How Could You? Hall of Shame-Roger Decoteau

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.

This 2018 case has come to light.

From Belcourt, North Dakota, foster parent Roger Decoteau, 65, ” has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually abusing six children. ”

“In addition to his prison sentence, Roger Decoteau, 65, will be required to register as a sexual offender and was sentenced to lifetime supervision.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, an investigation was opened into Decoteau in November 2018 after an 8-year-old disclosed sexual abuse.

The release states that an FBI investigation found evidence that Decoteau had sexually abused six children younger than 12, and he was arrested and charged with multiple counts of child sexual abuse in May 2019. He told investigators that he was “feeling helpless” so he “turned to the helpless,” according to the release.

Decoteau has been a foster parent in the Turtle Mountain community for nearly a decade, court documents show.

“The defendant preyed upon children he had a responsibility to protect,” U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said in a statement. “His deplorable exploitation of these children all but ensures that the final decades of his life will be spent in federal prison.””

Turtle Mountain foster parent sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexual abuse

[Grand Forks Herald 1/26/21 by Hannah Shirley]

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