How Could You? Hall of Shame-Alberto and Christine Rodriguez UPDATED and Lawsuit

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 Madera, California, minister and foster father and convicted sex criminal, Alberto Rodriguez, 48, “will face trial on charges that he molested three of his foster children and two young neighbors.”

“Prosecutors say he repeatedly abused the girls, who were under the age of 14, over a 20-year period. Prosecutors want to combine the case with that of a sixth alleged victim.

One of the girls accuses Rodriguez of first touching her inappropriately inside the Valley West Christian Center, where he worked as a children’s minister.

Rodriguez’s attorney says his client is not guilty. Rodriguez is being held on bail of $1 million. He is scheduled to be back in court in two weeks. ”

Minister to face trial on child abuse charges
[Mercury News 4/30/11 by Associated Press]

Further information is available from October 2010:

“Madera Police arrested Alberto Rodriguez for child molestation.

Madera Pastor and Foster Parent Arrested for Child Molestation has Criminal Record
[KMPH 10/19/10 by Anne Laurel]

“A North Valley children’s minister who has been a foster parent for more than 15-years was able to get a license to care for children despite a conviction for a sex crime.”

“60 kids have been through the Rodriguez home, since he became a foster parent. The foster agency that he accepted children from says they knew about his past, but petitioned to get him certified anyway. Until a few weeks ago, Rodriguez was up to date and licensed as a foster parent who met the requirements.”

“Court records obtained by Action News show Alberto Rodriguez was charged in four separate incidents, dating back to the early 1980’s. They involved various women who claimed he tried to have sexual contact with them against their will. Rodriguez spent two years in state prison after agreeing to a plea deal for the felony crime of first degree burglary with the intent to commit sexual battery. We asked state licensing officials how someone with a criminal background could pass a background check.”

Despite sex crimes Madera man licensed for child care
[KFSN 10/19/10 by Sontaya Rose]

“Madera County investigators are asking victims of a children’s minister to come forward.

48-year-old Alberto Rodriguez is accused of molesting children in his care.

Rodriguez was a foster parent and worked as a children’s minister at Valley West Christian Church in Madera for several years, before he was let go when the accusations came to light.

Five victims have come forward so far, but investigators believe the molestations could go as far back as 20 years ago, and there could be more victims out there.

48-year-old Alberto Rodriguez and his wife both worked as children’s pastors.

“The kids loved him.  He’s got a strong personality with kids, great character voices, just a fun guy to be around, I believe with all my heart these are just isolated incidents,” said Lance Leach, an associate pastor.

Leach does not believe any children at the church are victims of molestation.

The investigation into the claim began in June.

A church leader notified authorities.

“When we heard of the allegation, we immediately responded to the sheriff’s department. We’re a mandated reporter,” said Senior Pastor Roger Leach.

It began with one victim, but during the course of the investigation four more victims were found – all females – all had at some point in their lives been in the foster care system, and had been cared for by Rodriguez.

All of the victims were 14 or younger, at the time of the molestation.

Rodriguez and his wife have been foster parents for the past 15 years at least. 

Recently, as many as 9 kids have been living with them at their home. 

No children have been removed from the house, and Rodriguez’s wife is not under investigation.

Church leaders say all employees must pass background checks in order to work there, and Rodriguez passed the fingerprint test.

Deputies say Rodriguez has not been convicted of any sex crimes in the past.

Rodriguez’s wife and children are receiving counseling, from their church.

“There’s been a lot of love given to the family, given to Albert.  We’re taught in a lot of cases to hate the sin and love the person. Maybe my trust isn’t as strong, but I love them as strong,” said associate pastor Leach.

Rodriguez was arrested earlier this month, and remains in the Madera County jail. He’s facing at least five counts of child molestation.

His bail is set at $485,000.

If you have any information about possible victims, you’re asked to call the Madera County Sheriff’s Department, at 559-675-7770.”

Children’s Minister Accused of Molestation

[KMPH 10/19/10]

REFORM Puzzle Pieces

Update: A search of California Inmate Locator on August 13, 2013 shows that he is not in prison. No other articles can be found.

Update 2:“A former Fresno County foster parent with an alleged history of criminal sexual misconduct is accused in a lawsuit of repeatedly sexually abusing a 12-year-old foster child placed in his care.

Lawyers for the alleged victim said that Fresno County Department of Social Services and Valley Teen Ranch — a private foster family agency — failed to discover that the foster dad was arrested for sexual assault prior to being approved as a foster parent.

The lawsuit, filed in Fresno County Superior Court, is one of three civil complaints submitted on behalf of former foster children who allege they were sexually abused while in foster care. The alleged victims are suing for negligence and seeking an unspecified amount of damages to be determined at a jury trial.

Herman Law, a New York-based law firm specializing in representing sexual abuse victims, filed the lawsuit on Feb. 1 against the Fresno County Department of Social Services and Valley Teen Ranch, which is one of more than 20 private foster family agencies that the county works with.

Tricia Gonzalez, director of child welfare at the Fresno County Department of Social Services, told The Bee said she couldn’t comment on any specific cases or the lawsuit.

Officials with Valley Teen Ranch could not be reached for comment Friday.

The suit, filed Feb. 1, alleges the defendants placed the victim in foster care from around November 2000 to April 2001. The foster parents are identified as Alberto and Christine Rodriguez.

“During Plaintiff’s placement with the foster parents, Alberto Rodriguez repeatedly sexually assaulted and abused Plaintiff,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit alleges Alberto Rodriguez had a history of “criminal sexual conduct” prior to the foster child being placed in his home.

“Specifically, prior to the sexual abuse of plaintiff, Rodriguez was arrested and charged with sexual assault,” the lawsuit reads. “Rodriguez agreed to a plea for the lesser charge of first-degree burglary with the intent to commit a sexual battery.”

The lawsuit says he served two years in prison for the offense, but despite that, the foster child was still placed under his care. The Department of Social Services, the lawsuit says, should have known Rodriguez was unfit to be a foster parent.”

“General complaints are common, although not in every home, Gonzalez said, but those involving sexual or physical abuse are not so much.

“The serious ones are not very common,” she said, adding that her agency maybe receives one sexual abuse allegation once a year or once every other year.

Gonzalez’s agency doesn’t really suspend licenses. It mostly puts them on hold while the investigative process plays out.

“In terms of actually revoking their license, that’s a pretty strenuous process that we have to go through the state, with quite a bit of evidence, and so we do do it, but it’s very infrequent,” she said.” 🙄

Former foster parents sued in Fresno for alleged sexual abuse nearly 20 years ago
[Fresno Bee 2/21/21 by Yesenia Amaro AND ROBERT RODRIGUEZ]