How Could You? Hall of Shame-Steven Joseph Holland and Alma Holland 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 Phoenix, Arizona, former foster parent Steven Joseph Holland, 52, “is in jail facing several charges involving sex crimes against minors. ” His wife Alma, 55, was also arrested for failing to notify police of child abuse.

“Steven Joseph Holland was arrested at his home Thursday morning after a year  long Phoenix police investigation.

According to officers, Holland is a former foster parent who had his license  pulled shortly after the investigation began.

Those close to the situation say a brave child came forward with information  which sparked the investigation.

According to jail records, Holland faces charges that include sexual conduct  with a minor, furnishing obscene materials to a minor, three counts of child  molestation, two counts of sex abuse and others.

According to investigators, five victims have been identified and claim  Holland videotaped at least one victim as she showered.

Those who live in Holland’s neighborhood near Happy Valley Road and 51st  Avenue expressed their concern for their own children.

“Once I learned of the situation and the arrest, we planned to and actually  did ask my son a few questions because my son had played over there with another  young boy who lived in that (Holland’s) home,” said Robert Brown.

Brown said he had no further concerns after speaking with his son Thursday  night.

“We feel pretty comfortable, but it’s scary thinking that something might  have happened to him, too,” said Brown.

Other neighbors described Holland as a stereotypical neighbor who would wave  and say hello.”

Former foster parent Steven Joseph Holland accused of sex crimes

[ABC 15 10/11/12 by Christopher Sign]

“A former foster parent is in jail on suspicion of numerous sex crimes against seven children under his care from 2005 to 2011.” The investigation began when a “4-year-old boy told a daycare worker he had been molested by his foster parent, according to Sgt. Steve Martos of the Phoenix Police Department.”

“Meanwhile, CPS revoked the foster license of Holland his wife, Alma Holland. No children were under their care after the revocation, Martos said.

Police eventually identified seven victims formerly under Holland’s care, some of them special needs children.

The crimes ranged from sexual conduct with a minor, sexual abuse, child molestation, providing obscene material to a minor and secretive videotaping.

The victims included five girls and two boys ranging from 4 to 17 years old.

Alma Holland, 55, was charged with child abuse for failing to notify police of the crimes. Court documents showed that Alma Holland was told by one of the victims of the abuse, and walked in on Steven Holland and another victim on another occasion.

A 95-year-old woman was found to be in the care of the Hollands when officers served a search warrant on Thursday.”

Ex-foster parent accused of sex crimes with children

[KHPO 10/12/12 by Scott Stout]

REFORM Puzzle Pieces

Update: ” Phoenix couple who were foster parents to approximately 15 kids have been arrested following a yearlong child molestation investigation. ”

“In September 2011, a 4-year-old boy told his daycare that he was molested by his foster parent, Steven Holland. The information was reported to the Phoenix Police Department and Child Protective Services.
Detectives began an investigation into the allegation but said there was insufficient evidence at the time to make an arrest.

Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Martos said Child Protective Services revoked the couple’s license to be foster parents.
Shortly after the initial disclosure by the boy, detectives learned of another victim and began a thorough investigation into the number of children under the couple’s care while they were foster parents.
Police said the Hollands were foster parents to approximately 15 children ranging in age from 4 to 17 between 2005 and 2011. .”

“A judge set Steven Holland’s bond at $400,000. His wife was released on her own recognizance. “

Former foster parent accused of sexually abusing children

[AZ Family.com 10/12/12 by Jennifer Thomas]

“The arrests on Thursday of Steven and Alma Holland capped a yearlong  investigation during which the children, many now teenagers and at least two  with special needs, painted a grotesque picture of a foster home that should  have been their refuge.”
“Under questioning from police in recent months, the children said Steven  Holland forced them to watch pornographic videos, secretly videotaped them in  the shower or getting undressed, and repeatedly forced at least one child — a  now-14-year-old described as having the mental capacity of a first- or second-  grader — to have sex with him after locking her in a bedroom.

A 4-year-old foster child broke open the case in September 2011, when he told  his child-care worker that he touched his foster father’s genitals. Police and  CPS investigated, but Phoenix police Sgt. Steve Martos said Thursday that there  wasn’t enough evidence to arrest Holland at the time.

