How Could You? Hall of Shame-James Andrew Shaulis

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 Imler, Pennsylvania, foster father,James Andrew Shaulis, 27, “faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly victimized several foster children in his foster family between 2009-18.

State police began the investigation into James Andrew Shaulis, 27, on Dec. 18, 2024, according to court documents.

Police stated that there were six female foster children, ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old, while Shaulis was between 12 and 17 years old. He is an adopted son of a family who fostered numerous children over many years, the report states, noting the family lived in various locations in Blair and Bedford counties during the time of the alleged assaults.

In January of this year, police interviewed one girl who said she was about 8 years old when Shaulis, who was about 12, would ask if she was tough. He would then choke her to the point she coughed, she told police. This also was about the time he took her to the barn/shed in the back portion of their yard and asked her to perform oral sex on him.

The victim said Shaulis allegedly tried to convince her it was for a school project. He also attempted to bribe her with an electric scooter. The sex act didn’t occur, she told police, because someone walked in on them in the shed.

She told police she could remember it because it was her birthday and she wanted to play baseball.

Also during the interview, this victim said Shaulis was obsessed with her older sister, always being near her, trying to touch and kiss her. She told police her youngest sister disclosed, during Thanksgiving 2024, that Shaulis made her perform oral sex on him when she was about 6 years old.

During the investigation, police talked to the older sister, who described similar incidents of Shaulis trying to bribe her to perform oral sex by saying it was a school project and he needed her help. She said Shaulis touched her genitals, through her clothing, when she was about 11 or 12 years old.

The younger sister said she was in fourth grade when Shaulis, who was in high school at the time, would enter the bathroom when she was in the shower. In one incident, he forced her to perform oral sex on him. This incident would have been when she was 10 to 11 years old, the affidavit states, when the family lived along Piney Creek Road in Martinsburg.

A fourth victim said she was about 6 years old, also at the Piney Creek Road home, when she was led into the basement bedroom belonging to Shaulis and forced to perform oral sex on him, the report states. She said this happened before the family moved to Osterburg. In all, this victim recalled the assaults happening about five times, with Shaulis instructing her on what to do, the victim told police. One time, she recalled the family was having a yard sale when the assault occurred.

Police, who were able to build a timeline based on the victims’ recollections, their foster care and adoption records, stated the incidents with the fourth victim occurred at the same time as the other assaults.

The incidents all came to light when the sisters shared with each other what happened to them years prior, police reported.

In addition, two other adopted siblings disclosed their abuse, according to the affidavit.

On Feb. 13, the foster parents were interviewed by state police at Hollidaysburg, where they said Shaulis was a habitual liar and would likely not be truthful when interviewed.

On March 17, Shaulis was interviewed by state police at Hollidaysburg. When asked about the allegations made by the victims, he denied anything happened, the report states.

During the interview, Shaulis admitted he and one of the victims had a text conversation about the accusations. At that time, Shaulis told police “I vaguely remember it.” He then stated “I mean, whatever she says, if she says I did it, I guess I did,” the affidavit states.

When police asked Shaulis about the other allegations made by the other five girls, he stated they were all lying. Then he stated he never did anything to any of the six girls, police reported.

Shaulis was arraigned Friday evening before Magisterial District Judge Andrew L. Blattenberger on six felony counts each of statutory sexual assault – 11 years older and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, along with a misdemeanor charge of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years age.

Unable to post $500,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 25 before Blattenberger.”
Imler man accused of abuse of children in foster family
[Altoona Mirror 9/17/25]

A search on the Pennsylvania court records shows that James will have a trip on 4/09/26.

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