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Gronk <invalide@invalid.invalid> wrote in news:um0jeb$v5te$6@dont-
email.me:

Anyone?

An advocate for Philadelphia’s transgender community has been charged with sexually abusing two children, one of whom was just 9 years old, according
to court records.

Kendall Stephens, 37 — who served on a volunteer LGBTQ+ advisory committee
for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and was a frequent
presence at rallies and political events — was jailed Monday on charges including rape, indecent assault, and unlawful contact with minors, the
records show.

Her case was being prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office due
to Stephens’ past work with the DA’s Office. Jane Roh, a spokesperson for
the DA’s Office, said Stephens had been removed from the office’s advisory committee due to the new case. Roh declined to comment further.

Stephens did not have an attorney listed in court documents. She did not
post bail and remained in custody, court records show.

Stephens is accused of abusing two boys, ages 9 and 14, in a pattern of behavior that lasted at least several months over the past year or so, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The document says Stephens performed oral sex on the younger boy on at least three occasions, telling
the boy he couldn’t tell anyone about it or he would be “locked up.”

The affidavit says Stephens also abused the older boy, introducing him to
sex toys, encouraging him to use them, and showing him explicit photos.

(The Inquirer does not identify victims of alleged sexual abuse without
their permission.)

The investigation into Stephens’ alleged crimes began in September, after
one of the victims’ relatives reported the alleged assaults to police. Authorities interviewed the boys and several other witnesses who offered accounts that echoed what the victims told investigators, the affidavit
says.

Stephens was an outspoken advocate for the transgender community, and had facilitated support groups at the William Way LGBT Community Center. She
was assaulted in 2020 in her Point Breeze home by a group of women and men shouting anti-trans slurs. One of the attackers pleaded guilty earlier
this year.

After that assault, Stephens went on to push for updates to the state’s
hate crime statute and often worked with city prosecutors on
investigations that involved victims from the LGBTQ+ community.

Stephens’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 29, court records
show.

https://www.inquirer.com/crime/kendall-stephens-charged-rape-assault- 20231219.html

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