Martos said CPS removed the children from the home and revoked the Hollands’  foster-care license after the reported incident, but it’s not known when the  agency took that action.”

“DES spokeswoman Tasya Peterson said in a statement. “Additionally, misconduct by  foster parents is extremely rare.” [There they go again!]

“The agency said state licensing requirements — including fingerprint  clearance, training and in-depth interviews — along with regular visits from  both CPS workers and foster-care licensing agencies are among the safeguards to  help ensure the safety of children.

Jacober agreed that it’s rare for a foster parent to harm a child, in part  because the application process is rigorous and designed to weed out the wrong  people. “This guy is such an anomaly,” Jacober said. “He does not represent the  people who take care of foster children.”

But somehow, Steven Holland slipped through the cracks and, police allege,  preyed on the foster children in his care for years without CPS caseworkers or  the family’s licensing workers knowing anything about it. [Oh come on. If you were checking on them, then CPS is as fault and many people need to be fired for incompetence. ]

In court documents, the five girls and two boys tell chilling stories of  coercion, fear and sexual abuse. Some of the children told their new foster  families about Holland, while two of the girls were contacted by police.

One victim, who is deaf and autistic, lived at the Holland home for four  years but could not be interviewed because of his disabilities.

Steven Holland faces 24 counts, including sexual conduct with a minor, child  molestation, sexual abuse and showing obscene materials to children.”

“According to court documents, she walked in on her husband while he was  assaulting one of the children. “Alma yelled at Steven, ‘What are you doing to  (the victim), she’s only 13 years old!’ ” the document said. Police said the  wife did not report the attack.

The Hollands may have had a special license to care for children with  developmental disabilities, but the DES would not answer that question late  Friday or disclose which private licensing agency monitored the family, citing  state law.” [Then that state law needs to change!]

“The state requires licensing agencies to visit at least once every three  months, in addition to the requirement that CPS workers visit monthly. But the  most recent state data show more than 2,700 children, or 22 percent, did not  receive the required CPS visits during the six-month period ending in March.

It’s unknown how often CPS had visited the Holland home.

The DES closed more than 50 foster homes during the past year because of  regulatory action, according to the most recent state data. Licensing  infractions could include a range of things, from a change in housing to legal  problems. The state currently licenses about 3,500 foster homes.

Arizona is desperate for foster families. Over the past three years, the  number of Arizona foster homes has declined 12 percent while the number of  foster children has increased more than 30 percent. In its recent budget request  for the new fiscal year, the DES sought to increase the daily subsidy, which is  about $20 per child, to families who foster kids 11 and older.”

 

Phoenix man accused in sexual abuse of foster kids

[Arizona Central 10/12/12 by Mary K. Reinhart]

 

Update 2: “A former foster parent in Phoenix has pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse.

Alma Holland, 56, and her husband were arrested in Oct. 2012.

Steven Holland, 53, is accused of sexual conduct with a minor, furnishing obscene material to a minor, child molestation, sexual abuse and unlawful videotaping.

Alma Holland was accused of failing to report the crimes.

Her sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

In September 2011, a 4-year-old boy told his daycare that he was molested by his foster parent, Steven Holland. The information was reported to the Phoenix Police Department and Child Protective Services.

Detectives began an investigation into the allegation but said there was insufficient evidence at the time to make an arrest.

Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Martos said Child Protective Services revoked the couple’s license to be foster parents.

Shortly after the initial disclosure by the boy, detectives learned of another victim and began a thorough investigation into the number of children under the couple’s care while they were foster parents.

Police said the Hollands were foster parents to approximately 15 children ranging in age from 4 to 17 between 2005 and 2011.

Over the last 12 months, detectives identified seven victims of various crimes. Martos said some of the victims were special needs children.

According to a police report, Alma Holland walked into a room where a victim was being abused and another victim told her about the abuse, but she did not contact police.

The couple lived in the area of Happy Valley Road and 51st Avenue. The couple previously lived near 19th Avenue and Union Hills Drive.”

 

Foster mother pleads guilty to child abuse [AZ Family 10/7/13 by Mike Gertzman]

“A Phoenix woman accused in the abuse of foster children has been sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation.

Alma Holland, 56, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to two counts of child abuse, Maricopa County prosecutors said.

