How Could You? Hall of Shame-Robert Thomas Milbridge-Scott 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 Duluth, Minnesota, 32-year-old adoptive father Robert Thomas Milbridge-Scott, charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, had a hearing continued on Wednesday November 30, 2011 to give his defense attorney time to review the videotaped First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center interview the alleged victim (a pre-teen girl) provided for investigators.

History

“In 2008, Milbridge-Scott and his wife, Jaime, made news when they took in and later adopted eight children from Utah, at the time the largest placement ever made by the Adoption Exchange, a private company that contracts with eight states to help find adoptive families. [Eight children at once at age 29!] You can check out the comments still freely available from that article here 

One is especially interesting in light of this arrest “Jonathan L. 09/20/2009 3:00 PM I really don’t want to sound negative with my comment, but I can’t help but offer some advice and maybe an experience of my own for the parents…my best friend (and his sister) were adopted from an orphanage in Bogota, Colombia after seeing their parents killed right in the house. She was a baby, he was 6 during the adoption to a very strict religious family – it almost seemed as if they were adopting these children to look good within the church. The kids were so screwed up with this religious conditioning that (my friend) never received any counseling – by a licensed, credentialed psychologist – to deal with post-traumatic stress, depression, loss, grief; he is now 35 and yet he is still extremely lost – you must remember that when you take on a responsibility to parent children who have lost the one thing that is a given to most of us – you are taking on a lot. You must deal with their emotional health and mental health just like you would their physical health. They are going to need counseling. They are going to have anger issues. They are going to take a while longer than most other kids to adjust and get on with their lives. You can not push religion on these kids and expect it to all work out – that’s fairy tales andfantasyland. These kids, at the young ages they are at, have seen things that no person should ever have to see, live through and hang onto for life. I’m not discouraging anyone for adopting. I think it’s one of the best gifts you can give to someone. I am saying though, that, especially if you live here and are adopting children from places (whether international or urban America) you have to do your homework on what has happened in this child’s life and really make sure you are ready for this. You can not just hand these kids back if it’s not working out for you – think of how devastating that would be for them! If the parents have all the support systems in place and aren’t pushing religion on these kids, then I applaud them and thank them for doing this. In the case of my friend, because his only option was to seek help from church clergy who had no degrees or even counseling credentials, he can’t form relationships with anyone – it’s called reactive attachment disorder. It’s very common with abandoned or orphaned children who never got the help they needed during early formative years when their primary caregiver was taken away without notice. In turn, their ability to form trust, attach and eventually form relationships are all next to impossible. As parents of adopted children, it’s now your responsibility that these needs are addressed and the proper professionals are allowed to assist your family with what they need to grow. ” He was bashed for making this comment. See Blog below for the Scotts response

Bail and First Hearing

St. Louis County prosecutor Kristen Swanson said she had public safety concerns about Milbridge-Scott because of his alleged acts and asked the court to set bail at $100,000. Judge Dale Harris granted the request.

According to the criminal complaint, Milbridge-Scott admitted to improperly touching a girl on two occasions. The complaint alleges the acts included sexual penetration. He said that he apologized to the girl for his behavior. He said the conduct occurred within the past three to six months, the complaint alleges.

Duluth police Investigator Ryan Temple conducted a First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center interview with the alleged victim on Nov. 1. The girl told the investigator that after the defendant stopped touching her they “said a prayer” so it would not happen again. Milbridge-Scott then told the girl that he was sorry, the complaint alleges.

Milbridge-Scott is being represented by Duluth attorney Richard Holmstrom. Holmstrom said Milbridge-Scott’s wife is supporting the defendant emotionally. “It’s too soon for me to make any comment about the facts of the case,” Holmstrom said. “I’m too new to it and I want a chance to read the discovery (evidence) first and find out what’s there.”

Holmstrom said he received a call from Investigator Temple that a warrant had been issued for his client. The defense attorney said he called his client, who was in Utah. He said Milbridge-Scott had been enrolled at Brigham Young University in Utah, but the school’s honor code forced him to resign because of the allegations against him. [So he enrolls in a university in another state while “parenting” 8 kids????]

Holmstrom said he and his client were aware of the investigation and intended to cooperate from the beginning.

The defense attorney said his client voluntarily surrendered at the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in the courthouse at 1 p.m. Tuesday. They were before the judge about three hours later.”

