How Could You? Hall of Shame-James Ly Tran

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 Lafayette, Indiana, foster parent James Ly Tran,51, ” faces four counts of child molesting and one count of sexual misconduct with a minor.”

“A Lafayette man molested three children over a 12-year period, according to charges filed Wednesday.”

“Three victims, who now are teenagers, told investigators that Tran began molesting them when they were as young as 4 years old, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Tran also forced the victims to watch pornographic videos and to touch each other while taking baths, the affidavit states.

When detectives interviewed Tran, he initially denied touching the first victim. He later admitting to molesting her but said he couldn’t remember touching the second victim and denied touching the third, the affidavit states.

His wife, Lori Tran, said he admitted to touching the first victim. She added that on June 13, she spoke with the other two victims who said they also were molested, the affidavit states.

The husband and wife have been foster parents since 2001 — the same year the alleged sexual abuse began — and have cared for at least five children since then, according to a biography included in James Tran’s Facebook profile.

Lt. Terry Ruley of the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the two were foster parents for at least 10 years and that officials with the Indiana Department of Child Services assisted with the investigation.

A self-described student of the martial arts, he also operated a “dojo” for individuals with special needs,   the bio states, although it’s unclear if the training took place inside his home or at another location.

He is being held at Tippecanoe County Jail on $250,000 bond, according to an online inmate listing.”

Sheriff’s Department: Child molestation suspect a foster parent[JC Register online 6/24/16 by Joseph Paul]

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