How Could You? Hall of Shame-Howard Earl Clemens
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 Brownsville, California, foster father Howard Earl Clemens, 57, was arrested on April 18, 2012 on allegations of sex abuse of a 6-year-old foster daughter during 2009. The charges listed were “suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 and having sex with someone under 10 years of age. He was booked into Yuba County Jail.”
[Appeal-Democrat 4/18/12]
“Clemens, 58, pleaded no contest in September [2012] to four felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child.” On Monday, October 22, 2012, he was sentenced to 14 years in jail as part of the plea deal.
“Clemens must serve at least 11 years before he is eligible for parole. He must register as a sex offender and faces up to 10 years on parole after his release, Sydow said.
Clemens admitted the abuse to Yuba County sheriff’s investigators, according to court records.
He told investigators he and the victim had a “friendship” that he’d allowed to “go too far,” Clemens said in his sentencing report.
While probation officers said there was a “low-risk” of Clemens reoffending in the future, they were also highly critical of the former foster parent.
“Clemens placed the needs of his deviant sexual desires above the well-being of a vulnerable 6-year-old child,” the report states. “State prison in the only suitable disposition.”
The girl came to Clemens’ Brownsville home on La Porte Road in the spring of 2009. The victim said she was assaulted about 11 times between March and August of that year. She said Clemens told her she would get into trouble if reported the abuse, according to his sentencing report.
He said he abused the girl five or six times and all of the abuse occurred when Clemens’ wife was not home, the report states.
Clemens and his wife have since had their foster care license revoked, court records state. The abuse came to light after the girl was adopted out of the home.
Family members wanted to see a harsher penalty for Clemens, but understood a longer prison term would have only been possible if the victim had been forced to testify during a public trial.”
14 years in prison for child sex abuse in Yuba County
[Appeal-Democrat 10/23/12]
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