ALABASTER (AL)
The Birmingham News
By William Thornton — The Birmingham News
ALABASTER, Alabama — About 100 people are attending a forum on child safety at Alabaster’s Westwood Baptist Church this afternoon.
Several panelists spoke to attendees about signs to look for to spot child predators, how to talk to children about abuse and recognizing signs of abuse.
Daniel M. Acker Jr., suspected of multiple counts of child sex abuse, served as Westwood’s youth minister from 1990 to 1994. None of the cases Acker has been charged with involved Westwood.
Russell Bedsole, with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, said child predators can come from every social class or income, and cases go vastly unreported. He said parents need to spend time with their children and ask questions.
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