How Could You? Hall of Shame-Cody and Felicia Beemer 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 Warren, Ohio, Trumbull County Children Services has failed to keep an infant safe during a “supervised” visit at the Children Services Center. The daughter, a special needs 9-months-old and in state care since birth, was raped by her biological parents Cody, 22, and Felicia, 21 in September 2011. The photographed images of the assault were discovered on a cell phone by other family members after the visit. Another 18-month-old child had assault images on the phone causing the arrest of two other relatives.

Felicia’s other daughter, Tiffany Banks Cross, was also taken into state care at birth and MURDERED in foster care at 21 months of age in 2009 by foster mother Bonnie Pattinson, 31. PoundPup Legacy has some details on Tiffany here. Bonnie pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in October 2009 and was sentenced to 9 years in prison in December 2009 according to Foster mom gets nine years in prison [Trib Today 12/18/09 by Christopher Bobby]. The article states that “Banks died as a result of asphyxiation associated with multiple blunt traumatic injuries, according to her death certificate.”

“Felicia and Cody Beemer both pleaded innocent to rape charges in Warren Municipal Court on Friday[September 30, 2011]”

“Sources say Cody Beemer was a juvenile sex offender, and the couple went through parenting classes before being allowed the visits. Children Service’s officials said they are cooperating with prosecutors.

Felicia and Cody Beemer are being held in Trumbull County Jail on $250,000 bond. The investigation is continuing and additional charges could be filed.

They are due back in court next week.”

Couple Accused of Raping Daughter During Supervised Visit
[WYTV 9/30/11]

“Bond was set at $1 million each for Cody and Felicia Beemer, who were arraigned Friday morning on accusations of molesting their daughter. If convicted, they each face multiple life sentences.

In a direct presentment from a Trumbull County grand jury, Cody Alan Beemer, 22, was indicted on a count of gross sexual imposition, rape and pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

Felicia Banks Beemer, 21, was indicted on two counts of rape and three counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

“Each defendant told the court that they could not afford to hire an attorney. Matthew Pentz, director of the Trumbull County Public Defender’s Office, told the court that his office cannot represent both of the Beemers because of a possible conflict of interest involving another case.

Judge Mckay said he would assign Cody Beemer’s case to Pentz’s office and assigned an outside attorney to Felicia Beemer’s case.

Cody Beemer’s case is being assigned to Judge Andrew Logan’s court. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

Felicia Beemer’s pre-trial will be heard on Wednesday.

Loretta Banks, Felicia’s mother, said she did not understand why the prosecutor’s office changed her daughter’s bail. Bail for each defendant had been set at $250,000 in their initial appearance on Sept. 30.

“I know what she did was wrong,” Banks said. She believes her daughter was forced.”
Rape suspects arraigned
[Trib Today 10/8/11 by Raymond L. Smith]

“Trumbull County Children Services is asking a visiting judge to allow a now 17-month-old girl who was allegedly raped inside the county facility last summer to be put up for permanent adoption by someone outside her family.

Attorneys argued several matters Wednesday in Trumbull County Family Court during a hearing before retired Visiting Judge David E. Stucki of Stark County, including whether a relative of the girl has legal ground to gain partial custody. The relative wants the judge to place the child with another CSB agency in a neighboring county.

CSB attorney Susan Collins argued because the girl has been in CSB’s custody since birth, the agency has met and exceeded the necessary steps to take full custody of the girl.

No action was taken at Wednesday’s hearing. Stucki ordered the five attorneys involved to submit written briefs by Feb. 24. The judge expects to issue judgments on certain issues during a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. March 7.”

“David Engler, attorney for Loretta Banks, who is seeking the partial custody, argued that the woman would clearly act in the best interest of the child.”

CSB attorney “Collins countered that Engler and Banks are attempting to insert themselves in the case for financial gain through lawsuits. Engler has filed one lawsuit on the behalf of Tiffany Sue Banks Cross, another relative who was killed by a foster parent in 2009.”

