How Could You? Hall of Shame-Michigan Adoptee case

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 Jackson, Michigan, a missed 2013 case of ” a 45-year-old Blackman Township man who admitted to masturbating in front of and fondling his 5-year-old adopted daughter has been charged with five felony counts.

Jackson County Magistrate Frederick Bishop on Thursday, Aug. 15, arraigned the man on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of aggravated indecent exposure.

Both first-degree criminal sexual conduct, a penetration offense, and the indecent exposure charge, enhanced because the man is considered a “sexually delinquent person,” are punishable by up to life in prison.

As the man’s wife wept in the back of the courtroom, Bishop ordered the man held without bond in the Jackson County Jail.

His name is not being released because he shares a name with his daughter and the Citizen Patriot typically does not print names of sexual assault victims.

The man told Blackman-Leoni Township public safety Detective Sgt. Christopher Boulter and Detective Joseph Merritt that, more than once, he pulled down his pants and masturbated in front of his daughter, according to a family court petition. The petition, filed by the Michigan Department of Human Services, seeks to terminate his parental rights to the girl and four other children, all sons, ages 5, 5, 12 and 15. The 5-year-olds are triplets who were adopted by the couple.

The man said he would inappropriately touch his daughter while giving her a bath, according to the petition, which contained some details too graphic for publication.

He told the detectives he has been addicted to porn “all his life.” He said this addiction slowly crept back into his life, taking him to a “place I thought I would never go,” the petition states. He “struggled with masturbation” since he was 12, he told Boulter and Merritt.

The man’s lawyer, Phillip Berkemeier, said his client sought professional counseling. “He is doing everything he can to act responsibly,” Berkemeier told Bishop.

Berkemeier asked Bishop to set a bond the man could post. He said the man wants to continue to provide for his family.

Bishop denied this request, saying the allegations were “the most egregious I have heard.”

Berkemeier said the man has long been employed.

He said he stayed away from his family in a basement apartment since the allegations surfaced in July.

His church participation will be limited and monitored, Berkemeier said.

The man was involved in youth ministries at a local church and his wife is a part of the staff. Boulter said the man is no longer in any position of authority at the church.

Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski, taking her turn to address the man’s possible release, said detectives have a full, recorded confession and the chance of conviction, and eventual imprisonment, is great.

The complaint alleges the man’s criminal activity began in January 2012 and continued until July 2013, according to information presented in court.

Boulter said a babysitter learned of the abuse and contacted authorities.

He said the children’s mother was “mortified.” The children remain in her care.

Outside the courthouse, the man’s wife, the church pastor and others gathered with Berkemeier on the sidewalk. They declined comment.”

Man arraigned on five felony counts for allegedly sexually assaulting adopted daughter[MLive 8/15/13 by Danielle Salisbury]

“Before sentencing a man who admitted to molesting his 5-year-old adopted daughter to 30 to 50 years in prison for one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Circuit Judge John G. McBain said he couldn’t  “wrap his head” around the crime.

“I just can’t wrap my head around a 46-year-old man who’s gonna turn his daughter into a sex toy,” McBain said. “I’m sure what you have done has emotionally scarred her and the rest of your family for the rest of their lives.”

Jackson County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski told McBain during the Jan. 7 sentencing that the man violated what should have been “a sacred bond” with his daughter. She said his actions will eventually cause the now 7-year-old she described as “amazing” and “fierce” to internalize the “shame and degradation” he caused.

The man’s name has been withheld because he shares a name with his daughter and the Citizen Patriot typically does not print names of sexual assault victims.

When the 46-year-old defendant was given a chance to speak, he tearfully apologized for his actions, saying there were “no words to describe how sorry, how ashamed, how embarrassed” he is. However, he never directly referred to his daughter until the judge asked him how he thought his actions would impact her, a fact Rezmierski reiterated throughout her allocution.

“He talked about the impact this has had on nieces and nephews and church family. Not one time did he say her name,” Rezmierski said. “He violated her in virtually every way I can comprehend and imagine. … You can make darned certain that regardless of the number that you give him she will be degraded as much as any of us can comprehend. That is what he has wrought, this man that can’t even be brought to utter her name.”

Rezmierski had previously been disqualified from the case because the victim made new allegations of abuse during an interview when only the prosecutor was present.The Michigan Court of Appeals later reversed the lower court’s decision and allowed Rezmierski to prosecute the case.

The man’s defense attorney, Alfred Brandt, told McBain his client was known by many, including his now ex-wife and the victim’s mother, as “a good man.” He said his client told detectives from the Blackman-Leoni Public Safety Department about the abuse because “he was tired of lying,” adding it spoke to his character.

Under Michigan Law, first-degree criminal sexual conduct convictions carry a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison with the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The man pleaded guilty to the single count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in November and in exchange the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office dropped two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and an aggravated indecent exposure charge against him.

While delivering her victim impact statement to the court, the man’s ex-wife told him she forgave him and said she knows her family will overcome this.

“While our family picture has been changed forever I want to be here today to say we’re going to be victorious in this situation and I don’t view us as victims,” the man’s ex-wife told the court. “I do want you to know that I forgive you and while I can’t make our children do the same I will continue raising them in a loving, caring, and nurturing Christian home and surround them with positive influences.””

Judge sends man to prison for 30 years for molestation of 5-year-old adopted daughter[MLive 1/7/15 by Therese Ghiloni]

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