San Diego's 10News Investigates Second Christian Orphanage Accused of Abuse Miracle Ranch and Oasis Orphanage based in Baja, Mexico Miracle Ranch originals: Story Part 1 | Video Part 1 || Story Part 2 | Video Part 2 Miracle Ranch Operators: Mark Stratton and Drew Belk, Baja Children's Fund May 20 2008 Part 1 SAN DIEGO--Thirty-five orphans at a Baja orphanage told the 10News's investigative I-Team that they're victims of abuse. "We were not to tell anybody what was going on there," one female victim said. "He still was kicking and punching me. I feel so dirty. I was afraid to say anything. This man abused me and raped me and oh, God...." They grew up at Miracle Ranch (Rancho El Milagro), a Christian orphanage located in a dusty, secluded compound in the foothills 90 minutes south of San Diego. The victims range in age between 25 and 40. They claim Antonio Hernandez and his brother Jose Hernandez abused them. They also say Antonio's wife Edna Hernandez did nothing to stop it. "She's fooling everybody," one of the victims said. They describe a place of fear, where the generator was shut down after dark so that no one could turn on the lights when the men would come into the dorms. "I used to see Antonio going under the blankets and touching the girls and kissing them," said another victim. They talk of repeated rapes, saying girls as young as six years old were sexually abused to the point of bleeding, while Edna did her best to cover it up. "We saw the trash can with blood papers and diapers and she said, 'Oh, she got hurt with a cactus,'" said a victim. Like Elsa Ochoa, now 40 years old, these victims continue to carry their shame. Through tears, she told the I-Team: "Every time I can, I eat soap because I feel so dirty. When I [go] to the supermarket I want to taste it. I feel comfortable after I eat soap." Members of the I-Team went undercover to Miracle Ranch. The orphanage is lacking in much, but to our untrained eyes, the children seemed healthy. The I-Team found Jose Hernandez, the brother of Antonio, who was forced to quit after complaints from other staff members. Antonio and Edna are still running the orphanage. The I-Team showed emotional footage of the victims to Mark Stratton and Drew Belk who run the Baja Children's Fund, which supports the ranch. Much of that money comes from generous San Diegans. "We don't believe the accusations against Antonio because there appear to be ulterior motives," said Statton and Belk who believe those claiming to be victims are being manipulated by two former ranch staffers: Steve Schienhioffen and Neill Vaughn, who they said are the two trying to gain control of the land where the acre orphanage sits. Schienhioffen and Vaughn adamantly deny this and say Baja Children's fund is doing all they can to avoid the real issue. "This really is not about us, it has nothing to do with us," Vaughn said. The Baja Children's Fund does not deny there was abuse at Miracle Ranch years ago. They admit at least two pedophiles, Dalton Weber, who admitted to molesting five children at a Carlsbad church in 1994, and John Swink, who was convicted of lewd acts with a minor under 14, did frequent the orphanage in the '70s and '80s. "I think some of these things did happen. There is an amount a truth in everything. I don't believe the sexual accusations against Antonio," said Stratton. Stratton and Belk refuse to believe Antonio and Edna are harming the children. They said the jury is still out on the allegations of current mistreatment of the orphans. "All we're trying to do now is take care of the kids at that orphanage and hope that someone with more knowledge then we have will sort this out," Belk said. Marissa Ugarte, who heads up the Bilateral Safety Coalition Corridor argues Mexican agencies' oversight of orphanages is poor at best. She says if these children were abused at any time, and Antonio and Edna even knew about it, they should not be running an orphanage today. "We can't just make children liars. Our duty is first to believe the child, then everything else," said Ugarte. The now grown children showed us their scars from what they said were beatings in the orphanage. They said they have scars inside too from being told they were worthless. "They always tell us 'Why you are here [at Miracle Ranch]? [Because] Nobody loves you,'" one of the victims said. The orphans have filed criminal charges against the Hernandez's in the city of Ensenada. Copyright 2008 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Miracle Ranch originals: Story Part 1 | Video Part 1 || Story Part 2 | Video Part 2 Miracle Ranch Operators: Mark Stratton and Drew Belk, Baja Children's Fund Part 2 SAN DIEGO--Jorge Camberos is having a hard time admitting what happened to him 30 years ago. As a child he was raped. It happened at Miracle Ranch, a Christian orphanage 90 minutes south of San Diego. After 35 former orphans came forward alleging physical abuse and sexual abuse, the 10News I-Team went undercover. "When she saw I was hurt she said, 'Antonio, stop! You are going to kill her'", said former orphan Abigail Boche, crying. "He makes me (do) oral sex," said former orphan Elsa Ochoa. This was under the care of Tony and Edna Hernandez, a couple who even today run the Miracle Ranch orphanage, 10News reported. "After all the things they done and probably still doing they can't stay there. They need to be in jail where they belong." "We conducted interviews with former orphans and ranch staffers, and the main U.S. charity that supports the ranch, asking, did Tony and Edna abuse the kids?" said Drew Belk of the Baja Children's Foundation. The orphans said that Tony and Edna were responsible, but they weren't alone, reported 10News. "There was an American guy, John Swink, he would go into the dorms, and he was abusing us," said one of the orphans. The 10News I-Team asked who better to tell us if the Hernandez couple were involved than John Swink? John Swink is a 76-year-old registered sex offender convicted in the U.S. of committing lewd and lascivious acts on a minor under 14, 10News found out. Swink was never tried in Mexico. Swink was on the board of directors who ran the ranch and former Miracle Ranch orphans. 