How Could You? Hall of Shame-Richard Koca, Sr.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 Aurora, Colorado, the founder of the StandUp for Kids national charity for homeless children, Richard Koca, Sr.,69, “faces seven felony counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position  of trust involving a pattern of abuse, according to an Arapahoe County Court  case summary. The court record indicates the alleged abuse began in August 2009  and continued into 2012,” according to Daily Mail.

CNN says “Police did not say whether the child was part of Koca’s StandUp for Kids charity or elaborate on the circumstances of the alleged abuse.

Koca was being held Tuesday in lieu of $250,000 bond at the Arapahoe County jail, according to jail records. He is scheduled to appear in Arapahoe County District Court on Friday.

According to police, Koca is a retired U.S. Navy officer who has lived in Panama, Venezuela, Spain, Italy, England, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta and Aurora.

While in Panama, police say, Koca was a scout master for a Boy Scouts program and volunteered for an unidentified orphanage in England. He was also involved in an Explorer scout program in San Diego, police said.

Police were asking for help from the public and media in identifying other possible victims.

The StandUp for Kids website is not active, but according to copies of the website maintained by Google and the Internet Archive website, Koca founded the organization in 1990 when he arrived in San Diego.

He was on its board of directors until Monday when the group learned of the charges, interim director Justine Madison said in a statement Tuesday.

Madison said the group was aware of the arrest but had no information about the accusations. The group has not been contacted by police, Madison said in the statement.

Koca retired as the group’s CEO in 2010, according to the statement.

In a “Founder’s Message” on archived copies of the website maintained by Google and the Internet Archive, Koca apparently wrote about the risks of sexual exploitation of homeless children,.

“We know first hand that once on the streets, young people are at even higher risk of being physically and/or sexually victimized, of self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to reduce emotional pain,” Koca apparently wrote. “Some even attempt suicide and often engage in act of ‘survival’ sex to meet their need for food, shelter, and clothing.”

According to the group’s 2010 tax filings, StandUp for Kids provided food, clothing, showers, transportation and other services to more than 15,000 children through a network of drop-in centers, alternative schools and street outreach programs.

It claimed total revenue of $1.7 million in 2010, the last year for which tax records are available online.”

Daily Mail says “Sgt. Cassidee Carlson said the investigation, which began on Aug.  29, has identified a single juvenile victim.

However, police said that because of Koca’s  extensive contact over the past several decades with juveniles through his work  with several non-profit organizations that primarily serve children, there are  concerns that there may be additional victims.”

 

Advocate for homeless children charged with sex abuse

[CNN 9/19/12 by Michael Pearson]

StandUp for Kids founder, 69, arrested on child sex assault charges

[Daily Mail 9/19/12]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 

Update:”The founder of a non-profit organization for at-risk youth pleads not guilty to child sex assault  Wednesday.

During the arraignment, the Arapahoe County prosecutor announced they have a “tape recorded confession” from Richard Koca Sr.

Koca, 70, is the founder of StandUp for Kids, a nationwide non-profit for at-risk and homeless children.

Koca was arrested Sept. 15, 2012 in Aurora on allegations that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a boy who was under his supervision.

After 7NEWS requested arrest documents in September, the case summary was removed from CoCourts.com, the Colorado court records website, and the court documents were sealed.

7NEWS has confirmed Koca faces 22 charges of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, involving a pattern of abuse.

According to an Arapahoe County Court case summary obtained by 7NEWS before Koca’s case was sealed,  the alleged abuse began in August 2009 and continued into 2012.

Because the case is sealed, it is still not clear if the allegations against Koca are connected to his involvement with StandUp for Kids.

Archived versions of the StandUp for Kids website includes Koca’s message about helping homeless youth and a message from the founder.  The most recent published website has no mention of the founder.

StandUp for Kids has reported work with programs in 37 cities nationwide, including Denver.

The executive director of the StandUp for Kids program in Denver released a statement in September 2012 responding to Koca’s arrest, “The allegations cannot detract from their efforts and should not take away from the good things the organization accomplishes.”

Koca was on the StandUp for Kids board of directors until two days after his arrest.

Koca’s involvement with children was not limited to his work for StandUp for Kids.  Koca volunteered with organizations to help children worldwide.  He was a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America in Panama, volunteer at an orphanage in England, and involved in Explorer scout programs in San Diego, California.

The case set to go to trial in July.”

Richard Koca, founder of national non-profit for at-risk kids pleads not guilty to child sex assault[The Denver Channel 2/20/13 by Amanda Kost]

“An Aurora man who founded a charity that helps homeless kids was convicted last week of 22 counts of sexual assault on a child.

Richard Lee Koca, Sr., 71, faces at least eight years in prison and possibly life behind bars after an Arapahoe County jury convicted him of assaulting a young male several times.

Police said Koca founded Stand up for Kids in 1990. The national non-profit helps at risk and homeless youth. Prosecutors said Koca was also a children’s photographer.

Deputy Cara Morlan, who tried the case, said in a statement that the victim showed remarkable strength by coming forward. “For more than three years, the victim kept silent regarding the repeated and ongoing sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of the defendant.  The strength and courage this child demonstrated in not only coming forward and reporting the abuse, but in facing his abuser during trial is remarkable.  He and his family placed their faith in the system to achieve justice and hold the Defendant responsible for his actions, and the verdict today is proof that justice has prevailed.”

Koca is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 19.”

Aurora charity founder convicted of child sex assault[Aurora Sentinel 7/17/13 by Brandon Johannson]

A colorado Offender search shows that he is up for mandatory release  on 04/19/2189. Next parole hearing date is Jan 2101.