How Could You? Hall of Shame-Mathew Legrand Arrington IV

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 Mesa, Arizona, adoptive father Mathew Legrand Arrington IV, 55, ” is facing sex-abuse and child-molestation charges involving four preteen and teenage relatives.

Police arrested Mathew Legrand Arrington IV on May 17 after the girls, all adopted, came forward with stories of him molesting them.

It was the second arrest for Arrington, 55, in less than two weeks. On May 7, Mesa police arrested him on one count of sexual conduct with a minor after one of the female relatives told police he had penetrated her with his finger.

He was released with electronic monitoring. Court records show that on that same day, his wife filed an order of protection against him. Four days later, the wife called police to say more female relatives were reporting abuse.

In further interviews with police, the girl who initially came forward said Arrington had touched her breasts while she sat on his lap. She told police she didn’t disclose that incident because Arrington had told her in a family meeting that any disclosure would send him to prison.

Police also took statements from three female relatives who alleged sexual abuse, in some cases dating to 2016.

One of the girls said Arrington came into the bathroom “numerous times” while she was showering and would comment on how her body was developing.

Another girl told police she was sleeping on an air mattress in summer 2016 when she woke up to find Arrington fondling her genitalia. In another instance, she said he took her hand and placed it on his penis over his underwear. She told police she only recently recalled these incidents.

A fourth girl said he had tried to fondle her breasts.

Their accounts led to his arrest on three counts of sex abuse, two counts of child molestation and one count of attempted sex abuse.

Arrington and his family were featured in a 2017 video hosted by Foster Arizona.

He and his wife talked about their decision to foster and adopt. Images of the family dancing and smiling were interspersed through the video.

The couple has nine adopted children, plus a biological son.

The Department of Child Safety did not comment when asked to clarify or comment on whether the agency is now involved with the family.

This is the second time this month that relatives of an adoptive family have turned to police with accounts of abuse. Earlier this month, an El Mirage boy wrote an email to El Mirage police, saying he was afraid to go home and had been abused by his father for two years.

Arrington complained of chest pains while being booked into jail and was taken to a hospital. He was released the next day and booked into Maricopa County’s Fourth Avenue Jail.

Court records show he posted a $150,000 bond and was released Tuesday with electronic monitoring. He was ordered to not return to his home, nor to have contact with any minors.

A pretrial conference is set for July 3 in Maricopa County Superior Court.”

Mesa man who promoted foster care faces sex-abuse counts involving teen girls

[Arizona Central 5/22/19 by Mary Jo Pitzl]

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