How Could You? Hall of Shame-Mark D. O’Brien 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 Republic, Missouri, foster parent Mark D. O’Brien “is charged with molesting the children he was trusted to care for. Two different children say Mark D. O’Brien abused them while they lived with him at his home on Maple Avenue in Republic.

A judge issued a warrant for O’Brien’s arrest. The allegations date back to 2007. “We believe he has been a foster parent over the last ten years to approximately 35 children ,” Republic Police Department Sgt. Mark Wilcox said. “There have been allegations of him making one of the children sleep outside in a dog pen.” O’Brien is charged with one count of felony child abuse, three counts of statutory sodomy and two counts of possession of child pornography.

One child told officers O’Brien molested him on numerous occasions from April 2007 until June 2009. “Eight months later the same allegations, different child this time,” Wilcox said. The second child who reported abuse lived in the home from June 2009 until June 2010. “There are many wonderful foster parents, coaches and teachers out there that do not abuse children. However, in some situations that may be an avenue that may make that easier for some people that do abuse children,” said Kim Lowery-Grimm of the Child Advocacy Center.

A 22 page search warrant shows officers seized cell phones, cameras and a computer from the home. “There were questionable websites that had been gone to that were child related and also possible child pornography pictures on the computer itself,” Wilcox said.

In order to be a foster parent, O’Brien had to pass criminal background checks and go through a detailed screening process that included visits and interviews. “If someone has not ever had any open hotlines or open investigations on them or criminal charges have never been pressed, something like a background check on them would show nothing,” Lowery-Grimm said.

According to a search warrant after the first allegation, O’Brien went to the YMCA to find one of the alleged victims. “O’Brien told him that he really missed him and wished that the child would come back over to his house,” the officer wrote in the search warrant. “The child stated that before being asked to leave by the YMCA staff, O’Brien took a picture of the him on his cell phone.” GROSS!

A Missouri Department of Social Services spokesman says if a foster parent is charged with a crime against a child, their ability to foster children is suspended until the outcome of that case in court. O’Brien’s bond is set at $100,000.”

Republic Foster Parent Mark O’Brien Charged with Sodomy, Child Abuse and Possession of Child Pornography
[KSPR 1/31/12 by Emily Rittman]

REFORM Puzzle Pieces

Critical thinking by social workers, not just absence of a criminal record has to be applied during the homestudy.

 

 

 

 

 

Where was the monitoring in these cases? Allegations date back to April 2007! This is unacceptable!

Update: The charges are “in conjunction with two boys younger than ten. Both boys were in Obrien’s custody as foster children at the time of the alleged crimes.

Obrien, of Republic, Missouri, had been active in the foster parent program for close to a decade, but is not an active parent at this time. He had protective custody of 50 children during those ten years — all of them boys.

The two victims told adults about the abuse after leaving Obrien’s care, independently of each other. The Republic Police Department probable cause statements also note:

“(The boy) also stated that Mark had anal sex with him on multiple occasions and would videotape these acts with his video recorder.”

Police did find child pornography on Obrien’s computer.”

The probable cause statement also reveals that one child was forced “to sleep outside in cold conditions without any shelter, heat or blankets.” The other child was subjected to “sexual contact” by having his penis rubbed.

Foster Father Sexually Abused Two Kids In His Care
[River Front Times 2/2/12 by Paul Friswold]

Update 2: “A former foster father has new conditions to follow in order to remain out of jail following a bond reduction hearing today.

Greene County judge Jason Brown denied a reduced bond for Mark O’Brien today, and ordered him to give up his passport, wear an electronic monitoring device, and said he can only use the Internet at work during normal business hours.

O’Brien is charged with five felonies, including posession of child pornography, first degree child molestation and statutory sodomy. Officials say he molested two children in his care as a foster parent, and had more than 50 foster kids over a ten year span.

U.S. Marshals finally arrested O’Brien Friday night at a residence north of Strafford after they say he repeated avoided officers. He posted $100,000 bond and was ordered to appear in court today.

Judge Brown said he would not consider lowering O’Brien’s bond because US Marshals had to get involved.”

Father Accused of Molestation, Possessing Child Porn
[KSPR 2/6/12 by Dave Stewart]

Update 3: “Authorities are still looking for past foster children of a man accused of sexually abusing two boys.

Mark Obrien was charged Jan. 31 with crimes against two of his former foster children. According to court documents, Obrien had been a foster parent to more than 50 children — all boys — in the past 10 years.

Assistant Prosecutor Ami Miller said police have been trying to contact Obrien’s former foster kids, but haven’t been able to find all of them.

Obrien, of Republic, appeared in court Monday after posting $100,000 bond over the weekend.

