How Could You?Hall of Shame-Kelsey McCarter

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 Knoxville, Tennessee, Kelsey McCarter, respite care mom, “26, charged with six counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and one count of exploitation of a minor by electronic means, was to have been arraigned Thursday in Knox County Criminal Court. Appearing in court with her husband, she did not enter a plea.

Instead, Judge Scott Green set a status hearing on June 23.

Attorney Doug Trant, who represents McCarter, declined to comment after the hearing.

The encounters took place between Feb. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, and included at least one instance of McCarter sending inappropriate photos via cell phone to the teen, according to a presentment made public last month.

The boy’s mother told the News Sentinel the abuse happened while her son and his older brother were living with McCarter and her husband, Justin McCarter.

Justin McCarter invited the two brothers to live with him and his wife, offering to mentor the boys after they began having behavioral problems, such as skipping school, the mother said.

The brothers lived with the McCarters for about a year, their mother said, and played on the football team while attending South-Doyle High. No abuse has been alleged against the older boy.

The state Department of Children’s Services confirmed there is no record of any formal foster care arrangement. The boys’ mother said she refused a request by Justin McCarter to sign over guardianship of her sons.

Both boys now live with their mother and attend Fulton High School.

Justin McCarter resigned earlier this year from his coaching position and has not been charged in the case.

South-Doyle Principal Tim Berry and Assistant Principal Clark Duncan, who is also the school’s head football coach, were placed on paid administrative leave in February pending an investigation of whether they failed to immediately report the allegations of child sexual abuse to DCS or law enforcement.”

June hearing set for coach’s wife on statutory rape charges[Knoxville News-Sentinel 5/5/16 ]

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