How Could You? Hall of Shame-Michael A. Phelps

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 Ithaca, New York, adoptive father Michael A. Phelps, 70, “pled guilty in a child sex abuse case that unfolded over the course of nearly a decade and involved his youngest adopted daughter.

Phelps, who is 70, pled guilty to second-degree attempted course of sexual conduct against a child, a class E felony. He waived the right to appeal as part of a plea deal.

Phelps and his wife were ideal foster parents on paper. They had previously raised four biological children together and had diligently completed their foster training. They attended the Covenant Love Community Church in Freeville and seemed well respected in the community.

Perhaps most importantly to their youngest adopted daughter, Stella, the Phelps were one of the only families willing to foster all four of her siblings together. They later adopted the children.

The Ithaca Voice opted not to use Stella’s legal name out of consideration for her privacy. She has requested to be referred to as Stella for this story.

Stella recalls first arriving at the Phelps’ house in Dryden in October 2013. She and her siblings were greeted at the door by Phelps’ wife, who told them to call her “Mimi” and Phelps “Papa.” She recalls a playful warning: “Don’t tickle Papa!”

Later, in an interview with police, Phelps admitted he would use the child’s tickling as an excuse to pinch and touch her chest. 

The abuse began soon after her arrival and would continue on for several years. Stella said she was around eight years old when it began.

The fear of being separated from her siblings eventually became a means of keeping Phelps’ sexual offenses secret, Stella said. The abuse came to light last year while she was in the process of applying for shelter after fleeing Phelps’ home.

Following his arrest in 2023, Phelps told police investigators he would fondle his adopted daughter at night when he thought she was asleep, because he “thought she was a heavy sleeper.” Occasionally, the groping would happen during the day as well. Phelps began to require kisses on the mouth and neck in exchange for television privileges. When alone with his adopted daughter, Phelps would describe sexual acts he wished to perform on her, she said.

Phelps agreed to a plea deal that would have him spend 10 years in probation with a decade-long order of protection against his victim, require him to pay $1,425 in court fees and register as a violent sex offender.  Ultimately, though, the deal allowed him to avoid any incarceration. 

Tompkins County Assistant District Attorney Heidi Paulino, who prosecuted the case, said Stella had agreed to the deal not out of sympathy for Phelps, but because she did not want to wait any longer for her abuser to admit his guilt publicly and face justice.

“There is nothing that the Court system can provide to heal the trauma suffered by the victim in this case,” District Attorney Matthew Van Houten wrote in a press release. “But it is my hope that this represents a step toward closure for her and her family.”

Acting Tompkins County Judge Richard Wallace had harsh words for Phelps during the plea hearing, calling his behavior and that of his household “extraordinarily abhorrent.”

Wallace said he initially had refused to comply with the plea deal, stating that he had strongly advocated for jail time for Phelps. Wallace said Phelps’ defense attorney, Jacob McNamara, had provided sufficient evidence to show Phelps’ incarceration would be an “undue burden” on the jail and taxpayers due to his medical condition and age, and potentially fatal for Phelps. 

The 70-year-old entered the courtroom in a wheelchair pushed by his wife. He appeared calm and said little throughout the hearing. His wife was visibly shaking as Paulino described the abuse.

Neither Phelps nor his lawyer disputed the allegations. They declined to comment when approached after the hearing.

Stella, who sat next to Paulino in the courtroom, was teary eyed as Paulino read her written statement on her behalf. She walked out of the courtroom in tears but smiling, accompanied by several advocates.

Afterwards, the group celebrated with boba tea, at Stella’s request.

Stella said she is glad to see Phelps face repercussions and said it was important for her to share the story of her abuse with the court. She said she’s looking forward to the future, especially a home that’s all her own.

One of Stella’s older sisters is currently in the process of petitioning the courts for custody of their youngest sibling, who is currently living with Phelps’ married adult son.

In the time since leaving Phelps’ home, Stella was able to get a job and finish her high school degree. She plans to enroll at Tompkins Cortland Community College, after which she hopes to earn her bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington.”

 

Dryden man sentenced after years of sexual abuse of adopted child

[Ithaca Voice 8/6/24 by Megan Zerez]

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