When a predator and those around him are “untouchable.”

H. Lee Busch, an Executive Financial Director in Europe and the USA for General Motors for 40 years and member of the Senior Mens Club in Birmingham, MI (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/detroitnews/name/h-busch-obituary?id=40907433) was untouchable. His convicted pedophile son, who received only probation in four CSC cases in Michigan, turned out to be untouchable by default. Francis (Frank) Shelden, wealthy Michigan scion and pedophile/child pornographer, was/is untouchable. These men had big money and two of the three had prestige. They answered to no one in life or beyond.

There are other “untouchables” in current cases in Michigan. Turns out it also helps if you are or were a cop. The average citizen wants to look away in disbelief when these cases bubble to the surface. Thanks to a reader for sending me this shocking but sadly far-from-unbelievable article written by reporter at large Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker; How Police Let One of America’s Most Prolific Predators Get Away.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/31/how-police-let-one-of-americas-most-prolific-predators-get-away?utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_Paid_032425&bxid=5bd673aa24c17c10480087bb&cndid=31554772&hasha=f5ad4d98276683011e078641b20161ca&hashb=7a94c99ed602d9e3a16e00fad3d33b5bbf52b4e6&hashc=83959fa348eb08b4d301bb1ad1dcd78635cd2061540980e1acb6f76d922a93a5&esrc=AUTO_OTHER

The prolific predator was a local businessman from Johnson City, Tennessee, Sean Williams. A young federal prosecutor, Kat Dahl, was appointed by the DOJ to work with the Johnson City police to “look into” Williams for illegal possession of ammunition (he had a drug conviction). This was the least of Williams’ crimes and he was known as a “predatory dirt-bag” and a rapist. But Johnson City PD threw up every roadblock to thwart Ms. Dahl as well as the numerous victims of drugging and rape that had tried to file charges against Williams for sex crimes. Eventually, Ms. Dahl dug a little too deep and Johnson City got her fired.

This disgusting case has it all. Horrific sex crimes, many documented on film. Institutional rot, inaction, incompetence, bias, sexist police officers, obstruction and inexcusable delay that resulted in many other victims.

When Williams was finally arrested, he carried hard drives containing documented sex crimes against 67 victims, many drugged and unconscious, including minors. The drives contained CSAM, including of a one-year-old boy who was the child of one of his victims. He was a rapist and a pedophile.

As Farrow describes, many key elements of this monster’s claims about paying off the cops to keep them at bay remain impossible to confirm. Subsequent lawsuits and investigations support the claim that “one of the most prolific and notorious rapists in American history operated unchecked because of police corruption.” There is evidence to support his claim that he had been paying off Johnson City police officers through an ex-girlfriend/business associate. He also claims that during a search, Johnson City police took his safe containing close to $500,000 and returned it with $81,000. The city denies this claim.

Private financial records produced in a civil lawsuit brought by Williams’ accusers against the police department support that two of the cops had access to significant funds that did not accord with their incomes during the relevant period. Perfectly innocuous, I’m sure.

While the civil suit was settled by the city for $28 million, there has been little to no effort to pursue the corruption allegations.

And it should come as no surprise that Johnson City police officers David Hilton and Jeff Legault were promoted. Investigator Toma Sparks and Officer Justin Jenkins are still employed by JCPD. Officer Keith Sexton is now the county sheriff. Captain Kevin Peters and Police Chief Karl Turner are enjoying their pensions in retirement. The taxpayers are footing their bill in every way imaginable.

Had it not been for the woman they got fired–Kat Dahl, Williams would still be out there raping people and creating CSAM . None of Williams’ accusers, all of whom were mistreated by JCPD, would have gotten any justice at all.

If you have trouble opening the link to this article, find a way to read it. It is a present day roadmap of what happens when systemic police failures and public corruption meet sex crimes. The fallout is always horrendous.

They got off easy for $28 million.