NA Member James Effler Sexually Assaulted Toddler Girl in Library Restroom

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JAMES EFFLER- NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS MEMBER

November 9th 2014 by Anonymous

From Opportunist to Sex Offender

You may have heard “alcoholics/addicts lie- it’s what they do.” Those who truly embrace recovery stop; James Effler was not one of them.

You may have heard “they manipulate people and they manipulate situations.” Those who embrace recovery stop; James Effler was not in that category, either.

Fact #1: His name was not even James. Along the line that some lie for no reason other than they can, he falsified information when applying for a state identification card. His real name is Jimmie Carson Effler, Jr.

I met Effler in November, 1999. I had gone to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting to meet an acquaintance. When the acquaintance did not show up, I was standing outside the building smoking a cigarette before going home. A car stopped on the street and drove away after Effler got out of the car and walked in my direction. This stranger began nagging me to take him home with me, and when I refused, he came up with his first pointless lie. He said he was looking forward to his birthday the next day, and a gift he expected to receive. I later learned his birthday was in March, not November.

Effler began popping up in my face wherever I went. While he said he was an NA member, he rarely attended actual meetings, preferring to stand outside where he could ask people for money, cigarettes, rides, a place to stay, and attending meetings that offered free food. The latter included members’ “clean date” parties, holiday parties, and even a memorial service for a member who had died.

In addition to those of us he suckered into “helping” him, he loved churches. He made the rounds in at least three different states asking ministers and priests for rent money, food money, food, and had no qualms about asking them to give him their collection plates. He said “Ill even say the Sinner’s Prayer if they give me money!”

My initial appeal was I ‘had what he wanted, and was willing to go to any lengths to get it.” Specifically, he’d heard through NA gossip that I had a good job, and to him that meant a source of financial support. I tolerated frequent verbal abuse, two physical attacks, financial problems, and my family temporarily breaking up. Yet “Steppers” continued to tell me he was “doing the best he could,” and that I should continue to help him.

When my family walked away from this mess, Effler went out and committed a crime. I didn’t learn the facts of the crime for more than three years. The reason: as he knew I had no way of knowing what was going on in Texas, he thought a few more lies would mean I’d continue to give him financial support. Asking me to send him money, he wrote a nine-page letter describing the details of the crime- how a sex offender and a prostitute who lived in his building had set him up, and he had not done anything wrong. The facts of the case: he had approached and raped a 31-year-old woman, and was sentenced to three years in the Texas state penitentiary.

As soon as he was released, he showed up on my doorstep. He’d ignored the restraining order I obtained when he was in Texas, and he ignored the second one also. Upon moving into a homeless shelter, he discovered a nearby Alcoholics Anonymous group. He had no trouble manipulating members, even oldtimers, for money.

Early one morning, a disturbing newsflash came on the radio. It said he had been arrested after taking a small child away from her babysitter and into the restroom of a public library. While it was believed he had sexually assaulted the child, he was not convicted of sexual abuse; he was convicted of first-degree kidnapping, and sentenced to life without parole.

One part of the news broadcast was especially troubling: the social worker at the homeless shelter exclaimed “I’m horrified- I can’t believe James would do something like this… after all, he works!!” An educated professional couldn’t grasp an individual having to do occasional day-labor jobs does not mean the individual is a responsible, decent person.

Ultimately, Jimmie Carson Effler Jr.- a/k/a James- got what he wanted: a free ride for the rest of his life. Knowing Effler as I did, I’m sure he has no regrets about exchanging his freedom for having a roof over his head, hot meals, recreation, and everything else that comes at the expense of we taxpayers. From living off churches in Louisiana, California, and Texas, to living off taxpayers in the state of Iowa, it was a short journey with a lot of wreckage to everyone in between.

Here is an article below about this sick NA Member. Just one of many that can be sitting next to you in an NA or AA Meeting.

Homeless Offender caught with 20-month-old girl in library restroom
The man has a prior conviction in Texas for assaulting a woman.

By TOM ALEX
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Police said a registered sex offender who lived at a Des Moines homeless shelter kidnapped a toddler Tuesday at the downtown library and sexually assaulted her in a locked men’s room while employees worked to open the door.

James Carson Effler Jr., 32, grabbed the 20-month-old girl about 11 a.m. as she played on the floor near her baby sitter, who was using a library computer, investigators said.

Library employees helped the baby sitter search for the girl before they heard a child’s cry. Employees then called police and removed the handle on the restroom’s door to gain access and reach the girl; they held Effler until officers got there, Capt. Kelly Willis said.

“Most of the police work was done by the library staff before we even arrived,” Willis said.

No one else was hurt. The child was taken to a hospital for evaluation, and her parents were contacted. The extent of her injuries was not made public.

The incident illustrates the difficulty lawmakers face in trying to attack child molestation by such measures as requiring offenders to register with the state or limiting where they may live.

Effler was convicted in Texas in 2003 for sexually assaulting a 31-year-old woman.

Javier Sambrano, public information officer for the El Paso, Texas, police department, said the conviction against Effler stemmed from a May 2002 incident in which he knocked on the door at the home of a 31-year-old woman and asked to use the telephone. Once Effler gained entry, he sexually assaulted the woman.

“They did not know each other, he was not someone she knew, but in the area where the victim lived, many of the neighbors often would ask to use the phone,” Sambrano said.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and later paroled. Officials have not determined how long he has lived in Iowa.

Effler is listed on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, but because the conviction involved an adult victim, he was not covered by a new state law that bans child molesters from living within 2,000 feet of a school or child care center.

Effler, who police say lives at Churches United Shelter, 205 15th St., reported his address to registry officials as 201 1/2 Fifth St. in West Des Moines.

He is charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree sexual assault and failure to comply with rules of the registry, because he was not living at the address listed. The kidnapping charge is the most serious of the three; it carries a life prison term.

The baby sitter noticed the child missing about 11 a.m., police said. She told officers the girl had been playing at her feet while she surfed the Internet at a table not far from the men’s restroom on the main level of the library, 100 Locust St.

The baby sitter and library employees immediately began a search for the child, and then someone heard a child scream in the restroom and saw an adult’s shadow on the other side of the frosted glass.

Library workers tried to force their way into the restroom, then called for a maintenance worker with a screwdriver.

Willis said that employees William Stokes and Pam Deitrick removed the handle and opened the door, and that they then pulled the child out of the restroom and shut Effler inside.

“They are heroes,” Willis said. “They grabbed the baby and shut the door on him.”

Library Director Kay Runge referred all questions about the investigation to the police.

Police have been called to the main library 51 times this year for a host of minor problems.

Tuesday’s incident “was an awful thing, horrendous,” Acting City Manager Rick Clark said. “We are really thankful the library staff was there and attentive and took the initiative to do something about this.”

Effler was jailed in May for public urination and arrested less than a month later for drunken driving. He spent 30 days in jail, according to court records.

Records also show Effler was charged with shoplifting in Windsor Heights on Aug. 29. He was ordered to pay a $50 fine.

Doug Epperson, a psychology professor at Iowa State University who helped Minnesota officials develop guidelines to evaluate sex offenders before they are released from prison, said child abductions by strangers are rare.

“Typically, with a victim that young, it’s a related perpetrator or a perpetrator who is connected in some way with the parents, or it could be a friend of the family,” he said. “Normally a stranger would not have access to a victim that young.”

The March abduction and murder of 10-year-old Jetseta Gage of Cedar Rapids — the man accused in her death, Roger Paul Bentley, 38, was a friend of the family — sparked Iowa lawmakers to pass a handful of laws to crack down on sex criminals.

Police Sgt. Barry Arnold said 20 to 30 of the Churches United shelter’s 125 or so residents have been warned that they must move under the residency restriction law. Effler was not one of them.

Register staff writer Abby Simons contributed to this article.

https://www.wackbag.com/threads/homeless-man-molests-toddler-in-library.33400/

16 thoughts on “NA Member James Effler Sexually Assaulted Toddler Girl in Library Restroom

  1. And on a side note- when the creep was released after his 3-year sentence and turned up at the A.A. meeting I attended, I informed an oldtimer (female) that I had a restraining order against him- she basically told me that was my tough luck because ‘anybody who wants to come to a meeting is welcome.’

    • Well That sounds so AA. It does not even seem correct though right? I mean if you have a restraining order against the guy, then whether you are in an AA or NA meeting should not matter right? Maybe you could have reported it or thought the lady was correct. Lady sounds like a real piece of work and did not care about your safety.

    • I’m not surprised at thes response sunkist.

      The first paragraph of the 3rd Tradition in the 12 x 12 reads in part ……” You are an XA member if you say so. You can declare yourself in; nobody can keep you out”; “We don’t want to keep you out. We aren’t a bit afraid you’ll harm us, never mind how twisted or violent you may be.”
      This is what these arrogant people are ignoring, hence these violent EVIL crimes against women and children (and other men) are being perpetrated. I just can’t believe that these people want to defend this! This really bothers me to the core!

      • I am super happy you found this Marchon, I had been searching for this just last week and could not find it.

        “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition 3, Page 139

        AA Tradition Three

        “The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.”

        THIS Tradition is packed with meaning. For A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker “You are an A.A. member if you say so. You can declare yourself in; nobody can keep you out. No matter who you are, no matter how low you’ve gone, no matter how grave your emotional complications – even your crimes – we still can’t deny you A.A. We don’t want to keep you out. We aren’t a bit afraid you’ll harm us, never mind how twisted or violent you may be. We just want to be sure that you get the same great chance for sobriety that we’ve had. So you’re an A.A. member the minute you declare yourself.”

          • That would be a resounding yes from me sunkist. Why this sponsor would tell you that is beyond the pale of anyone’s understanding given the hideous nature of this perp.
            It is now absoultely apparent to me that those of the AA ilk will protect their bottome line (i.e. the literature, etc.) with every fiber of their being.
            Your sponsor was absolutely wrong not to validate your concern……….

              • My bad sunkist.
                Who did this ‘brain washed biddy’ sponsor though? I can recall so many like her – it’s scary to think that she’d have such a flippant response to you and your safety.

                  • Oh, regarding what you said about being brainwashed: when I told her he only goes to AA/NA meetings to see what he can get out of people, and she told me she’d already given him money, she said “IT’S A GOD THING.” lol

        • (here’s what I posted in response to you on the LAA site):
          Hi Anti D.,

          Here’s the link for perusal. I think that the Mendez’ family lawyer should probabally have a copy so that they can show exactly how ‘twisted and violent’ some members are.
          If you right click and scroll down to ‘find’, left click a small search option will pop up.
          .

          http://www.aatricitiestn.org/images/TheTRY_THIS_12-Steps_and_12_traditions-1.pdf

          This from the first tradition is what gets me:
          “To many minds all this liberty for the individual spells
          sheer anarchy”. To me this equals covert and secret operations are permitted at the expense of the most vulnerable. How sad.

          It also sates that there is not a single “don’t” – er – yes there is they “don’t want to keep you out.”

          We could have a field day pointing out all the contradictions in the literature.

  2. Apparently this guy had 11 aliases according to court documents. This is one twisted sick man. Both AA and NA invite these type of men into their meetings and then go into our colleges and then high schools and invite teenagers to the same meetings as these twisted sick men. On top of that when calls and letters are made to AA and NA headquarters they say there is nothing they can do. They feel in their opinion they have no responsibility for the safety of their members. When told of child molestation, rape and murder they show complete indifference. They refuse to implement safety policies on any levels.

