'Cake Boss' co-star arrested on sexual assault charges

All the ingredients are there. Now the next question to be decided: are the charges against the "Cake Boss" guy fully baked?

Things have gone from sweet to sordid on TLC’s “Cake Boss.”

The show’s Remy Gonzalez was arrested on Aug. 18 on charges of aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child.

Prosecutors have sent the child-sex case of Remigio "Remy" Gonzalez, the 32-year-old decorator of TLC's popular reality series, to a grand jury to decide whether to issue a formal indictment.

The heat is on, indeed.

After hearing arguments from Morris County Deputy District Attorney Meg Rodriguez during a brief hearing Tuesday, Judge Philip Maenza decided to grant the prosecution request to forward the case to a grand jury for review.

Morristown, N.J., police arrested Gonzalez on Aug. 17, accusing him of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old twice between September 2009 and March 9, 2010.

The brother-in-law of "Cake Boss" guru Buddy Valastro appeared in court handcuffed and said nothing. His lawyer, Ricardo Rodriguez, told the judge that he hasn't had enough time to fully examine the enormous case file totalling 291 pages.

Neither the D.A.'s office nor the defense team would immediately comment after the hearing.

Gonzalez remains behind bars in a Morris County lockup, not having enough money to pay the $300,000 bond. He faces two counts each of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact.

 Story: 'Cake Boss' co-star arrested on sexual assault charges

Pedophile Chemical Castration Bill Approved

Russia- The nation is getting serious with child molesters, and the Russian Parliament this week passed a bill to give them what they deserve -- chemical castration for those found guilty of sex crimes against children under 14. Repeat offenders will face life in prison.

Pedophile Castration Bill Approved

The State Duma has unanimously passed a bill that strengthens punishments for pedophilia, imposing mandatory chemical castration or life sentences in cases that involve repeated offenses.

The bill also needs approval by the Federation Council and President Dmitry Medvedev's signature.

Pedophilia is characterized as sexual crimes against minors younger than 14.

A United Russia lawmaker said the bill addresses the rising number of pedophiles in Russia.

"In the past 10 years, the number of pedophiles in our country has risen three- or fourfold," Tatyana Yakovleva told Interfax.

The move is in response to Russia's growing rates of sexual crimes against children. According to an article in the Boston Globe,the number of sexual crimes against children rose three- to fourfold in the past 10 years. And rise or no rise, it's the right thing to do. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who commits a sexual offense against a child should be chemically castrated.

One Russian official even argued in favor of PHYSICAL castration. I'd almost go that far, but not quite. But I see no argument against the chemical castration -- in which synthetic progesterone is injected into the offender's body to kill sexual desire -- of those found guilty of such heinous crimes. I only wish the castration was permanent instead of requiring regular injections.

While there are some states in the U.S. that allow for chemical castration such Louisiana, California, Oregon, and Arizona, I would like to see the practice of chemical castration spread far and wide throughout the land. If these predators so recklessly and selfishly violate a child, the loss of their sexual desire is a very small price to pay. Children often suffer a lifetime of debilitating effects after being abused, and a couple of years in jail doesn't begin to make up for the crime.

Opponents say it violates human rights, but molesters violate a lot more than the human rights of the children upon whom they prey. There is also some disagreement as to how effective the technique is, but if it saves even a few children from the hands of these monsters, then I say it's worth it.

The Russian bill still needs the approval of the Federation Council and President Dmitry Medvedev's signature. Hopefully that will be forthcoming, and other nations will soon follow suit. ShareThis