Saturday, January 19, 2008

Mesa man arrested in child sex abuse

A former family counselor who worked with children was arrested Thursday on suspicion of molesting his former girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter and taking pictures.

VIDEO: View Tribune's Nicole Beyer report

Mesa police said William Riedel, 43, coerced his girlfriend at the time to participate in the molestation of her own daughter while the girl was drugged with sleeping pills.

Police said the girl’s mother admitted to providing the sleeping pills to her daughter under the false pretense that it was allergy medication.

Police said the molestation occurred from January to March 2006, and the girl is now 13.

The Tribune is not identifying Riedel’s former girlfriend to protect the identity of her daughter, who has been placed in state custody.

Riedel was arrested on suspicion of sexual conduct with a minor and child molestation.

His former girlfriend, a 55-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child abuse.

Police said the daughter of Riedel’s current fiancee discovered photographs of the molestation on Riedel’s computer. Detectives then found other child pornography images on the computer.

Information was not immediately available about where Riedel worked as a counselor.

Detectives believe additional victims may exist, and they ask anyone with information to call (480) 644-2324 or Silent Witness at (480) 948-6377.

Original Article-

Mesa man arrested in child sex abuse EastValleyTribune.com

No comments: