate more than 145 sexual abuse survivors, completing litigation that followed three verdicts in 2025 and an earlier $28 million settlement in 2021 that did not include US Fire. The funds will be distributed under the diocese's bankruptcy plan, finalizing related claims and closing the case.

Mobile neurosurgeon charged with possession and production of child pornography

Vietnam Charges Man in Rape Case

Vietnam has charged a 23-year-old man in Hanoi with raping a 24-year-old American student during a group trip, with her alleging police and the perpetrator’s family pressured her to settle privately; the case highlights Vietnam’s handling of sexual violence and survivor pressure. Separately, a 23-year-old man is under investigation for raping a 24-year-old Vietnamese American woman at a hot spring resort, illustrating ongoing prosecutions and potential penalties under Vietnam’s penal code.