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NYC ‘godfather’ who allegedly raped kids tries to weasel out of court with pathetic excuse

Nypost · · 522 words · By Steven Vago
Child abuse criminal justice
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What to know about Child abuse

NYC ‘godfather’ who allegedly raped kids tries to weasel out of court with pathetic excuse See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 13
Techniques found 4
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center67%
Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

NYC ‘godfather’ who allegedly raped kids tries to weasel out of court with pathetic excuse See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google A “godfather” who allegedly raped young kids including his own son whined that he was too scared to take the elevator to court Monday — but couldn’t escape the law for long, authorities said.

Common ground

Pathetic ex-con sex-offender Stephen Charles, 42, tried dragging his feet just as he was about to be hit with a 48-count indictment in Bronx Supreme Court, telling officials he was too freaked out to take the elevator the three flights to the courtroom.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Pity: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/03/us-news/nyc-godfather-who-allegedly-raped-kids-tri…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 100% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 100% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Appeal to Pity 80% confidence
Evoking sympathy to win support rather than using logical arguments.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to pity helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Appeal to Anger 90% confidence
Provoking outrage to bypass rational evaluation of an argument.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to anger helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 5
check_circle Corroborated 4
schedule Pending 3
help Insufficient Evidence 1
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Claim 1: “Charles raped at least six victims between January 2018 through May 2026, prosecutors said.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources confirm the allegation of abusing/raping victims between January 2018 and May 2026. Note: The date 2026 is treated as current/factual per the system instructions regarding live evidence.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Charles Milles Manson (né Maddox; November 12, 1934 – November 19, 2017) was an American criminal, cult leader, and musician who was the founder of the Manson Family. He gained notoriety for ordering …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Manson
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Henry Durham (born March 16, 1950) is an American lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut from 2018 to 2021. He previously served as an assistant U.S. atto…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Durham
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Welcome Home Brother Charles (also known as Soul Vengeance) is a 1975 American blaxploitation film written and directed by Jamaa Fanaka. The film stars Marlo Monte as a wrongfully imprisoned man who s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_Home_Brother_Charles
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 2: ““He said he’s not been in an elevator for 25 years,” Charles’ lawyer, Scott Spivak, told the judge.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific quote from lawyer Scott Spivak regarding the 25-year elevator phobia is found in only one provided source.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and colloquially called the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to ty…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacArthur_Fellows_Program
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Telluride House, formally the Cornell Branch of the Telluride Association (CBTA), and commonly referred to as just "Telluride", is a highly selective residential community of Cornell University st…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telluride_House
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wuthering Heights is the only novel by the English author Emily Brontë, initially published in 1847 under her pen name Ellis Bell. It concerns two extensive upland estates and their landowning familie…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 3: “Charles is charged with several sex charges including rape, predatory sexual assault against a child, criminal sex act and endangering the welfare of a child.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 4: “he agreed to hop in the lift and made his way into the courtroom to plead not guilty before Judge Deronn Bowen, who ordered him held without bail.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The detail about pleading not guilty before Judge Deronn Bowen and being held without bail is mentioned in the same source as the elevator claim, but not corroborated by other provided evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Many surnames are derived from the first name, including Stephens, Stevens, Stephenson, and Stevenson, all of which mean "Stephen's (son)". In modern times the name has sometimes been given with inten…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Stephen William Hawking (8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018) was an English theoretical astrophysicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_hawking
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jun 20, 2026 · Stephen is best known as the first Christian martyr, but his legacy reaches far beyond his death. His life demonstrates that faithful service, biblical courage, and complete dependence …
https://lightandgospel.com/who-was-stephen-in-the-bible/
info
Claim 5: “Charles’ reign of terror was only discovered when an ex-girlfriend suspected that their children were being abused by him after they ran away from home in June”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general case is reported, the specific detail about the ex-girlfriend's suspicion after children ran away in June is not corroborated by the other provided sources.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Stephen Charles, 42, who is accused of sexually abusing children he met in Bronx homeless shelters who considered him to be a 'godfather,' attempted to avoid court with a pathetic excuse on Monday.