10News was told by the orphans that Swink was given access to young boys like Jorge by the Hernandez couple. "Tony used to bring him to John Swinks' camp site and he would be molested," said former ranch staffer Steve Schienhoffen. The 10News I-Team found Swink in Lake Elsinore. "Sometimes I feel like jumping off a bridge but that doesn't solve anything. All I can do now is live my life totally different now," said Swink. Now, Swink has cancer, and no family, just memories of what he has done. "There are a lot of allegations of sexual abuse on your part," said 10News I-Team reporter Kerstin Lindquist. "There was a lot on everybody's part," said Swink. Including allegations against Antonio Hernandez, the man who runs the orphanage today, 10News reported. "Do you think he should still be running an orphanage down there now?" asked Lindquist. "Well if what was going on then is going on now...no," said Swink. John Swink said he can not be sure Hernandez was actually physically or sexually abusing the children but he believes Hernandez knew that there was abuse taking place. While at Miracle Ranch 10News saw no signs of abuse. Swink hasn't stepped foot in the camp for years. Copyright 2008 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Oasis Orphanage Operator: Robert Fleck, International Children’s Care, Vancouver, Wash. Most recent return from 2005 shows the tax-free charity took in $4.6 million for Oasis and other orphanages in places like Congo, Thailand and Ukraine, where orphanages are often unregulated or have minimal oversight. Nov 29 2006 10News investigators have uncovered allegations of rape, torture and possible trafficking of children at an orphanage in Baja, Mexico. Also, 10News investigators revealed the orphanage’s connection to a U.S. Christian ministry that raises millions of dollars for orphans. 10News got ahold of this story because of a little girl’s cry for help. The girl said a man who was supposed to be taking care of her molested her. There is not much between Ensenada and San Felipe on Highway 3, except for tumbleweeds, a small town and a children’s orphanage called Oasis. "This is a cafeteria, an office, pastor's house, church, school. There are homes for children behind that,” said Dr. Lane Scott. Dr. Scott worked inside the orphanage, but now he said he is kept out by a barbed-wire fence because of what he saw. "(I saw) burns on children's hands, burns they received by a few of the house parents and supported by administration,” said Dr. Scott. He said he provided volunteer medical care at the facility and over time he saw some terrible things. "One of the girls was raped. There have been a number of girls and there have been similar attempted rapes. There were other violations. Abuse continues here," added Dr. Scott. Sources within Mexican law enforcement told 10News at least seven girls were raped and five boys tortured at the orphanage. 10News obtained a letter written by a 12-year-old girl named Mari. She described in great detail how she was sexually violated at the orphanage. “We were asleep. Suddenly, I felt someone take my blanket away. I was scared,” Mari said in her letter. The alleged victim’s former teacher, Guadalupe Hernandez, read a portion of the letter to 10News. Mari described how her attacker, an administrator and a man she called “papi,” tried to rape her. “I was crying on my bed and he told me not to say anything,” said Mari. “I was very upset and very saddened,” the letter said. Hernandez said other girls have told her of similar experiences. She agreed to help Mari by sending out the letter in the mail. When Hernandez confronted the orphanage’s supervisors, pastor Mauro Reyes and his wife, Lydia Palomeras, about the allegations, she said she was fired. “He called me and told me I was fired. He said I had no right to investigate anything about the girls,” said Hernandez. Hernandez gave a copy of the letter to Dr. Scott and mailed the original letter to Robert Fleck in Vancouver, Washington, in the United States. Fleck runs International Children’s Care and funds the orphanage. "I've been down there personally. I've talked to children and they haven't told me these things," Fleck told 10News investigators. Scott said he met with Fleck at the orphanage recently and was told different things. "In the end, he said, ‘I don't have time to talk to these children.’ He walked away and left them," said Dr. Scott. Dr. Scott said he turned to 10News when he realized the seriousness of the problem. Mari, the little girl who wrote the letter, has disappeared and so have other children, sources told 10News. 10News investigators tried to speak with several child protective agencies, but were not told anything regarding the disappearances. Missing Orphans Possibly Involved In Sex Trafficking The Oasis orphanage is in the high desert between Ensenada and San Felipe, but the story took 10News investigators to a side of Tijuana, Mexico most never get to see. Prostitutes walk the city streets, with some as young as eight years old. “About $5,000 minimum price. That’s the going rate to buy a child who can be turned into a prostitute,” said Marissa Ugarte of the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition. Where do many of these kids come from? Ugarte said orphanages in Mexico and other parts of the world have become feeding grounds for the sexual trafficking industry. "Some of the orphanages have been caught even doing pornography with the children inside the orphanage," added Ugarte. She added that thousands of children are led away or mysteriously disappear from orphanages every year. “There were young girls being molested,” said former Oasis volunteer Roger Brown. Brown volunteered but was removed when he complained about the cruel punishment he saw. "Nobody talked, kids or anybody, boys especially they were more afraid of getting their hands burned,” said Brown. Others saw the same abuses, including Dr. Lane Scott. "At times, they will put their hands in hot water, at different times, they’ll use fire," said Dr. Scott. A source within federal Mexican law enforcement told 10News that children have been raped and tortured at Oasis. They said 19 girls are unaccounted for and unconfirmed reports said the girls have been placed under state custody. "This is a problem, these sexual violations, sexual misconduct of various types," said Dr. Scott. Dr. Scott said during his volunteer medical care at the orphanage he saw the problems. “In talking to the administration, they denied it,” said Dr. Scott. Hoping someone would investigate, Dr. Scott went to local authorities. 10News learned that several children were brought into a Baja police station and interviewed by members of the district attorney’s office, but nobody seemed to know what happened to those statements or the investigation itself. 10News investigators searched for answers by talking to several Baja police officers, but were turned away. They were told they did not know anything about the investigation. It was later discovered that an employee in the district attorney's office took down the reports that have since disappeared. "They are using these children as commodities. They make money off each child they have here," said Dr. Scott. Dr. Scott said the charity that supports the orphanage is raising millions of dollars. “There have been accusations, but they have all been cleared away,” said Rick Fleck of International Children’s Care. Fleck runs International Children’s Care, which funds the orphanage. In response to the claims of abuse, rapes and possible trafficking of children, Fleck told 10News, “I think it is unfounded. I don’t think it’s true. Any time any abuse of children is suspected, we investigate it or the project members investigate it.” 10News investigators obtained tax returns for International Children’s Care. The most recent return from 2005 showed the charity took in $4.6 million for Oasis and other orphanages in places like Congo, Thailand and Ukraine. Many of the orphanages are unregulated or have minimal oversight. Copyright 2006 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Update: Nathan Archer Convicted By Second Jury Show of Support Needed At Friday, March 14 2008 Sentencing Hearing Jury Deadlocks 11-1 to Aquit, Judge Declares Mistrial County Re-Tries Medical Marijuana Patient Nathan Archer Clear evidence of prosecutorial misconduct, malicious prosecution, police misconduct, judicial misconduct Misconduct: Detective Schuyler Boyce; Misconduct, Malicious Prosecution, Disregard for the Law: San Diego County District Attorney Robert Bruce; Judicial Misconduct: Judge Margie Woods When the jurors were dismissed they had an opportunity to ask and answer questions with the prosecuting and defending attorneys. The prosecutor, D.A. Robert Bruce, was asked the same question three times by different jurors.
Finally, the third time, it came at him point blank: "When you learned that Mr. Archer was a valid medical marijuana patient, why did you continue prosecuting him?" San Diego County District Attorney Robert Bruce threw up his hands, replied, "Well personally I think this whole medical marijuana thing is a bunch of poppycock," and walked away. (This was witnessed by the remaining 11 jurors, Mr. Reyes with his counsel, and the defendant, Nathan Archer, and his counsel.) The Mayor of the City of San Diego, showing support for the will of the people, submitted an amicus brief yet the County continues wasting tax dollars with its attacks on innocent patients. Nathan Archer is seeking help organizing a class action law suit against San Diego County, including but not limited to qualifiable medical marijuana patients, their care-givers, their doctors, and non-patient land owners who have had their freedom and/or property threatened with seizure or seized by San Diego County. (complete article) Update: Archer Convicted By Second Jury Friday, March 14 2008 Sentencing Hearing for Nathan Archer Background: In April, 2006, the San Diego Police Dept. raided the residence of Nathan
Archer, a 40-year-old chronic pain patient in San Diego, seizing 30 plants (police inflated the number to 98 plants by counting garbage and dead plants) and 28 oz. of processed medicine. After failing to get a jury to convict Archer in a previous criminal trial, San Diego County District Attorney Robert Bruce retried Archer. On January 30, 2008, after assistance from a cross-deputized federal DEA Agent who served as an expert witness, the second jury convicted Archer of cultivation and possession of greater than one ounce of marijuana and he remains at home in Sausalito while awaiting sentencing.
