April 17, 2025
Information revealed Weems checked out pornographic supplies over 170 occasions between January and July 2022 whereas in shut proximity to quite a few elementary colleges
James Weems, a retired Baltimore police officer, obtained a life sentence in jail after he was discovered responsible of sexually abusing youngsters at his ex-wife’s daycare, WJZ Information stories.
Weems was discovered responsible of rape, sexual abuse of a minor and displaying obscene matter to a minor again in November 2024.
He drove the van for Lil Kidz Kastle, a daycare in Owings Mills owned by his ex-wife, Shanteari Younger. Courtroom information reveal disturbing info of the case, together with how Weems admitted to taking a look at pornography whereas taking youngsters to highschool however claimed that he by no means deliberately confirmed the kids or touched anybody.
An uncle of one of many victims, 10 years outdated on the time, testified through the trial that the sufferer’s household discovered pornography on her pill and claimed “Mr. James” first confirmed it to her.
In response to WUSA9, knowledge discovered by an FBI agent who makes a speciality of location knowledge testified that Weems checked out pornographic supplies over 170 occasions between January and July 2022 whereas in shut proximity to quite a few Baltimore-area elementary colleges the place he was scheduled to drop off and decide up youngsters for the daycare.
Younger testified that she remembered Weems paying particular consideration to one of many victims, usually referring to her as his “little buddy” and “my little helper.”
The previous daycare proprietor, who’s serving time for allegedly taking pictures Weems in July 2022 after studying concerning the allegations, stated the younger sufferer was delayed for her age and principally saved to herself and her sister whereas attending the daycare.
Assistant state’s lawyer Zarena Sita stated that sufferer’s like which are who predators are identified to prey on.
One of many sufferer’s dad and mom filed a civil lawsuit in opposition to Weems in March 2025 to carry him financially accountable, alleging negligence and false imprisonment. The litigation claimed the younger sufferer has handled nightmares and complications because of the abuse following the ordeal, which lawyer Jonathan Schochor referred to as “devastating.”
“These are lifelong accidents,” Schochor stated. “This younger woman confronted what occurred in court docket. Whether or not she will be able to emotionally confront what occurred in her life stays to be seen.”
Nonetheless, Weems’ attorneys, Thomas Pavlinic and Thomas McDowell, declare the sufferer’s reluctance and contradictory testimony at occasions ought to have given the jurors sufficient cheap doubt.
“I’ve empathy for [the alleged victim],” Pavlinic stated. “I feel she is a sufferer on this case. Not of Mr. Weems, however of the system.”
The life sentence isn’t the tip of Weems’ authorized troubles. He nonetheless faces an extra 23 expenses associated to the opposite alleged victims, together with three extra counts of second-degree rape. Younger was additionally named within the civil go well with, alleging the daycare ought to have been conscious of Weems being “hooked on web pornography and would habitually watch pornography each likelihood he had…”
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