January 10, 2012 — The LA Times reports on the ongoing Hollywood child sexual abuse scandal that has gripped the entertainment industry — including managers, casting agents, actors, and others convicted of child molestation or child pornography, including two working at Nickelodeon. Experts warn parents to be aware that pedophiles are drawn to the entertainment industry, and to exercise caution. If you or your child has been sexually abused or molested, contact a Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyer at The Schmidt Firm, LLP. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit.

Advocates for children warn that child molesters are drawn to the entertainment industry because they are able to exploit the glittery aspirations of child actors and models. Children want fame, which is potent bait that pedophiles can use against their victims. It is also relatively easy for pedophiles to gain unsupervised access to the children. Unlike other organizations in which adults have access to children, there is rarely fingerprinting or background checks in the entertainment industry.

Experts say addressing the problem is long, long overdue.

Jason Michael Handy, a production assistant working at Nickelodeon, was convicted in 2004 of felonies that including lewd acts on a child, distributing pornography, and child sexual exploitation. He was sentenced to six years for his crimes.

• Handy used the Internet to lure a 14 year-old girl with promises of a television career, and engaged in “inappropriate acts.”
• During taping of “Cousin Skeeter,” Handy befriended a 9 year-old girl and began visiting her at home and kissing her.
• He met an 11 year-old girl on “The Amanda Show,” and began emailing naked pictures of himself

Ezel Ethan Channel, a registered sex offender who was on probation from a 2003 conviction, got a job at Nickelodeon as a production assistant. He worked at the company for nearly seven months before being arrested in December 2005 for molesting a 14 year-old boy. Channel was convicted in 2009, sentenced to six months in jail, but the felony conviction was later thrown out for lack of evidence.

Since then, Nickelodeon says that it has toughened its employment screening, including a full background check on anyone who works for Nickelodeon, including the parents of child actors.

The issue of Los Angeles child sexual abuse has received renewed attention, after three men in Hollywood were arrested for felonies related to child sexual abuse in two weeks.

Read More: Hollywood Child Sexual Abuse Is No Secret: 3 Men Charged in 2 Weeks.

The Times reported that Martin Weiss, a longtime talent manager and casting agent, was arrested on November 29, 2011 and charged with eight felonies for abusing a boy who hired him to pursue a music career. Jason James Murphy, 35, was a registered sex offender working as a casting agent until the LA Times reported his past on November 17, 2011 — he had previously been convicted of kidnapping and sexually abusing a young boy. Fernando Rivas, 59, was working for “Sesame Street,” and was charged on November 21, 2011 for coercing a child into sexually explicit conduct, producing child pornography.

How do I contact a Lawyer for a Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting child sexual abuse cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been the victim of sexual abuse, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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