How Could You? Hall of Shame-Michael Felch 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 Wasilla, Alaska, a second foster parent has been accused of sexually molesting a foster child.
“Wasilla-based troopers began investigating 62-year-old Michael Felch, according to an online dispatch, after receiving an April 15 report that he “had inappropriate contact with a child under the age of 13.”
“The child was interviewed at the Children’s Place, in Wasilla, and disclosed being sexually abused by Michael Felch,” troopers wrote. “Michael Felch was interviewed and corroborated some of the statements made by the [child] and denied others.”
Felch was indicted, troopers said, on one first-degree and two second-degree counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Court records indicate dates for the alleged abuse spanning from last year through Thursday.
“Michael Felch is a licensed foster parent but only had one placement and currently has no children in the home,” troopers wrote.
The charges against Felch follow last week’s news that 66-year-old Robert Akens was facing charges of sexually abusing a child last year who was 9 years old at the time. Akens, whose home had hosted 28 foster children from 2013 through 2018 according to state officials, was initially held on $100,000 bail.
A no-bail arrest warrant was issued for Felch, troopers said. A statewide inmate database listed Felch in custody Wednesday evening at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility.”
2nd Mat-Su foster parent accused of sexually abusing child
[KTVA 5/2/19]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update:“A Wasilla man accused of sexually abusing a foster child is being held on $150,000 bail.
Michael Felch, 62, appeared in a Palmer courtroom for a bail hearing on Tuesday. Felch is charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor for allegedly molesting an 8-year-old child in his care.
Defense attorney, Brad Carlson, requested the judge lower the bail to $20,000 with 10% paid up front. Carlson told Judge Jonathan Woodman the facts of the case aren’t as they appear. He said the alleged victim has a family member who is also charged with abusing minors and the child may be getting the incidents confused.
“This is a guy who is a member of our community who is being looked at wrongly here. As we get to learn more about the facts and circumstances of this case, it’s very clear there are some conflating memories going on,” Carlson said.
The defense also requested Felch be electronically monitored by a private company, Alaska Defendant Monitoring, and asked that Felch’s wife be considered as a third-party custodian.
Palmer Assistant District Attorney Melissa Wininger-Howard said that was not allowed because there is a “100% chance the state would subpoena her for trial.”
Wininger-Howard took no issue with a private electronic monitoring company, but asked Judge Woodman to keep the bail as set.”
Bail kept at $150K for Mat-Su man charged with sexually abusing foster child
[KTVA 5/7/19 by Heather Hinze]
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