How Could You? Hall of Shame -Donald Ellis Lehmbeck UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, 63-year-old Donald Ellis Lehmbeck “was charged with two counts of child sexual abuse and one count of possession of obscene or indecent writings, stemming from allegations made by a foster child, according to charges and a search warrant affidavit. The victim’s sister, also a foster child in Lehmbeck’s care, reported the incident to their mother during a supervised visit, the affidavit states.”

Incidences occurred between August 1, 2010 and February 11, 2011.

A search warrant was executed on Tuesday March 22. He was arrested on Friday March 25 by ICE in Houston while trying to board a plane to Costa Rica.

Domestic Violence Charges

On March 18, his live-in girlfriend Arlene Norwood was issued a protective order against him. Misdemeanor domestic assault and battery charges are pending against him in that case.

“Norwood discovered e-mails to an individual in Costa Rica inquiring about obtaining a furnished apartment and asking about the local area,” the affidavit states.

Norwood said some websites contained the word “pedophiles,” and the stories about the Mexican trips “constantly refer to molesting” and involved sexual acts with children, the affidavit states.”

Other Accusations

In 2009: “Lehmbeck faced similar allegations in 2009 by two different foster care children, and DHS investigated the claim, the affidavit states.” No arrests were made nor charges filed.

A second one: “A family member of Norwood who lives in Wagoner County made an allegation against Lehmbeck of sexual molestation in February, the affidavit states. No charges have been filed.”

DHS Response

“”Obviously, we were disappointed upon hearing of the allegations against this foster parent,” Powell said. “When the allegations were made, we immediately removed the children from the home pending the results of the investigation. We hold our foster parents to a very high standard and do not tolerate actions like this.”

Powell said she was unsure how long Lehmbeck has been a foster parent.”

Tulsa foster parent charged with abuse is arrested on plane headed to Costa Rica
[Tulsa World 3/26/11 by Ginnie Graham]

Update: On June 17, 2011 “Tulsa County prosecutors have added sex-abuse counts involving two foster children to the case of a man who already was charged with sexually abusing another girl.

Donald Ellis Lehmbeck, 64, was charged March 24 with two counts of child sexual abuse and one count of possessing obscene or indecent writings. Those abuse counts involved a 6-year-old girl who is a relative of a woman who lived with Lehmbeck, records show.

At a March hearing, Deputy Jeremy Yerton said the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding allegations against Lehmbeck made by two girls who were in his foster care.

A prosecutor said then that those accusations were being investigated.”

“At an April 12 hearing, Tulsa County Special Judge Dawn Moody denied bail for Lehmbeck, concluding that if bail were granted, “he would be a flight risk due to the fact that he was apprehended before boarding an international flight.”

A preliminary hearing for Lehmbeck on the five felony counts began Monday and is set to resume July 18.

Defense attorney Allen Smallwood indicated previously that the original allegations against Lehmbeck arose after the defendant had ordered the female family member of the 6-year-old girl to vacate his residence.

In a misdemeanor case filed March 23, Lehmbeck was charged with domestic assault and battery involving an accusation that he grabbed that woman and pushed her against a wall with force and violence on March 18.

That charge was dismissed June 3 at a prosecutor’s request.”

2 sex-abuse charges are added to man’s case
[Tulsa World 6/30/11 by Bill Braun]

Update 2/February 24, 2012: No new media articles have been published, but the Tulsa County public court docket records shows the following:

He has 4 counts of child sexual abuse and 1 count of prepare/distribute/exhibit obscene material. He is still being held without bond.

On 7/18/11 the defense’s motion to compel witnesses to appear was overruled.

On 12/12/11, trial date was set for May 7, 2012.

Update 3/June 22, 2012

No new media articles have been published. A search of the Tulsa County public court docket records shows the following:

Motion hearing is scheduled for July 26, 2012

Discovery is scheduled for August 13, 2012

Jury trial is scheduled for September 17, 2012.

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update 4: “A former Tulsa foster parent pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually abusing three girls, two of whom were foster children in his care.
A Tulsa County judge sentenced Donald Ellis Lehmbeck to 35 years in prison.
Lehmbeck, 65, pleaded guilty to five felony counts  –  four counts of child sexual abuse and one count of possessing obscene or indecent writings.
Two of the abuse counts involved a girl, then age 6, who is a relative of a woman who lived with Lehmbeck in the 6800 block of West 41st Place.
Lehmbeck was charged March 24, 2011, in that matter.
He was arrested a day later at a Texas airport while en route to Costa Rica, law enforcement officials reported.
The other two abuse counts were filed in June 2011, when Lehmbeck was in the Tulsa Jail.
Those counts involve girls who were placed in his foster care by the Department of Human Services.
One girl lived at Lehmbeck’s residence in January and February 2011, and the other was in his care in 2009, court records show.
One of those girls was 9 or 10 and the other was 4 or 5 at the time of the offenses, records show.
In the obscenity count, prosecutors alleged that Lehmbeck’s computer contained “numerous narrative stories describing sexual acts between adults and prepubescent children,” a document says.
In accordance with a plea agreement, District Judge James Caputo sentenced Lehmbeck on Thursday to 35 years in prison.
By law he is required to serve 85 percent  –  or nearly 30 years, which would extend the sentence to about his 95th birthday  –  before he can be eligible for release.
Lehmbeck has spent more than 15 months in the Tulsa Jail and receives credit on his sentence for time already served.”

Ex-foster parent pleads guilty to molesting three girls

[Tulsa World 7/20/12 by Bill Braun]