Foster Dad Accused, Tried, Imprisoned - FALSELY

After being married for 17 years and raising 3 sons, adopting 4 children and parenting as a therapeutic foster group home for four years with the State ofTexas, my ex-husband was falsely accused of aggravated sexual assault of a mentally ill adopted daughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

My ex-husband is currently serving time in the Texas prison system forfalse allegations made by an adopted daughter. She had previously been diagnosed as psychotic with with homicidal and suicidal tendencies and reactive attachment disorder.

Records indicate she was both physically and sexually abused since the age of 5 months. She also murdered her 2 year old sister at the age of 4 years old. She had attempted the life of two of our children, one being her own brother

There were previous allegations with a history of compulsive crazy lying. Even though our adoption lasted 6 years, she only lived in our home for a total period of 21 months. The reason for this were multiple hospitalizations and a year and a half at the Attachment Center (ACE) in Evergreen Colorado.

When she was released from ACE, she went to live with my sister because she was a danger to my children. My sister was only able to handle her for a year.

Since the State of Texas had no permanent facilities for a child under 13, she went to live with my ex-husband and his wife. After a couple of months, she became angry at my ex because he wouldn't let her go on a date (she was only 12) and made allegations that he had sexually abused her.

His wife did not know about Angelica's past and took her immediately to the police. Not understanding the law and the implications and being an honest man, he naively took her records to the police to show that she was unstable and had a history of lying.

However, they arrested him and charged him with Aggravated sexual abuse. He retained an attorney for $10,000 that advised him to go before the Grand Jury. Promising that after they heard the story it would go no further.

The only witnesses that were allowed to appear before the Grand Jury were the child and his then wife. He was indicted. His attorney told him that in the small town of McKinney, if he went to trial with a jury he would receive a minimum sentence of 40 years without probation. He suggested a plea bargain.

He was given 25 years with a chance of parole in 12 years. He will be 55 years old in January 2001. He is in poor health. In fact he had a heart attack last week. If this was not bad enough, the foster parent that has this child now has filed a 4 million dollar lawsuit against us and the private agency we were with last. This agency had nothing to do with the adoption. The time frame for the abuse includes one year after he was sent to prison.

Neither he nor I know how to pursue this case. I am the only one able to help him which I am trying to do. If you can give me any advise as to where to start please let me know. Thank you.

Cheryl