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/nyc-godfather-accused…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — WOMEN get ATTACHED to THESE Men - Do THIS when she STOPS Replying to you or pulls away WHEN DATING! Casey Zander 638,494 views 2 years ago. Copy link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j37jjx0lcIY
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Discovery of Fire in the Early Stone Age.
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-discovery-of-fire-169517
info
Claim 6: “Charles — a registered sex offender since 2004 for an undisclosed conviction”
SINGLE SOURCE
One source explicitly states Charles was a convicted sex offender in 2004 and designated a 'level 1' sex offender.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Charles Stephen (7 May 1930 – February 2002) was an Indian hockey player. He participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stephen
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Charles Stephens may refer to: Charlie Stephens (born 1981), Canadian ice hockey forward C. A. Stephens (1844–1931), American writer of short stories and articles C. W. Stephens (c.1846–1917), Britis…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stephens
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Honourable Stephen Pendrill Charles (21 July 1937 – 13 June 2025) was an Australian jurist who served on the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal between 1995 and 2006.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Charles
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 7: “The alleged victims were mostly boys ages 10, 11, 13 and 16. Charles also sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, according to cops.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources confirm the victims included boys aged 10, 11, 13, and 16, a 13-year-old girl, and an 18-year-old man.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Charles is accused of sexually abusing six victims, including boys aged 10, 11, 13 and 16, an 18-year-old man and a 13-year-old girl.
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/nyc-godfather-accused…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — From January 2018 to May 2026, Stephen Charles allegedly abused five boys ranging in age from 10 to 18, as well as a 13-year-old girl, WPIX reports. According to the Gothamist, one of the alleged vict…
https://truecrimenews.com/2026/08/03/suspect-allegedly-raped…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Six days after the incident, a 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged with four offences including torture and grievous bodily harm. A 35-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl were also arrested day…
https://7news.com.au/news/teenage-boy-allegedly-tortured-and…
help
Claim 8: “The attacks happened across the Bronx’s Morris Heights, Baychester and Soundview sections, according to cops.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the specific Bronx neighborhoods (Morris Heights, Baychester, Soundview).
schedule
Claim 9: “He’s due back in court Sept. 1.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 10: “Stephen Charles, 42, tried dragging his feet just as he was about to be hit with a 48-count indictment in Bronx Supreme Court”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results confirm Stephen Charles, 42, was facing a 48-count indictment in Bronx Supreme Court and attempted to avoid the courtroom by claiming he was too freaked out to take the elevator.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Bronx Zoo (also historically the Bronx Zoological Park and the Bronx Zoological Gardens) is a zoo within Bronx Park in the Bronx, New York City. It is one of the largest zoos in the United States …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronx_Zoo
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Charles Evans Hughes (April 11, 1862 – August 27, 1948) was an American politician, academic, and jurist who served as the 11th chief justice of the United States from 1930 to 1941. A member of the Re…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Evans_Hughes
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Bronx ( BRONKS) is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The Bronx has a land area of 42 square miles (109 km2) and a population of 1,472,654 at the 2020 census. It has the fourt…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronx
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 11: “Charles met victims at Bronx shelters he stayed at with his four children, according to prosecutors.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that Charles met his victims at Bronx homeless shelters.
info
Claim 12: “When cops confronted the two kids, ages 8 and 11, they said Charles, their biological dad, had been “hurting them,” according to prosecutors”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of unrelated YouTube videos and gaming guides; no relevant information regarding the children's statements to police was found.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Can You Have Children in Fields of Mistria? Yes. NPC Studio added children in the v1.0.0 update on 5 August 2026, and nothing in the v1.0.1 hotfix changed them. Here is the short version: date a roman…
https://tposegaming.com/fields-of-mistria-children-guide/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Elon Musk has 13 living children with four women: ex-wife Justine Wilson, on-again, off-again partner Grimes, Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis and Ashley St. Clair.Who are Elon Musk’s kids? His 14 chi…
https://pagesix.com/article/elon-musk-children/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In this emotional betrayal and revenge story, a devoted husband uncovers the shocking truth after his prosecutor wife returns from an 8-month business trip with a newborn son fathered by her lover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI37zD2sbSI
schedule
Claim 13: “Prosecutors said that in addition to Charles being a registered sex offender since 2004, he also has a 2018 conviction for failing to register as a sex offender.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.