How Could You? Hall of Shame- Jose Luis and Belinda Cazeras 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 Prairie Gillette, Wyoming, McAllen Texas foster parent Jose Luis Cazares, 40, was finally arrested for abuse of three foster children — all under the age of 10 — while they lived with him and his wife, Belinda, from January 2008 to April 2009. The children were placed with the couple after their mother was deported to Honduras. The arrest occurred due to “a combined effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. “the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force got involved. The team comprises officers from various law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Hidalgo and Starr County sheriff’s offices; and police departments in McAllen, Mission, San Juan and Weslaco.

Officers tracked Cazares down in Prairie Gillette, Wyo., using documentation from Child Protective Services, police said. Investigators contacted the Gillette police and they assisted in questioning the pair. ”

Abuse

“Police learned about the alleged abuse only after a second foster family took the children in.
A woman who claimed to be the victims’ half-sister went to police in May and told them the children had made an outcry, records showed. Police did not reveal the woman’s identity.

Investigators took the victims to the Children’s Advocacy Center in Edinburg in June, where they were interviewed separately by professionals. There, the children detailed their lives with the Cazares.

One girl told staff at the center Cazares would take her to his room, where he would sexually assault her or use sex toys to do so, records showed.

The girl told police she pleaded with Cazares to stop, but he wouldn’t.

If she told, he would slap her in the mouth, the child said.

The abuse happened “every day in a while after school,” a probable cause affidavit quotes her saying.

A second girl told staff Cazares would buy something for them if they engaged in sex with him and his wife.

That child detailed an incident during Halloween in which he took her costume off and assaulted her.

A third victim, a boy, did not make an outcry, police said. But his sisters told staff they saw Cazares sexually abusing him.

The children began showing signs of abuse shortly after the second foster family began caring for them in April 2009, the half-sister told police.

The family reached out to Child Protective Services at the time to alert them about the assault, but the family was never contacted by anyone, records showed. They reached out again in 2010 to the children’s physician, but again no one followed up.

By the time police were involved, Cazares and his wife had already relocated.”

Fourth Victim

“Gillette police also assisted in interviewing a fourth female minor who was living with them in Wyoming, police said.

The girl apparently had a child at a young age, which sparked investigators’ interest.

The fourth victim initially told police her baby’s father was a boy at school, but she eventually admitted Cazares raped her when she was living with him in McAllen, police said.

That girl told police she was at home taking care of the three foster children when Cazares ordered them to their rooms and raped her on the couch by holding her down.

On Tuesday, investigators received information that Cazares was once again in the area and was working at Hayashi Hibachi, records showed. Police arrested him there about 4:45 p.m.

Investigators continued working on filing charges against Cazares’ wife, Belinda.

A McAllen Municipal judge charged Jose Luis Cazares with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child — a first-degree felony — sexual assault and prohibited sexual conduct, both second-degree felonies. His bond was set at $550,000.

If convicted, he could face up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.”
Police: Fugitive who sexually abused foster children arrested
[The Monitor 11/10/11 by Naxiely Lopez]

REFORM Puzzle pieces

Update: As per Desiree in our comments, we have searched for media stories about this case. We found none, but do have confirmation of the 25 year prison sentence for Jose .See Texas Tribune prison sentences that gives the following charge and sentence.
AGG SEX ASLT CHILD 2/12/2004 25 years. Sentence started 11/8/2011 (date corresponds with arrest)