Yes that is accurate, the maternal Grandfather, and it is referenced in the press release from the Santa Barbara Independant Press linked above.
the girl next door
JoinedPosts by the girl next door
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exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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the girl next door
CA- Jehovah's Witness sentenced for child sex crimes; SNAP responds
http://www.snapnetwork.org/ca_jehovah_s_witness_sentenced_for_child_sex_crimes_snap_responds POSTED BY BARBARA DORRIS ON MARCH 03, 2014 · FLAG
For immediate release: Monday, March 3, 2014
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
We are grateful that a Jehovah's Witness elder will spend time in prison and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Now, JW officials and congregants must aggressively seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes.
http://www.independent.com/news/2014/feb/28/carpinteria-man-sentenced-three-years-molesting-gr/
On Feb. 28, Michael Norris pleaded guilty to molesting his granddaughter in Carpinteria, CA. He also spent time in Costa Rica. We worry that there may be other kids who were assaulted by him – in both countries – who are suffering in shame, silence, confusion and self-blame. Jehovah's Witness officials and members should work very hard to find and help these victims, and beg them to call police.
Anyone who may have seen or suspected Norris' crimes should also contact police. It's possible that current or former JW officials or members could be prosecuted for concealing Norris' crimes.
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exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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the girl next door
By ANGEL PACHECO NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Michael Norris COURTESY PHOTO February 28, 2014 6:48 AM
A man who after living in Costa Rica for about six years surrendered himself to U.S. authorities in connection with molesting a child relative in Carpinteria, was sentenced to three years in state prison Thursday.
Michael Norris, 69, last month admitted to child molestation in a plea deal with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office. He was initially facing as many as 16 years behind bars.
Authorities say Mr. Norris molested the girl from 2003 to 2006 while he was living in Carpinteria. The victim is now 15.
Having been in custody since he surrendered at Los Angeles International Airport Feb. 14, 2013, Mr. Norris came before Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge James Voysey for the brief hearing.
Sheriff's deputies escorted Mr. Norris, whose neck was wrapped in a brace, into the courtroom Thursday and seated him next to his attorney Robert Landheer before soon sending him on his way to begin the sentence.
There were no speakers who addressed the court.
In addition to the prison time, Mr. Norris will have a strike on his record and must register as a sex offender for life.
Mr. Landheer told the News-Press that Mr. Norris has been suffering from disabilities in jail, where he has had trouble getting medical treatment. For the sake of all of the parties, they agreed this was the best resolution, said Mr. Landheer.
As part of the plea deal, Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Ladinig dismissed allegations of continuos sexual abuse of a child, exhibiting pornographic materials to a child and attempted aggravated sexual assault. The prosecutor said the last allegation had some "issues of proof."
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Mr. Ladinig admitted the outcome wasn't perfect, but it's suitable, as Mr. Norris could have gotten off with just probation. Probation officials would have taken into account that Mr. Norris has no criminal history, is in poor health and his age, said Mr. Ladinig.
Mr. Norris also voluntarily surrendered himself rather than making authorities go through the extradition process.
"We do take that into account," Mr. Ladinig said.
Probation contacted with the victim's mom and dad, who wanted a more significant punishment for Mr. Norris, said Mr. Ladinig. Although he acknowledged the parents' wishes were reasonable, Mr. Ladinig said given the totality of the circumstances, he thought the settlement was appropriate.
A trial would also have been disruptive to the victim's life, said Mr. Ladinig.
In an email to the News-Press, the girl's father said, "We absolutely abhor the light sentence."
"My daughter was subjected to many years of his sexual abuse and will forever carry the scars of that abuse," he wrote in a letter to the court. "She has only recently shown signs of healing knowing that her abuser has been in jail while awaiting trial. My fear is that she will have a major setback knowing Mr. Norris could be set free in only a matter of months."
The girl has already suffered a recent breakdown after being reminded about Mr. Norris, he said. The girl's father is planning on filing a civil lawsuit against Mr. Norris.
The victim reported the crimes six years after they happened, and detectives began investigating in February 2012 and obtained an arrest by the end of that year.
Mr. Norris moved to the farm town of Quepos, Costa Rica, in 2006, and Mr. Landheer negotiated with authorities for his surrender. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department worked with U.S. officials in Costa Rica, who monitored Mr. Norris and ensured that he boarded a direct flight to the U.S.
email: [email protected]
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=LOCAL&ID=566941434838646838
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exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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29
exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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the girl next door
Aude you have a PM. :)
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29
exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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the girl next door
There is a write up in the Santa Barbara News Press including a statement from the victim's father. I am trying to acquire a copy. It is too bad this isn't receiving media attention it should and in comparison to similar cases. I believe that will change with the efforts of OP Ed pieces that are being submitted. This case is also still fledgling. There will be news generated through the pursuit of civil litigation no doubt.
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exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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the girl next door
http://www.independent.com/news/2014/feb/28/carpinteria-man-sentenced-three-years-molesting-gr/
Michael Norris, a 69-year-old man who pleaded guilty last month to molesting his granddaughter in Carpinteria, was sentenced Thursday to three years in state prison per a plea agreement that will require him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Ladinig, who handled the case, said the deal stemmed from the fact that Norris could have received only probation, given his age, his poor health — he wore a neck brace in court on Thursday — and his lack of a criminal history.
SBSO
Michael Norris
The District Attorney’s Office, with input from the victim’s parents, also wished to spare her from a trial, Ladinig said. The girl, who was between six and eight years old at the time of the incidents and is now 15, is a “straight-A student” who is doing well “with her studies and her life right now,” Ladinig added.
Ladinig said that the girl told her father in 2012 about what Norris had done years prior. The Sheriff’s Office investigated the allegations and issued an arrest warrant in late 2012 for Norris, who had moved to Costa Rica many years earlier. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Norris agreed to surrender once he learned of the warrant. He was arrested when his flight from Costa Rica landed in Los Angeles in February 2013.
Norris initially faced charges of child molestation, continuous sexual abuse of a child, exhibiting pornographic material to a child, and attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child, the last of which Ladinig said presented some accuracy issues. Norris initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but agreed to the deal in January. Once he is released from prison — he will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence — he will be subject to “strict monitoring” as part of his sex offender registration, Ladinig said.
Robert Landheer, Norris’s attorney, issued a statement after the sentencing, saying that a year’s worth of investigations lead to a “very fair” outcome. “Mr. Norris is an elderly man suffering from numerous health problems, who voluntarily surrendered himself and returned from Costa Rica to deal with the charges he was facing,” Landheer said. “Considering his age and his cooperation, we feel that the sentencing Mr. Norris received was the best all around for himself and for his family.”
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29
exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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29
exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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the girl next door
KneeHighMiah, you have a PM.
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29
exJW Elder and Felon in Jail
by Haupi33 inexjw elder and felony fugative, michael johnson norris, plead guilt today, 2/27/2014, in santa barbara county superior court for sexual molestation of the daughter of brandon joel, under a plea deal norris was sentenced to in state prison, a far cry from the possible 25 years he could have received had the case gone to trial.
the family has full intentions of pursuing a civil litigation against norris and the watchtower society that harbors pedophiles..
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the girl next door
I will post links to net sites and local news as they are generated. Sentencing only took place 3 hours ago.
