How Could You? Hall of Shame-Amy Fuller

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 Mason, Michigan, residential treatment center counselor Amy Fuller “has been charged with sexually assaulting two teenagers, despite being cleared of wrongdoing by two other state agencies.

Amy Fuller was placed on administrative leave in August after the two boys, who were 15 and 16, accused her of touching their penises over their clothes.

The Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, Child Protective Services and the Department of Child Welfare Licensing began investigating Fuller at that point.

Child Protective Services and the Department of Child Welfare Licensing both determined in November that Fuller had done nothing inappropriate. Police passed the investigation over to prosecutors in October, who didn’t made a charging decision until April.

Fuller is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a detained juvenile.

Fuller returned to work in November and remains employed at Highfields, according to a statement provided by Emily Morgan, marketing and communications specialist for the treatment center.

Takura Nyamfukudza, Fuller’s attorney, said he does not believe the charges have any basis.

“Two (other) agencies conducted extensive interviews,” Nyamfukudza said. “They didn’t see anything there, but somehow for whatever reason, we are in this spot.”

A staff member heard the two boys whispering about Fuller in August and asked what they were talking about, Ingham County Sheriff’s Office Detective Kelly Bowden testified in a hearing that led to criminal charges being filed. They said Fuller had inappropriately touched them and asked them to touch her as well.

When the boys spoke to police, they said Fuller touched their penises over their clothes more than once, Bowden said. They shared similar stories about going to the snack closet in their residential building and having Fuller purposefully brush by them and rub her buttocks against their groins.

When Fuller supervised the boys alone during work detail, she told them to come to her and touch her breasts and genitals, Bowden testified.

Highfields said in a statement that its decision to allow Fuller to come back to work was affirmed by Child Protective Services and the Department of Child Welfare Licensing’s decision to close the investigation.

“Highfields doesn’t take these situations lightly. The safety of our students is our top priority. We will continue to review our procedures and make any improvements necessary to keep children and families safe,” according to the statement.

Bowden said all the acts Fuller is accused of took place on the Highfields campus on Old Plank Road in Onondaga Township.”

Counselor at Ingham County treatment center charged with sex assault of 2 teens

[Detroit Free Press 5/3/2020 by Kara Berg]

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