How Could You? Hall of Shame-Preston Lewis 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 Sacramento, California, 50-year-old Preston Lewis, former foster parent and current special education teacher charged with child sex crimes was granted a continuance in court until May 11, 2011. He is charged with “six counts of lewd acts with a 7-year-old boy and one count of communicating with a 14-year-old boy with the intent to commit a sexual offense.”

He has been teaching middle school in the Sacramento City Unified School District since 2003. He previously taught in North Carolina and South Carolina.Currently he is on paid administrative leave.

“In 2007, Lewis had his foster care license revoked by the state after the Department of Social Services investigated sex abuse allegations. Those allegations were investigated by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. No charges were filed following that investigation.”

According to KCRA, “Officials with the Sacramento City Unified School District said they were never notified Lewis’ foster parent license was revoked. “Had we known the outcome of the investigation and there [sic] punitive action taken against this individual. It would have allowed us to have taken further disciplinary action against him,” said school district spokesman Gabe Ross.

Ross said the school district did request information regarding the Department of Social Services investigation, however never recieved an update.”

I guess they were too busy these past 4 years to followup on sex abuse allegations of a current teacher.

Case continued against teacher facing child sex abuse charges
[The Modesto Bee 4/20/11 by Melody Guttierez]

Special Education Teacher Was Former Foster Parent
[KCRA.con 4/18/11]

Update: “Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, introduced a bill Thursday that would require the California Department of Social Services to notify the Department of Justice when a foster care license is revoked or suspended. Assembly Bill 1717 would also require the Department of Justice to include the information in background checks conducted on potential school employees.

Currently, the Department of Social Services does not have to notify the Department of Justice, which in turn notifies school districts and the teacher credentialing agency.

“It seems to be common sense when one state agency takes an action based on the risk that children may face from an adult, that we would want other state agencies or institutions to know,” Dickinson said. “It almost seems like up until now it could be characterized as the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.”

Dickinson said Sacramento City Unified officials approached him about the bill.

“If another agency has information that can help us protect kids, we need to know,” said district spokesman Gabe Ross.

Lewis was placed on paid administrative leave in September 2010 while police investigated allegations brought by the mother of a Sam Brannan special education student. The mother said her son told her that Lewis encouraged the boy to masturbate and expose himself, according to documents in Lewis’ personnel file, which The Bee obtained during its investigation last year.

Lewis is also facing six counts of lewd acts with a 7-year-old boy. That alleged abuse occurred between 2004 and 2005, according to the criminal complaint filed by the District Attorney’s Office.

In his seven years with Sacramento City Unified, Lewis had been placed on paid administrative leave three separate times for a total of 14 months, The Bee reported. During his paid leaves, he received $87,000. ”

Dickinson wants disclosure on revoked foster care licenses
[Sacramento Bee 2/17/12 by Melody Guttierez]

[The $87K should be given to his victims for therapy!]

REFORM Puzzle Pieces

Preston Lewis, 51, is also charged with one felony count of communicating with a 14-year-old boy with the intent to commit a sexual offense. The teen was one of Lewis’ students at Sam Brannan Middle School and the communication referenced in the criminal complaint is alleged to have happened between March and September of 2010.

Lewis was arrested last April and has remained in Sacramento County jail awaiting trial. He has not entered a plea.

Lewis was a foster parent until 2007, when allegations surfaced that he had fondled one boy and showered with another child. Police were notified, and the state revoked Lewis’ foster care license on March 19, 2007. The state also took exclusion action against Lewis, the most severe action the Department of Social Services can take, which prohibits Lewis from being employed, visiting or contacting any facility licensed by the department.

Sacramento City Unified officials said they were notified of the sex abuse allegations two months after the state revoked Lewis’ foster license. Lewis was placed on paid administrative leave while police investigated the allegations.

When police cited insufficient evidence for not filing charges, Lewis returned to teaching. School district officials said they were never told Lewis’ foster care license had been revoked or of the exclusionary action – facts they say would have helped start the dismissal process.

Instead, Lewis continued teaching and was placed on two more paid administrative leaves before he was fired last year following his arrest.

Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, introduced a bill in February that would require the California Department of Social Services to notify the Department of Justice when a foster care license is revoked or suspended. Dickinson cited the legal loophole that allowed Lewis to continue teaching for three years after the state deemed Lewis unfit to be a foster parent.

Sacramento City Unified School District sponsored the bill, which is scheduled for a hearing today.”

“Former Sacramento teacher Preston Lewis was sentenced Tuesday [October 2012] to 18 years in state prison for child sex crimes.

Lewis, who taught special education students at Sam Brannan Middle School, reached a plea deal last month in which he pleaded no contest to three felonies and a misdemeanor for molesting a 7-year-old boy, sending sexual text messages to 14-year-old student and possessing child pornography.

A Bee investigation last year found Lewis had been accused of inappropriate behavior as a teacher on three occasions, including twice after the state revoked his foster care license in 2007.

The state Department of Social Services barred Lewis in 2007 from being employed, visiting or contacting any facility licensed by the department after he was accused of fondling a boy and showering with another.

Lewis continued to teach in the Sacramento City Unified School district until 2010 when he was accused of communicating with one of his special education students with the intent to commit a sexual offense.”

[Sacramento Bee 10/17/12 by Melody Guttierez]