How Could You? Hall of Shame -Joseph L. Larson 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 St. Paul, Minnesota, foster father Joseph L. Larson, 34, will go on trial Monday, May 2, 2011 on allegations of sexually abusing two boys in his care. “Larson also is faces more recently filed felony charges in Anoka County of possession of child pornography.”

“Before he was charged last August, Larson was investigated twice by a child pornography task force but not charged. He also had had his foster care license closed after one of the youths in the current case made an allegation against him, according to court documents.

Larson is charged with one count each of felony criminal sexual misconduct. One of the former foster children, now 17, was in his care from 2002 to 2005; the other, now 23, was with him for three months in 2003. Monday’s trial is for the case involving the 17-year-old.”

“[I]n February 2006, the 17-year-old, then age 12, told his new foster mother that Larson did inappropriate things to him and also said Larson kissed one of the boy’s friends, a different document said. He and the friend later repeated the allegations to social workers. The allegations were investigated, but no case was brought against Larson.”

Larson’s Agencies

“Larson became a licensed foster parent through a private agency, PATH Minnesota Inc., in Monticello in 2002. ”

“Larson cared for four children, including two brothers, while licensed with PATH Minnesota.”

Due to the child pornography investigation after the brothers were placed in another foster home, “PATH Minnesota closed Larson’s foster care license in May 2006. His attorney said a letter she received from the agency stated the license was closed at Larson’s request. The letter, signed by a PATH Minnesota regional director, also said “Joe has been a kind and caring foster parent and has given good service to PATH.” Larson served on the agency’s board and was a member of the education committee.”

“Larson applied for a new foster care license through Ramsey County in fall 2007. It was approved but revoked a year later by the Department of Human Services when the county learned Larson had not disclosed that he had been previously licensed and that there was a pending investigation by law enforcement, according to a department revocation letter.”

Previous Investigations

“In November 2004, a state task force received a report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about information discovered during an Internet child pornography investigation. Investigators found credit cards issued to Larson had been used to buy access to child pornography websites in 2002 and 2003, court documents said.

Two officers assigned to the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force looked into the report but didn’t have enough for a warrant to search his computer, said officer John Keating, a spokesman for the St. Paul Police Department. PATH Minnesota wasn’t informed about the report, said George Hendrickson, PATH’s CEO. “Had we known about the allegations, we would have been mandated to take action,” he said.

In January 2006, the Internet crimes task force again investigated Larson, going to his house. He told investigators the credit cards used to access child porn websites were stolen in 2004 but he hadn’t reported it to police, court documents said.”

The Arrest

“In February 2010, St. Paul police were again alerted when the 17-year-old told a social worker about sex abuse incidents that allegedly occurred during his time in Larson’s care, according to a criminal complaint filed against Larson.

After speaking with the boy, police interviewed the foster child who is now 23 and who had lived with Larson for three months in 2003 when he was 14 or 15.

Larson was charged with criminal sexual misconduct in August. The child pornography criminal complaint in Anoka County was filed four months later.

In a short statement, Rindfleisch said her client has provided foster, respite and personal attendant care for more than 20 children in need.”

Foster father goes on trial in sex abuse case
[Star Tribune 5/1/11 by David Chanen]

“A former St. Paul foster father pleaded guilty this morning to sexually abusing two young boys in his care.

Joseph Leonard Larson, 34, of Minneapolis, submitted Alford pleas to the charges, meaning he did not directly admit guilt but agreed that the state had enough evidence to convict him at trial.

He will be sentenced June 28 to at least 12 years in prison.”

“The first boy lived with Larson from approximately April through July 2003, when he was 15, Larson agreed. No one besides Larson and his foster children lived at the house.

In May 2010, he told a detective in Hartford, Conn., that Larson had approached him in the bathroom at one point and digitally penetrated him as well as performed oral sex on him.

According to the criminal complaint, the boy said “he did not like the defendant and he was afraid of him.” Larson would hug him “a lot” and French kiss him. The boy said he eventually ran away from Larson’s home.

The second boy lived at the home from late August 2003 through Jan. 1, 2006, when he was between the ages of 9 and 11, Larson agreed. His older brother lived there for a time, too.

The boy told a nurse and others at the Midwest Children’s Resource Center in St. Paul in February 2010 that Larson had raped him on more than one occasion. The criminal complaint quoted the boy as saying, “It made my body feel weak and hurt.” He didn’t tell anyone about the abuse earlier, he said, because he was afraid.

A third boy, who visited Larson’s house occasionally, might also have been called as a witness if the case went to trial, Leonard said. That boy told investigators that Larson kissed him and placed him on his lap “or otherwise made him uncomfortable,” Leonard said.”

“The child porn charge is expected to be dropped as a part of today’s plea agreement.

Larson is out on bail.”

St. Paul foster father pleads guilty to sex abuse of foster children; child porn found on his computer
[Pioneer Press 5/2/11 by Emily Gurnon]

Update: Joseph “was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the sexual abuse of his two foster children.

Joseph Leonard Larson, 34, pled guilty to two counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, according to the Ramsey County District Court.

The two victims – who are now 17 and 23, were under Larson’s foster care when he was living in St. Paul.

The victim who is now 17 reported that Larson sexually abused him more than once between Aug. 27, 2003, and Jan. 1, 2006.

The second victim reported that Larson sexually abused him in 2003.

The case was investigated in February 2010 after one of the boys told an employee of Alpha Human Services that Larson had abused him while living under Larson’s care.

A background search on Larson revealed a 2004 report that Larson’s Visa card and Mastercard were used to purchase access to websites containing child pornography in 2002 and 2003. Officers came to Larson’s home in January of 2005 and questioned him about the report, but Larson claimed his identity had been stolen.

In February 2010, the investigator obtained search warrants to search Larson’s computer, which was then seized, and Larson was taken into custody. Investigation shows that thousands of images of child pornography were found.”

Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Abuse of Foster Children
[KSTP 6/28/11 by Jennie Olson]

“I’m sorry,” Joseph Leonard Larson said today in Ramsey County District Court as he was about to be sentenced for sexually abusing two boys he was supposed to care for as a foster parent. “The impact of my crime on everyone is untold. I’ve lost family, friends, my sense of self.”

“Along with the 12-year prison sentence, Smith also imposed a five-year conditional release period after Larson’s incarceration and a requirement that he register as a predatory offender for the rest of his life.”

Ex-foster father gets 12-year prison term for sexually abusing two boys in St. Paul
[Pioneer Press 6/28/11 by Richard Chin]

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