“Attorney Kimberly A. Kohli, the girl’s guardian ad litem, told the court Loretta Banks has a long history with Children Services, dating back to 1987 when her own children were taken away.

She said she believes it’s in the child’s best interest to be put up for adoption. She also said the child, who has ”special needs” because of health issues, and was in good care with her current foster parents.

”I don’t think CSB is jumping the gun on permanent custody,” said Kohli, who was not the guardian ad litem at the time the girl was raped. ”The ultimate goal is permanent custody. She is in a safe environment.”

Engler responded by arguing that if a child was sexually molested in a foster home, CSB would take the child from the home. Engler argued that CSB should likewise lose its privilege with the child because the girl was sexually assaulted in their building.

”Have a different CSB come in and take the child,” Engler said. ”It’s beyond me why we don’t have a neighboring CSB take over when this case is so rife with conflict.”

Engler hinted to two state probes – an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to determine if any CSB employee was criminally negligent and one that was recently finished by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that reviewed 20 cases to review employees policies and procedures.

Stucki said he would make a decision quickly because six months means a lot to the child.
”I’m going to keep my focus on (the child),” Stucki said. ”Time is important. Frankly, legally speaking these are critical cases.”
CSB wants rape victim to be adopted
[Trib Today 2/9/12 by Adam Ferrise]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

CSB fails for two children of the same family.

Update: “The husband and wife are accused of raping their  13-month-old daughter during what was supposed to be a supervised visit at a  children’s service center, and recorded it on a cellphone – which also contained  532 images of child bestiality.

Felicia and Cody Beemer, from Trumbull  County, Ohio, originally pleaded not guilty to the charges. But yesterday, Cody,  23, changed his plea to guilty on charges of rape, gross sexual imposition and  four counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor.

It also emerged that he previously raped his  18-month-old nephew while they were babysitting him, which was also taped on the  phone. He also pleaded guilty to that charge.

He was sentenced to life in prison with the  possibility of parole in 25 years on the  rape charge. All other sentences will run along with the most stringent  sentence.

It was when an older relative found the SIM  card with the footage on it that she turned it over to police.

When they investigated, as well as the  footage of the children being raped, police also found 532  images of minors either involved in or watching a ‘montage of obscenity and  bestiality’, the indictment states.

Judge Andrew Logan said: ‘This is one of the  most outrageous and despicable acts that has ever come before this  court. We’re  talking about children of tender ages, newborns really  abused in the most  outrageous manner.’

Warren Law Director Greg Hicks said: ‘The  child is and has been in the custody of Children Services and during a scheduled  visitation they are alleged to have raped the child.

‘There are other allegations which we are investigating, that there may in fact be more charges on one or both of these  individuals involving minors.’

The 13-month-old daughter was taken away from  the couple as soon as she was born and there is currently an investigation  underway as to how they were able to harm her during a supervised  visit.

Children’s Services Board acknowledged they  had relaxed the  supervised visitation for the Beemers prior to the rape and  caseworkers were checking in on them only in ‘timed  intervals’ during the  weekly two-hour-long visits, according to The Tribune  Chronicle.

Questions are also being asked about why Cody  Breemer was even allowed on the premises as he is a registered sex  offender.

He sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl  when he was a teenager, which CSB were aware of.

In the wake of this investigation,  CSB executive director Nick Kerosky has  resigned.

Felicia Beemer, 21, cried when she appeared  in Warren County court.

She has had three other children removed from  her care in the past, including  one-and-a-half-year-old Tiffany Sue Banks, who was murdered by foster mother  Bonnie Pattison.

Her trial is pending.”

