How Could You?Hall of Shame-Michael R. Rice 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 Hooper, Nebraska,48-year-old adoptive and foster father,Michael Rice, is “accused of child abuse is being held in jail without bond
Michael Rice is facing 11 felony charges of child abuse and sexual assault in connection with incidents dating back to 1998. Officials said the investigation started with an alleged assault in late October 2013, which led to three more victims.
Authorities said the first victim provided investigators with “significant details,” which the officer felt corroborated her allegations. The girl, who was between 14 and 17, told investigators Rice had sex with her on at least five occasions and had subjected her to other sex acts “numerous times.”
Investigators said other victims counted as many as 50 times that Rice assaulted them.
Two women told an investigator Rice sexually assaulted them beginning at the ages of 11 or 12.
One woman, who asked to remain unidentified, said Rice and his wife fostered dozens of children. She said at one time, the couple had up to 12 children in their care, including her son, who has autism.
“He lived there (starting) in 2006 for a total of 602 days,” the woman said.
The woman said her son lived with Rice as a foster child because she thought that with the couple, she would get the help for her son that she couldn’t afford. But the mother learned her son lived with Rice during a series of alleged assaults detailed in several Dodge County court documents.
“I called the jail and asked and that’s when I found out that he had numerous charges,” the woman said. “(It’s) horrifying. I don’t know what to think about that.”
She said because of autism, her son has a hard time communicating, so if something happened to him, she may never know.
An order filed in November in Dodge County Juvenile Court removed six children from Rice’s home. Authorities said Rice was the adoptive father of all of them.”
Foster father accused of child abuse behind bars[Ketv 12/13/13]
“Michael R. Rice, 48, of Hooper will make his first court appearance on Dec. 30.
Rice is facing 11 sex-related charges, including two counts of first degree sexual assault of a child, a Class 1-B felony; first degree sexual assault, a Class II felony; three counts of incest, Class III felonies; three counts of child abuse, Class III-A felonies; and two counts of third degree sexual assault of a child, Class III-A felonies.”
Cases move forward for men accused of crimes against children[Fremont Tribune 12/16/13 by Chris Zavadil]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update:“A former foster father from Hooper, Nebraska, was sentenced to what amounts to life in prison Tuesday after being found guilty of first-degree sexual assault of a child.
Michael R. Rice, 49, had pleaded no contest in Dodge County District Court to that charge and to a charge of child abuse in exchange for dismissal of nine other sex-related charges. Dodge County District Court Judge Geoffrey Hall sentenced Rice to 90 to 95 years for first-degree sexual assault of a child to be followed by another five years for the child abuse conviction.
“I think the judge handed down a very fair sentence,” said Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass. “(Rice) is not going to be in a place where he can ever harm children again.”
Rice began preying upon children in his home at least as far back as 1998, Glass said. Court records show the investigation started following an assault of a girl between the ages of 12 and 16 in October 2013.
Rice and his former wife fostered dozens of children, Glass said. No charges have been filed against the ex-wife.
Three women 18 or older and one 17-year-old girl were willing to testify in court that they had been sexually assaulted by Rice, Glass said. He said he thinks there were many others that “simply didn’t come forward.”
One girl told Glass that she barricaded herself in her bedroom at night to try to thwart Rice. Another described sleeping with multiple layers of clothes to try to prevent the attacks, he said.
“These girls thought they had found a safe place, and then the evilness came out,” Glass said.
Rice could have been sentenced to two terms of life in prison plus 135 years if convicted on all charges.
“I did the math and (Rice) will not even be eligible for release until he is 96½ years old,” Glass said.”
Ex-foster father sentenced to 95-100 years for sexually assaulting children[Omaha.com 11/18/14 by Kevin Cole]
Hello, my name is Tawny. I’ve been looking into the story of Michael Rice and I’m trying to understand it the best that I can. I currently live in the house that all of the events that caused the charges happened in. I really want to meet all of the foster kids and other victims. I want to know that they are doing okay. I hate knowing what happened in this house. It breaks my heart
helllo my name is jessicq green it was jessicq rice at one time tawny i would like to speak about what happen in you house and i live in fremont
Hi I was one of the many kids he did this to… if you ever want answers you absolutely can reach out to me. I know it’s been years but I’m willing to tell my story.