How Could You? Hall of Shame-Richard Jay Dewhirst

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 Kendall County, Texas, foster parent Richard Jay Dewhirst,”pleaded guilty in the 451st District Court to the offense of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child or Children. In exchange for pleading guilty, the State dismissed and took into consideration the offenses of Indecency with a Child, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Violation of a Protective Order. The charges stem from years of sexual abuse by the Defendant against his stepdaughters. A search warrant was executed at the Defendant’s home and cameras were found hidden inside, including a camera in the air vent above his step-daughter’s bed.

On November 1st, 2021, the State, represented by Special Victims Prosecutor Nick Socias, presented evidence of foster children who were victims of the Defendant over 20 years ago. One of the foster children, now an adult, testified at the punishment hearing about how the abuse impacted her life. The two step-daughters also testified to what it was like living with the sexual abuse and the struggle of daily life with the offender around.

The punishment range for this crime is a minimum of 25 years in prison and up to life in prison, with no possibility of parole. The attorney for the Defendant argued that since he was a veteran with PTSD, he should be given some leniency. Assistant District Attorney Socias argued that this was a monster who took in already abused and at-risk teenage girls under the guise of being a foster home just to sexually gratify himself. Socias continued that the defendant became bolder and moved on to sexually abusing his stepdaughters for years, driving them to the point of wanting to commit suicide to get out. “For all the victims of this defendant whose life he ruined”, argued Socias, “life is the only appropriate sentence.” Judge Kirsten B. Cohoon sentenced the Defendant to 50 years in prison. Kendall County Probation Officer Mario Paredes recommended the minimum of 25 years to 30 years in prison.

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office worked closely with the Kendall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit in investigating this case. Forensic analysts reviewed hidden camera and computer data to see exactly what the defendant’s intentions were. Kids’ Advocacy Place, a local non-profit children’s assessment center, provided forensic interviews for the children involved. Hill County Crisis Council, another local non-profit, provided free counseling to all the victims of the Defendant.

This plea resolves charges against known victims but does not preclude prosecution on behalf of any unknown victims. The Kendall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office asks anyone who Richard Jay Dewhirst has victimized to contact law enforcement.

Special Victims Prosecutor Nick Socias: “The victims of this monster finally have some closure and some form of justice for what they endured. For decades this person used his position of trust and power to sexually exploit children. He acted in the most horrific ways that we can imagine on children that looked up to and trusted him. Everyone is thankful that he is in a place where he cannot victimize children anymore. I am truly proud of the strength all these survivors showed in standing up to him.”

Nicole Bishop, Criminal District Attorney: “There is a continued effort in Austin to change our parole laws. Most recently, a House bill was brought forward to award additional credit to violent offenders in prison. Unfortunately, we cannot be guaranteed that a sentence today will have the same applicable parole laws tomorrow. In this case, where multiple children, including foster children and step-children, were abused over the course of over two decades, a life sentence is the only way we can honestly tell the victims and society that this man will always be incarcerated or under parole supervision.”
STATE OF TEXAS VS. RICHARD JAY DEWHIRST
[Kendall County CDA office 11/3/21]

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