Holland and her 53-year-old husband were arrested in October 2012.

Her husband, a former foster parent, was jailed last fall on suspicion of numerous crimes against seven children under his care from 2005 to 2011.

Steven Joseph Holland, 52, was arrested Oct. 11, 2012 at his Phoenix home near Happy Valley Road and 51st Avenue, culminating a 13-month investigation by Phoenix police that began when a 4-year-old boy told a daycare worker he had been abused by his foster parent, said Sgt. Steve Martos of the Phoenix Police Department.

“It just shatters the trust you have in fellow humans that they would do something like this to a little child,” said one neighbor.

Child Protective Services was notified and Phoenix detectives began an investigation, though not enough evidence was found to warrant an arrest, Martos said.

Meanwhile, CPS revoked the foster license of Holland and his wife. No children were under their care after the revocation, Martos said.

Police eventually identified seven victims formerly under Holland’s care, some of them special needs children.

The victims included five girls and two boys ranging from 4 to 17 years old.

Holland was charged with child abuse for failing to notify police of the crimes. Court documents showed that Alma Holland was told by one of the victims of the abuse and witnessed the abuse on at least one occasion.

A 95-year-old woman was found to be in the care of the Hollands when officers served a search warrant.”

Phoenix woman sentenced for foster children abuse [Kpho 10/12/12 By Steve Stout]

Update 3:“A Phoenix man accused in the abuse of sex crimes against foster children pleaded guilty Monday to several charges.

Steve Holland pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to two counts of attempted child molestation, sexual abuse and furnishing obscene materials.

He will be sentenced Nov. 20.

His wife, Alma Holland, had been previously sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to two counts of child abuse.

The pair was arrested in October 2012.

Steve Holland, a former foster parent, was jailed on suspicion of numerous crimes against seven children under his care from 2005 to 2011.

He was arrested Oct. 11, 2012, at his Phoenix home near …, culminating a 13-month investigation by Phoenix police that began when a 4-year-old boy told a daycare worker he had been abused by his foster parent, said Sgt. Steve Martos of the Phoenix Police Department.

“It just shatters the trust you have in fellow humans that they would do something like this to a little child,” said one neighbor.

Child Protective Services was notified and Phoenix detectives began an investigation, though not enough evidence was found to warrant an arrest, Martos said.

CPS revoked the foster license of Holland and his wife. No children were under their care after the revocation, Martos said.

Police eventually identified seven victims formerly under Holland’s care, some of them special needs children.

The victims included five girls and two boys ranging from 4 to 17 years old.

Holland was charged with child abuse for failing to notify police of the crimes. Court documents showed Alma Holland was told by one of the victims of the abuse and witnessed the abuse on at least one occasion.

A 95-year-old woman was found to be in the care of the Hollands when officers served a search warrant.”

Phoenix man pleads guilty in foster children abuse[KPHO 10/12/14 by Steve Stout]

“A former foster parent has pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted child molestation, sexual abuse and furnishing obscene materials to minors.

Steve Holland, 54, entered his plea on Monday. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20.

Holland and his wife were arrested in October 2012 following a yearlong investigation, which began when a young boy told day care workers that he had been molested.

Phoenix police said the Hollands were foster parents to approximately 15 children ranging in age from 4 to 17 between 2005 and 2011.

Police detectives identified seven victims of various crimes.

Alma Holland was accused of failing to report the crimes. She pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse and was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation.”

Former foster parent pleads guilty to sexual abuse[Az Family 10/20/14 by Jennifer Thomas]

Update 4:”A Phoenix man accused of abusing foster children has been sentenced to an aggravated term of 15 years in prison.

Maricopa County prosecutors say 54-year-old Steven Holland also was sentenced Thursday to lifetime probation.
    
Holland and his 57-year-old wife were arrested in October 2012.

Phoenix police say the Hollands were foster parents to approximately 15 children ranging in age from 4 to 17 between 2005 and 2011.

Authorities say Steven Holland allegedly sexually abused seven of the children over a six-year span and his wife did nothing to stop it.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted child molestation, sexual abuse and furnishing obscene materials.

Alma Holland previously was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to two counts of child abuse.”

Phoenix man gets prison in foster kids abuse case[KGUN 11/20/14 by Shelby Payne]