  3. This sick NA Member confessed to sexually assaulting the toddler according to court documents below.

    Background Facts.
    On our de novo review of the record, we find the following facts.   On the morning of October 4, 2005, Melissa Martin was babysitting J.M., a two-year-old girl, for the first time.   Martin took J.M. to the Des Moines Central Library.   Martin stood at a fifteen-minute internet station, and J.M. stood beside her leg.   A few minutes later, Martin noticed J.M. was no longer there and began calling out her name.   One of the librarians began a search for the child and remembered seeing Effler handing a toy to a toddler girl.   The librarian suggested checking the men’s bathroom.   Martin and the librarian rushed over to the men’s bathroom.   The librarian tried to open it with her key, but it was locked from inside.   They started pounding on the door calling the child’s name.   They heard two “bloodcurdling” screams followed by silence.   The librarian asked her staff to call the maintenance man, who pried the lock open with a screwdriver.   Inside the bathroom, they found a shirtless Effler kneeling next to J.M., who was completely naked.   Martin picked up J.M. and ran out.   Staff members slammed the door shut, preventing Effler from escaping.   Two men held the door shut until the police arrived.   The police wrestled Effler to the floor, handcuffed him, and took him to the Des Moines Police Station.
    At the police station, a detective interviewed Effler in a small interview room.   The detective videotaped the entire interview.   See State v. Hajtic, 724 N.W.2d 449, 456 (Iowa 2006) (encouraging the videotaping of custodial interrogations).   The relevant part of the custodial investigation involving Effler’s Miranda rights contained the following exchanges between the detective and Effler:
    DETECTIVE:  Okay.   I’ll tell you what, did they tell you what your rights were, James?   Do they call you Jim, James?
    EFFLER:  James.
    DETECTIVE:  James.
    EFFLER:  They said that I am only being booked for ahh intoxic public right now.
    DETECTIVE:  Oh.
    EFFLER:  Is that true?
    DETECTIVE:  I don’t-I don’t know that you are not actually booked even yet.   I mean there is no booking been done.
    EFFLER:  So I am being released?
    DETECTIVE:  Well if they book you for intox then you got to you know you are not gonna get released.
    EFFLER:  That would be overnight.
    DETECTIVE:  Usually it’s overnight judges usually let you out in the morning I suppose, huh.
    EFFLER:  Yeah.
    DETECTIVE:  You know what your rights are?
    EFFLER:  You have the right to remain silent and anything you say can used ․
    DETECTIVE:  Mm Mmm.   Used against you?
    EFFLER:  Yes.
    DETECTIVE:  Um, you have the right to a lawyer, talk to a lawyer for advice before I ask any questions and with you before-during questioning if you wish.   If you can’t afford one, one will be appointed to you before any questioning if you wish.   If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time.   You also have the stop right to stop answering at any time until you talk to a lawyer.   And I will give you a copy of this in writing.   I have read this statement of my rights and I understand what my rights are.   I am willing to make a statement and answer questions.   I do not want a lawyer at this time.   I understand and know what I am doing.
    EFFLER:  I do want a court-appointed lawyer.
    DETECTIVE:  Okay.
    EFFLER:  If I go to jail.
    DETECTIVE:  No, let me finish this and then we’ll talk, okay?   Okay, I got one more sentence.   No promises or threats have been made to me and no pressure or coercion of any kind has been used against me.   So if you want to talk to me ․
    EFFLER:  Say, sir ․
    DETECTIVE:  Yes sir.
    EFFLER:  Can we go outside where I can smoke a cigarette, please?
    DETECTIVE:  Can you hold on for a little bit?

    DETECTIVE:  Okay.   Okay.  Here’s all those things I talked to you about the right to remain silent and all that, you remember?   Well you know most of them.   Do you want to read this, James?
    EFFLER:  I already know them.
    DETECTIVE:  Okay, if you want to talk to me sign there and we will go get a smoke and then we’ll talk in a minute.
    Effler then signed a waiver of his Miranda rights, and the two left the room so Effler could smoke a cigarette.   When they returned, the detective asked Effler some questions, and Effler confessed to taking J.M. to the bathroom and locking the door.   He described how he took off her clothes, licked and rubbed her genitals, masturbated, and tried to put his penis inside her vagina.
    The State charged Effler with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree sexual abuse, and failure to register as a sex offender after a 2002 conviction for sexual assault in Texas.   Prior to trial, Effler filed a motion to suppress the confession on the ground the State violated his Fifth Amendment right to counsel.   The district court denied the motion, finding Effler’s request for counsel “conditioned upon his going to jail.”   Effler was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
    – See more at: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ia-supreme-court/1116220.html#sthash.BR3JgZN5.dpuf

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