How Could You? Hall of Shame-Steven Irving Weissman 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 Soquel, California, foster parent and school volunteer Steven Irving Weissman, 57, has been arrested for molesting two boys.
“A 57-year-old Soquel foster parent and school volunteer is accused of molesting two boys, according to deputies, who believe there may be more victims.
Steven Irving Weissman was in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on Friday for arraignment on a single count of child molestation. He was arrested on that charge Monday, two days after deputies were told a 14-year-old boy had been molested, sheriff’s deputy Ryan Kennedy said.
In court, prosecutor Steve Moore added seven new felony child molestation charges against Weissman after deputies identified a second victim, an adult who prosecutors allege was abused by Weissman several years ago when he was 9.
Weissman pleaded not guilty to all the charges. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
At Moore’s request, Judge Ariadne Symons raised the bail amount to $350,000.
The request was made because “we think it reflects a higher level of criminality,” Moore said.
Weissman, who was out on $50,000 bail for the first arrest, was taken back into custody, Moore said.
The initial complaint against Weissman came Saturday. Further investigation revealed the second victim, Kennedy said.
Since Weissman has been a foster parent for 16 years and volunteered with local elementary schools and community youth activities, investigators believe there are additional victims, Kennedy said.
Sheriff’s detectives ask anyone with information to call 831-471-1121.
Weissman’s next court date is Aug. 28 to set a preliminary hearing, which will determine if there’s enough evidence to go to trial.”
Soquel foster parent, school volunteer accused of child molestation
[Santa Cruz Sentinel 8/9/13 by Calvin Men]
“Detectives declined to say which local schools Weissman volunteered at because parents and students had not been notified yet.
Weissman was a foster parent for “several children,” Kennedy added.”
Soquel foster parent, school volunteer charged with molesting boys
[KSBW 8/9/13 by Amy Larson]
REFORM Puzzle Pieces
Update: “Weissman volunteered as a foster parent, served as a mentor with the big Brothers and Sisters program, helped at two unnamed schools, and brought children to his home to look at the snakes he raised, according to police.
Some of his neighbors said they felt uneasy about Weissman, who lived nearby for about six years.
Weissman ran a company called Santa Cruz Reptiles and kept snakes inside his garage where children would often visit, police said.
Last week, a 14-year-old boy said he was molested by Weissman.
During Weissman’s arraignment last Friday, another victim came forward.
“The second victim was victimized when he was 9 years old. He’s an adult now. The victim ended up coming forward after they heard Mr. Weissman was placed in custody,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ryan Kennedy.
Weissman served as a mentor for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
They declined to speak with KSBW but issued a statement that read, “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz is aware of the charges involving a former volunteer with our organization. We are angered and saddened by news of any child being harmed or exploited in any way.”
Soquel foster parent accused of child sex abuse kept snakes in house
[KSBW 8/12/13]
Update 2: A third victim has come forward.
“A 57-year-old Soquel foster parent and school volunteer has been accused of molesting three boys, prosecutors said Monday.
Steven Irving Weissman was charged Monday with 10 counts of felony child molestation, adding to charges filed earlier in August.
Prosecutor Steve Moore said Weissman took advantage of children for more than 10 years.
“We’re only on victim three, and we’re interviewing a fourth victim,” Moore told Judge Ariadne Symons during a bail hearing on Monday. “This is going to be an ongoing investigation.”
Moore added that Weissman, who ran a business that sold reptiles, met children on the street and later had them “sleep over” at his home on Benson Avenue in Soquel.
Weissman appeared calm in court in orange jail clothes. Judge Symons kept his bail set at $700,000.
He faces life in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.
Weissman volunteered at a school and mentored children in a Big Brothers Big Sisters program, prosecutors said in court.
Outside court, Moore declined to name the school and program — but he said any other alleged victims should contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office at 831-471-1121.
Lisa McCamey, Weissman’s attorney, said Weissman had no criminal record and has lived in Santa Cruz County for decades.
“I understand the severity of the charges and I want to address them more fully,” McCamey said in court.
Weissman is due for a preliminary hearing Sept. 3.”
Soquel man accused of molesting third boy
[Santa Cruz Sentinel 8/19/13 by Stephen Baxter]
Update 3: A Fourth victim has come forward.
“A former foster parent from Soquel who was arrested last year on suspicion of sexually abusing three juveniles is now suspected of molesting a fourth victim, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Steven Weissman, 57, was arrested Friday in Soquel on suspicion of molesting a minor in June 2013, Santa Cruz County sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Kennedy said.
The first report of abuse came in on Aug. 3, and authorities later came to believe that Weissman had molested three juveniles, sheriff’s officials said. He was arrested and charged, but was released on bail as the court case proceeded, Kennedy said.
He was back in custody as of Tuesday, and was being held in county jail in Santa Cruz on $300,000 bail, according to Kennedy. He was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on the new charges.
Weissman had been a foster parent for 16 years, was involved in various community activities with youths, and had volunteered at local elementary schools, Kennedy said.
Sheriff’s investigators believe that there may still be additional victims in the case, Kennedy said.
The office was asking anyone with information about the investigation to call (831) 454-2311.”
Former foster parent suspected of molesting 4th child[KTVU 2/18/14 ]
Update 4:“A Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge on Friday denied a retrial request by a convicted Soquel child molester and former foster parent and school volunteer who filed almost a dozen claims challenging the result of his 2016 trial and conviction, according to court documents.
Steven Weissman, 62, a will be sentenced at 10 a.m. May 29 in Superior Court. He was convicted of 15 felonies: 12 counts of lewd acts with a child younger than 14, lewd acts with a child, aggravated sexual assault of a minor and copulation with a child younger than 10, according to court documents.
He cultivated relationships with young boys for roughly two decades starting in 1997. He was arrested four times in the case and posted bail each time new charges were filed, according to court documents. Weissman last was booked Sept. 1, 2016, the date of his conviction by jurors.
Superior Court Judge Timothy Volkmann presided over Weissman’s month-long trial in 2016. Each conviction for lewd acts with a child younger than 14 results in three to eight years in prison, according to state law.
“It’s a big relief to all of the victims that the trial phase is coming to a final conclusion,” Assistant District Attorney Steven Moore said. “We are glad they are going to get that sense of closure.”
Seven victims said Weissman copulated, massaged, fondled, kissed, tickled, cuddled and groped them, according to court documents. Some accounts refer to encounters at an event dubbed “poker night,” according to court documents.
Weissman had a business showing snakes to children and was an affluent member of the Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz, Moore said.
“He would bring snakes to school. He hired children to take care of the snakes and slowly, but surely, he would choose a boy,” Moore said.
Weissman made himself part of children’s lives as a volunteer yard duty supervisor at multiple elementary schools, as a foster parent, and as a “big brother” in the big brother and sister program with 8- to 12-year-old boys, the Sentinel reported in 2016.
He encouraged sleepovers at his house and molested them while they slept, Moore said. One child woke up to find Weissman masturbating, Moore said. Weissman also forcibly copulated an 8-year-old boy in the late 1990s, Moore said.
“It was proven that he was giving out sleeping pills to children,” Moore said.
A video camera in Weissman’s bathroom gave him immediate views of children showering, Moore said.
The molestation happened at two homes in Soquel, Moore said.
A Live Oak School District superintendent previously told the Sentinel in 2014 that Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office contacted the district about the investigation.
Weissman volunteered at Del Mar Elementary School in 2006. He had no criminal record and passed background checks, the superintendent said.”
Child molester, former Soquel foster father, denied new trial
[Santa Cruz Sentinel 2/9/18 by Michael Todd]
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