Couple ‘raped baby daughter during supervised visit and recorded sex abuse of 18-month-old nephew’

[Daily Mail 6/7/12]

“An Ohio woman who pleaded guilty to raping her  8-month-old daughter has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

Felicia Beemer, 22, said little during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing and  said nothing as she was led from the courtroom afterward, The Youngstown  Vindicator reported. Her lawyer, John Fowler, said prosecutors lowered the  minimum sentence from 25 years to 15 after deciding Beemer — who he said bore  the first of her four children after being raped — was less responsible than  her husband Cody for the rape of their infant daughter.

Diane Barber, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, said Cody, 24, also  has a criminal record and is a registered sex offender.

She said she hoped both will remain behind bars for life.

“They are the worst form of the offense,” she said. “They preyed on children  — one of them under 1 year old, the other under 2 years. Kids that age don’t  have the verbal skills to discuss it. And not only that, the victims were  relatives of the defendants — blood relatives of Felicia’s.”

Investigators said Felicia and Cody Beemer used a cellphone to record the  sexual assault on their 8-month-old daughter at a Trumbull County Children  Services office in 2011. A few months later, they recorded Felicia raping an  18-month-old nephew she was babysitting.

Cody Beemer was sentenced to 25 years to life after he pleaded guilty this  year.”

 

Woman admits raping 8-month-old daughter

[UPI 10/25/12]

“The adoptive parents of a girl raped by her biological parents during what was supposed to be a supervised visit inside the Trumbull County Children Services building in 2011 have sued the agency and three employees for $3 million.

The agency’s board, supervisors Marilyn Pape and Robin Moon and caseworker Jessica Watkins, were all named in the suit brought by attorney Michael Rossi. The names of the adoptive parents, who told WKBN.COM in January they would seek a lawsuit against CSB once their adoption was finalized, were not included in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Youngstown.

WKBN.COM previously reported Watkins as the caseworker at the time the girl, who was nine months old, was raped by parents Cody Beemer and Felicia Banks Beemer, both of whom pleaded guilty to the crimes and were sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility for raping the girl and an 18-month-old nephew.

Moon was Watkins’ immediate supervisor, who was later suspended without pay for 30 days for backdating records in the case after rape allegations surfaced. Pape was Moon’s supervisor.

Moon also gave Watkins a favorable performance evaluation in January that showed, in Moon’s estimation, an improvement over her last evaluation April 11, 2011, about two weeks before the rape occurred, the WKBN.COM investigation found.

All three still are employed with CSB in the same positions. Pape makes $64,096, Moon $52,788 and Watkins $32,085.

Both rapes were captured on a cell phone video camera.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Michael D. Rossi, alleges because CSB knew Cody Beemer was a juvenile sex offender for raping his 3-year-old cousin when he was 14 and that Beemer’s father had sexually abused his sister, they should be held responsible for failing to protect the girl during the supervised visitation.

The lawsuit also says Felicia Banks Beemer was “dim-witted” and “subservient to the will of the baby’s natural father.”

“The baby’s mother was dim-witted, suffering from a number of mental health issues, having repeatedly had her parental rights involuntarily terminated; subservient to the will of the baby’s natural father; and a victim of his domestic violence, facts of which the defendants were aware,” the complaints says.

The lawsuit alleges Watkins, Moon and Pape should be held responsible for relaxing supervision during the visits from having a supervisor in the room to 15-minute checks, which, according to some records and interviews obtained by WKBN.COM were not always made.

The girl suffered a “deprivation of liberty without due process, a Fifth Amendment violation, as a result, the complaint says.

A WKBN.COM investigation of hundreds of pages of documents in the case showed the CSB supervisors overseeing the girl’s case forced caseworkers to back-file records after they learned of a pending state probe of the agency and routinely told criminal investigators that the biological father’s child sex offender past was a “secondary concern” when making a case plan for the child.

Prosecutors presented evidence of child endangering to a Trumbull County grand jury against two CSB employees in the case. The grand jury rejected criminal charges.”

Adoptive Parents Sue CSB for $3 Mill

[WKBN 4/9/13 by Adam Ferrise]