Duluth man charged with sexual assault of girl
[Duluth News Tribune 11/9/11 by Mark Stodghill]

November 30 Hearing

“The defendant and his wife sat together in the St. Louis County courtroom Wednesday. Milbridge-Scott is represented by Duluth defense attorney Richard Holmstrom.

“My clients told me not to have any comment because they don’t want any publicity on the matter that could affect their children,” Holmstrom said outside the courtroom after the abbreviated hearing.

Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Leslie Beiers told Judge John DeSanto that she would make sure that Holmstrom is provided a copy of the videotaped First Witness interview of the girl for his review. The defendant’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 21.

Milbridge-Scott is free on $100,000 bail. ”

Adoptive father’s defense gets more time in sex case
[Duluth News Tribune 12/1/11]

Their Blog: Rob and Jaime Plus Eight
http://robandjaimepluseight.blogspot.com/ Check it out before it comes down. There are 7 boys and 1 girl in the sibling group. “All the children are boys except for a 5 yr old girl. The boys are 14, 12, 9, 8, 3, 1, and 4 months” in 2008. They are Mormon.

You can read about how they didn’t exactly have the house together but were already approved for the adoptions, how the social worker drove from Utah with a truck of stuff for the kids, how they were robbed twice in the first few months, the “chaos” post.

December 20, 2008 post
“What a perfectly wonderful end to the year 2008. It started out wonderful as Rob and I had been traveling a bit to Utah and then to Chicago to catch some Broadway musicals. Wicked is amazing. Then we had some hope that we had been chosen as the adoptive parents of a little girl that was going to be premature. We were pretty sure they had chosen us. Then after meeting them we were told they chose someone else because they already had a son and they wanted a big brother for their daughter. That was miserable, especially because Rob was in Mexico with school when I got the call and I had to grieve all by myself. That was in March. About then I decided to take matters into my own hands and I was tired of waiting. In my mind I had decided that by August I was either going to be pregnant (not much of a chance of that happening) or we would be adopting, but either way I was going to do whatever I needed to so we could have a child. That’s when I found our 8 miracles in the internet. I went home and told Rob about them and how they would be split up if they couldn’t find a home for all of them and my heart broke. We didn’t talk much about it until a month later I could not get them out of my mind. So we inquired and then we went through the many interviews over the phone and then we were called with the news that we had been chosen. Then there were visits and the house we were going to live in just didn’t feel right. Then the Lord continued to pour out blessings upon us and perform miracles so that we could be a family and He is not done yet. Each day I marvel at how wonderful and complete life is with our children, albeit very difficult and busy. What a wonderful year to be alive. I am so glad that I never gave up hope and said my trials were too hard and that I maintained a faith that the Lord would bless us. ” [I think your trials are going to get MUCH harder.]

Scott’s Response to that 2009 article on their blog
“First, let me thank those who have offered their support, and also those who have expressed sincere concern for the well being of our children. I read the comments posted and wanted to respond to the questions asked regarding indoctrination, and government assistance. Jaime and I also want to be clear that all of our children receive all of the physical and mental health services they need. I don’t think it is appropriate to elaborate on that, but their unique needs are met. By responding I understand that just as we did when we finally consented to do the article, we are putting ourselves out there for others to embrace or ridicule. I hope that this story is one that inspires others as it has inspired us. We have been the humble recipients of so much goodness and the witnesses of so many miracles. That is the story.

Not Jaime and Rob the great couple that adopted 8 children. I’ll begin with the fun one of indoctrination. The older two children were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints prior to placement with us. We are also members of that church. We go to church, pray, and read scriptures as a family. If our children had been adopted by a couple with non Christian beliefs; some people’s concern might be that the children were not being taught about Jesus Christ. I will not apologize for teaching my children doctrines and principles that were taught to me by my parents. Those teachings have had such a positive impact on my life. One of those principles is that everyone has agency. Our children are taught that they can decide what they will believe. I can’t force them to be Christian any more than I can force you to believe that we aren’t religious zealots. I would only request the same respect I give everyone to share their beliefs and values with their children.

