Victims Of Sexual

The Baltimore State's Attorney's Office on Friday announced the formation of a “special victims unit” to prosecute cases similar to those seen on the “Law & Order: SVU” crime drama of the same name. Baltimore's SVU, which combines the city's family violence and sex offense divisions, will focus on crimes of violence - including sexual assault and abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking - against “women, children, vulnerable adults and other victims of sexual assault and domestic violence,” according to the prosecutor's office.

Ravens officials met with wide receiver Michael Jackson yesterday to discuss a Highlandtown woman's allegations of sexual abuse, and the club later released a statement saying it would not "prejudge the situation."The 44-year-old woman, who said she had a 16-month relationship with Jackson, filed 11 charges in District Court: two counts of second-degree sex offense, a third-degree sex offense, three counts of second-degree assault, two counts of perverted practice, one count of sodomy, one count of harassment and one count of false imprisonment.

The chairman of the Anne Arundel County Republican Party called yesterday for the resignation of a state delegate whose husband was convicted last week of molesting a young relative. Robert A. Costa said he speaks for the county's party in asking that Del. Joan Cadden, a Brooklyn Park Democrat, step down after her husband, Raymond Cadden Sr., was found guilty last week of child abuse and sexual offenses. Costa said it was "unconscionable" that family members knew about the allegations of abuse but didn't report them, as they testified in court.

The Hyatt Regency ballroom was jammed at "Steppin' Out into the Sun: Celebration 2000" for several reasons. More than 1,200 folks came to honor Sandra Unitas and her husband, former Baltimore Colt John Unitas; raise money for Second Step Inc., which helps victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence; and sample offerings from 42 local restaurants. "We've got everything from Esskay hot dogs to lobster and mushroom burritos," said event committee member Lee Draminski. "We're psyched," event chair Claudia Grimm said.

A brief on a sexual harassment bill in Wednesday's Anne Arundel County Sun incorrectly listed the committee that discussed the bill Monday night. The City Council's Rules Committee deferred voting on the bill.A bill that would make sexual harassment a crime in Annapolis is being rewritten by the city attorney.Alderman Carl O. Snowden, the Democrat from the city's 5th Ward who introduced the legislation, said several sections are being revised.Business leaders and critics who testified against the bill last week complained that the definition of sexual harassment was too broad and other areas were too vague.

A Carroll County grand jury has handed down a 16-count indictment against a Westminster football coach suspected of abusing teen-age boys over a period of several years.The indictment, handed down Thursday, lists two teen-age victims. Both victims were already known to Westminster police and the state's attorney's office, who, in September, had already filed a criminal complaint against the football coach in District Court.Named in the indictment was Richard T. Mercer, a 46-year-old football coach for the Westminster Optimists Club.

STTAR gets U.S. funds for workplace sensitivity training The Columbia-based Sexual Trauma Treatment, Advocacy and Recovery (STTAR) Center Inc. has received funding through the federal Violence Against Women Act to provide training on dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace. The training will include the definition of sexual harassment, steps to take when being harassed, the consequences of harassing behavior and the liability of management in cases of sexual harassment. The center, a nonprofit agency providing services to victims of sexual crimes, will also provide sensitivity training to help employees who have sexually harassed co-workers change their behavior.

An Anne Arundel County grand jury indicted yesterday a Baltimore man accused of raping a 62-year-old woman at a Brooklyn Park coin-operated laundry. Christopher Parr, 27, of the 4000 block of Barrington Road was indicted on nine counts, including first- and second-degree rape, assault and car theft. Police said Parr followed the woman into the Village Laundromat on the 700 block of Church St. at 10 p.m. July 19, assaulted her, stole $6 from her purse and $90 from the business, grabbed her keys and drove away in her car. The Sun does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault.

A convicted child molester charged with sexually abusing two 3-year-old girls and raping one of them at a now-defunct Westminster day care center where he worked part time will be held in the county jail without bond, a Carroll County District Court judge ruled yesterday. James A. Gregory, 59, whose last known address was in the 400 block of W. 24th St. in Baltimore, was charged with one count of second-degree rape, four counts of sexual abuse, two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual offense, said David P. Daggett, deputy state's attorney.

It is horrifying to open a newspaper and see Jerry Sandusky again ("Sandusky: Paterno wouldn't allow pedophile," March 26). Just when you thought the Penn State sexual abuse scandal was over, Mr. Sandusky is giving interviews to a crazed documentary filmmaker, John Ziegler. To know that Mr. Ziegler is getting coverage for the nonsense he is pursuing - namely, that Joe Paterno did not know Mr. Sandusky was a pedophile - is just one more indignity to be endured by sexual abuse victims everywhere.