According to Miller, Obrien was arrested by U.S. marshals after he avoided police last week.

“He was actively evading law enforcement,” Miller said.

She said marshals discovered Obrien was making phone calls to several foreign airlines, possibly to flee to friends in other countries where his parents have been missionaries.

Judge Jason Brown ordered Obrien to surrender his passport Monday and submit to electronic tracking.

Dee Wampler, Obrien’s attorney, argued the investigation has been going on since 2010 and that his client has no reason to flee.

“If he was going to run, he could’ve run 14 months ago,” Wampler said.

Wampler and Obrien were in court Monday asking for a bond reduction. Although Obrien already posted the $100,000 bond, Wampler asked that it be reduced so that he could use that money for the ongoing case. Brown declined the motion.

Miller argued for the electronic monitoring to be added, saying Obrien had been trying to contact one of his alleged victims through the boy’s new foster parents. She said Obrien had gone as far as finding the boy at a local YMCA.

In addition to the electronic monitoring, Obrien has been ordered to only use the Internet at work for work purposes and to have no contact with a child under 17.

His next court date is scheduled for March.”

State looking for past foster children of man charged with sexual abuse
[News-Leader 2/7/12 by Kathryn Wall]

Update 4: Greene County public court documents reveal that on 2/23/12 the defendant’s sister faxed a letter to the court to review. Mark requested modification of bond and a hearing was set for 3/9/12 the result of which was that he still is being electronically monitored but he will be able to have contact with his nieces and nephew provided that he is supervised by at least 2 adult family members. a preliminary hearing has been set for April 30, 2012.

Update 5:“A Republic man was convicted today of sexual abusing three foster kids in his care.

Prosecutors announced Mark D. Obrien, 42, was found guilty by a Greene County judge on several counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and child abuse. He could be sentenced to life in prison.

All three of the child victims testified about their sexual abuse during the four-day trial.

One described being forced to sleep outside at night, without blankets or shelter, according to a news release announcing the conviction. The boy described seeking out the dog to sleep with for warmth.

At the time of the abuse, 2007 and 2010, two of the children were under the age of 12 and the third was 14 years old.

One victim, according to prosecutors, testified that he did not realize that the abuse was wrong and that he believed that the sexual abuse was just “what foster fathers or fathers did.”

Another victim testified that Obrien told him that he would never see his mother again if the victim told, prosecutors say.

During trial, Obrien testified in his own defense.

He called several character witnesses who testified that they knew Obrien was a truthful, law-abiding citizen.

But in closing arguments Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Stephanie Wan and Jake Kohut asked the judge to disregard the character witnesses.

They drew comparisons to the Jerry Sandusky case in Pennsylvania, noting that the Penn State coach held a good reputation despite his years of systematic abuse of children.

Sentencing was slated for Oct. 23.”

Foster dad convicted of sexually abusing three children[News-Leader 8/13/14 by Jess Rollins]

Update 6:”A Republic foster father was sentenced to 55 years in prison without probation on Friday for sexually abusing three children in his care, according to a news release from the Greene County prosecuting attorney’s office.

Mark D. Obrien, 43, was convicted of six counts of first-degree sodomy and a count of abuse of a child in August, the release says. At the time of the abuse, two of the children were under the age of 12 and the third was 14 years old, according to the release.

The abuse occurred between 2007 and 2010, and the three victims testified about their sexual abuse during a four-day trial in August.

The victims did not initially come forward about the abuse, according to the release. One victim testified that he did not realize that the abuse was wrong and that he believed that the sexual abuse was just “what foster fathers or fathers did.”

One described being forced to sleep outside at night, without blankets or shelter, according to an August news release announcing the conviction. The boy described seeking out the dog to sleep with for warmth.

Another victim testified that Obrien told him that he would never see his mother again if the victim told, prosecutors say.

The release says Republic police testified during trial that Obrien was in possession of child pornography and that Obrien attempted to clear his hard drive two days before police executed a search warrant at his home.

At the sentencing, the court heard from the victims about the ill effects they suffered as a result of the abuse, which included psychological trauma, behavioral issues, physical problems and the theft of their childhood, the release says.

The state argued that Obrien’s actions will cause the foster care system to be viewed with suspicion rather than trust, the release says.

Obrien denied that the abuse occurred and asked for the minimum sentence based on his lack of criminal history and strong family support, the release says.

At trial, prosecutors drew comparisons to the Jerry Sandusky case in Pennsylvania, noting that the Penn State coach held a good reputation despite his years of systematic abuse of children.”

Republic foster father sentenced to 55 years in jail for sexually abusing three children[News-Leader  1/9/15 by Harrison Keegan]