Next lovely topic is government assistance. Prior to adoption the state of Utah (a state that Jaime and I lived in for 5 years and paid taxes) was paying for the children to be in the foster care system. The state of Utah continues to pay a subsidy for the children, but it is significantly less than the foster care rates. Also, anyone that would attempt to adopt 8 children to “get rich” or “make money off of the state” should seek the mental health help that was recommended in one of the other comments. Our national government’s welfare system isn’t set up to encourage repayment or contributions back into the system. However, the welfare system of the church we attend does teach this principle. I have contributed by paying taxes on all of the jobs I have had since I was 14 years old and delivering papers. We will continue to pay taxes on any income that my wife earns through her employment. As a family we will give back and help those in need well after the point that we have equaled the amount of assistance the state of Utah has given us. This is a good point to address the suggestion that the church should pay for the children. I would submit that the members of our local congregation have far exceeded the amount of financial assistance we have received from any government agency. The gifts, donations, labor, and skills that have been so freely offered to our family are remarkable. Those who wish to debate this fact are welcome to inquire of someone that saw the sorry state of the home we needed to fix up for the kids in a months’ time prior to their placement. Hundreds if not thousands of hours were given in acts of selfless service by members of our local congregation, the community, and amazing local businesses. You may ask why we would be so irresponsible and naïve to undertake such a challenge with our limited financial resources. The commitment we made, which in our minds is eternal, was not made on a whim. I don’t have time to outline the painstaking process of researching the financial implications of such a choice. At the end of that process we received a simple answer to our heartfelt prayer. We asked that the correct couple would be chosen to adopt these magnificent children and the answer was to go forward with faith. We have and will continue to do so. To those that still feel our temporary receipt of government assistance is a poor use of tax dollars. I wish you could spend a day with our amazing children and experience firsthand what remarkable individuals they are and continue to become. We are so blessed. There isn’t a perfect person in this family, we all make mistakes, are adapting to one another and continue to grow. We have always expected that this will be the hardest thing we will ever do. I would disagree with Jerry though and say that we do have courage. It is the same courage each person reading this, including Jerry, has to live each day and try and be true to the beliefs and values we hold dear. He is right about the Lord’s role in this process.

Jaime and I could not do this of ourselves. We receive divine assistance on a daily basis; many times in the form of great friends and family!”

They stopped blogging September 27, 2009.

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 

Update/June 15,2014:

“A Duluth man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13.

Robert Thomas Milbridge-Scott, 32, pleaded guilty to first degree criminal sexual conduct.

Part of the plea agreement states that Milbridge-Scott will spend one year either at the St. Louis County Jail or NERCC and complete sex offender treatment while he is in custody.

According to the criminal complaint, Milbridge–Scott engaged in sexual contact with a girl under the age of 13, which included penetration.

The complaint says he then prayed with the child, after the assault, for something like that to never happen again.

Milbridge–Scott and his wife received media attention back in 2008, when the couple adopted eight children from Utah, and the community helped revamp their home for their new family.

Milbridge-Scott could face up to 12 years in prison, however, he has been given a dis-positional departure, meaning his sentencing may not follow the usual guidelines which will be determined at his sentencing. Milbridge-Scott’s sentencing is scheduled for June 1st.”

Duluth Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Young Girl[Northlands News Center 4/9/2012]

“Duluth man Robert Thomas Milbridge-Scott was sentenced to 7.5 years behind bars for a charge of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13.

Milbridge-Scott, 32, will spend one year of his sentence at either the Northeast Regional Correction Center or the St. Louis County Jail. The rest of his sentence has been stayed, providing Milbridge-Scott serves 10 years of probation.

Milbridge-Scott must also adhere to the following conditions: complete sex offender treatment, register as a sex offender, complete outpatient treatment, have no unsupervised contact with females minors, no contact with the victim, and no possession of pornography, or consumption of alcohol or drugs, among other conditions.

Back in April, Milbridge-Scott pleaded guilty to 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. On June 1st, Milbridge-Scott amended his guilty plea to 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct with someone of a significant relationship who was under 16.

According to the criminal complaint, Milbridge–Scott engaged in sexual contact with a girl under the age of 13, which included penetration.

The complaint says he then prayed with the child, after the assault, for something like that to never happen again.

Milbridge–Scott and his wife received media attention back in 2008, when the couple adopted eight children from Utah, and the community helped revamp their home for their new family.”

Duluth Man Sentenced For Sexually Assaulting Young Girl[Northlands News Center 6/1/2012 by Krista Burns]