How Could You? Hall of Shame -Michael Patterson 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 Florrisant, Missouri, foster parent Michael Patterson, 50, “was convicted of first-degree child molestation for touching a seven-year-old girl’s genitals through her clothing as she was in bed in 2005.

He was accused of touching the genitals and breasts of another girl who was twelve at the time of the alleged incident, but was found not guilty of those counts.”

“Both girls had been staying with the family as foster children.

He and his wife had been foster parents for about two years but are no longer with the foster care program, said assistant prosecutor John Quarenghi.

The jury returned with its verdict on Wednesday. Patterson could face five to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 2.”

Florissant foster parent found guilty of child molestation
[St. Louis Today 7/28/11 by Valerie Schremp Hahn]

2010 Story

“Last fall a hotline call launched a sexual abuse investigation. Police say there was so much evidence that now Patterson is behind bars.

Patterson is charged with first degree child molestation and statutory sodomy. St. Louis County Police Officer Rick Eckhard said, “We have a young girl who has came forward to tell her parents and she said while she was in foster care she was inappropriately touched that led to an investigation and another girl has come forward with the same allegations.”

Police say the girls didn’t live at Patterson’s Florissant home at the same time. The investigation was launched last fall after a hotline call was made to the Division of Family Services.”

“The child was returned to her parents after two years and she started telling her mother about what happened while she was in foster care,” said Eckahrd.

Warrants were issued for Michael Patterson a few weeks ago. Police say they gave him an opportunity to turn himself in. When that didn’t happen they arrested him on Tuesday. Patterson is being held on $100,000 bond.”

Foster Parent Accused Of Sexually Abusing Two Children
[KPLR 11  3/3/10 by Michelle Anselmo]

Update: “Michael Patterson, 50, of the 3600 block of Estates Drive, was convicted in July of first-degree child molestation for touching a seven-year-old girl’s genitals through her clothing as she was in bed in 2005.”

“The jury found him not guilty of touching the breasts and genitals of a second girl who was twelve at the time of the alleged incident.

Both girls had been staying with the family as foster children.

He and his wife had been foster parents for about two years but are no longer with the foster care program, said assistant prosecutor John Quarenghi, who had asked that Patterson be sentenced to 10 years.”
On Friday, September 30, 2011, he was sentenced to only five years in prison.

Florissant man gets five years for molesting foster child
[St. Louis Today 9/30/11 by Valeria Shremp Hahn]

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