Please come out to demonstrate to the San Diego justice system that Nathan is part of our medical marijuana community, and to encourage the judge towards lenience. Come show your support for Nathan at his sentencing hearing! When: 9:00 a.m. before Judge Kerry Wells Where: San Diego County Superior Court, Central Courthouse at 220 West Broadway, Department 36 in the heart of downtown San Diego Court location and information For more information, contact Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org The Love and Death of a San Diego Activist The Last Words of Steve McWilliams July 10, 2005 Dear All, This is my time to say goodbye to you. I came to California and San Diego to celebrate life and health with the right to use marijuana for my pain and suffering. But the law that was supposed to protect patients like me has been turned on its head so that no patient can feel safe ever again. Taking the methadone was only supposed to shut down the pain from the headaches which lately have been very bad. I wanted to stop the pain but that got out of control too. I didn't realize what I was taking. I just wanted the pain to go away. But now, with everything that happened I know I will never be whole again. I am an advocate and activist for a good cause - my good health. As an activist I believe in acting when the time is right. To be an impeccable warrior - I believe that my actions - of not being here - can help move the discussion of medical marijuana back to what's good for the patient without the DEA telling us what medications we can use. Judge Reuben Brooks is a wretched, evil little gnome who thinks he can practice medicine and tell me what medications I can take. After last week I expect to be called to the Federal Courthouse or somewhere to talk about my use of methadone. I cannot allow the government to decide what drugs I must take. It's my life. I had intended to see my Dr. Geanacou who has been the best doctor I've ever had. I am gone now. I didn't want to wake and worry Barbara - she has no idea that I'm gone. This was my last chance to help the medical marijuana movement and others that I care about. None of this was ever planned by me - no one knew what I was set out to do. After last week my mind and body have not been the same. Thinking is much, much more difficult. I still feel very dizzy and nauseous. I know that I will not be able to recover to the pain level I was at before. I have been hurt by last week and that was just an accident. I believe now though that I will be locked up in some kind of cell. I refuse to allow the govt. to control my life. That's what so much of this has been about - my right to use a medicine that worked for me. As an activist I've given everything to the cause - all my possessions, my time and my life. You can't give more than that. NO Retreat NO Surrender Love Steve Posted with permission from Steve's wife Barbara (complete article: The Last Words of Steve McWilliams) (complete article: The Love and Death of a San Diego Activist) From Draft NOtices, January - March 2008 Struggle Heats Up In San Diego High Schools Over Military Training Programs by Paula Hoffman Aren’t shooting ranges on high school campuses in complete contradiction to the “zero weapons tolerance” rules? Is JROTC, in reality, a well-planned, back-door recruitment tool that targets vulnerable young people? Do parents and students have a clear understanding of what JROTC is all about? Are students being offered fair and equal educational support by school counselors, administrators and teachers? These are the issues being tackled by a coalition of parents, students, teachers and community organizations in San Diego, California.
The new Marine Corps JROTC program at Mission Bay High School opened in September. During the summer, Principal Cheryl Seelos and strongly pro-military board members pushed for its initiation. MBHS was one of the few schools in San Diego never to have had JROTC. Now, as hundreds of low-income Latino students are bused in daily, the military sees fresh opportunities to brainwash and recruit. Despite passionate speeches by many opponents of JROTC at two summer school board meetings, the final vote was four to one in favor of JROTC, with board member John de Beck casting the only nay vote. Subsequently, picketing and leafleting outside the school during class registration in August was the beginning of outreach efforts to inform students and parents of what was happening. At the same time, the doors of the beautiful rebuilt Lincoln High School campus were about to open — and so were the doors of its JROTC program. Within the first few weeks of school, it was observed by UJIMA Institute for Civic Responsibility founder Mshinda Nyofu that Lincoln High was quickly building a new shooting range to go with its JROTC program. The absurdity was obvious. Why are we teaching students to shoot and carry arms on campus, even as we attempt to deal with the painful on-campus and off-campus violence affecting communities everywhere? UJIMA began raising questions about the issue in the community around Lincoln High.
(complete article)
Curious Goings On At Independent TV KUSI 9/51 In his published Comments About Global Warming, San Diego weatherman John Coleman starts out “It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming... It is a SCAM.”Here are the first two paragraphs of John Coleman's "Bio Page" from the web site of his San Diego employer, KUSI News 9/51: “Being a TV weatherman in San Diego is an outrageous scam,” says KUSI NEWS' 6, 10 and 11 PM weathercaster. Then he laughs. He knows there is plenty of truth in his joke, but he also knows it's a long way from the whole story.(complete article)
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