Sentenced: State Must Pay $8.5M For Placing Girls With Previously Reported Sexually Abusive Foster Dad

[Sugar Cookie]

In 2012, Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) received a report that a 4-year-old girl said she saw a man in her previous foster home expose himself. About a year later, the state placed two more girls there.

The next report the department received about the home came a year later from the foster father himself. In 2014, John Henry Phillips called a social worker and said he had sexually assaulted the sisters, starting soon after they moved into his Arlington home at the ages of 9 and 14.

Phillips, now 49, admitted to sexually abusing a third girl in his care at the time. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to two counts of first-degree rape of a child, third-degree rape of a child and third-degree child molestation, and a state investigation has since found he likely also abused the girl referenced in the 2012 report when she was 3. Phillips is now incarcerated at Monroe Correctional Complex, with a projected earliest release date of 2036.

Attorneys representing the sisters believe the state failed to properly investigate the earlier report of potential abuse and that a “cascade of mistakes” by multiple state employees led to the girls being placed in Phillips’ home. The state agreed to pay the girls $8.5 million as part of a stipulated judgement, which was signed last month by a Snohomish County Superior Court judge. It also agreed to review its processes for investigating similar cases.

Now 15, the youngest sister said she hopes the state will better investigate cases in the future. The girl, who is not being named because she is a minor who survived sexual abuse, said she hopes to become a social worker herself and wants to share her story to help others.

“I’ve heard about this happening to other people, and I want them to know they’re not alone,” she said.

In July 2012, a DSHS intake worker received a call from the aunt of a 4-year-old girl who had lived in Phillips’ home for about four months. She said the child told her a “man pulled his wiener out of his pants” at the home, and the girl made a comment indicating she saw him engage in a sexual act with someone, according to the intake report. When the aunt asked the girl if that happened to her, she said no.

The intake worker and his supervisor decided that because the child denied being abused, the allegation did not qualify for investigation by Child Protective Services (CPS), according to their declarations filed in court. Instead, it would be investigated as a potential foster-home licensing infraction.

A social worker interviewed the 4-year-old in August. According to the worker’s notes, the girl said yes when asked if Phillips “did something” with his genitals, but would not go into further detail. The interview ended when the girl said she was done talking. The worker did not schedule a follow-up interview.

In September, Phillips and his wife were interviewed by a foster-home licensor, who spent about half an hour interviewing the couple together. She said it was mostly Phillips’ wife who spoke, and she denied the girl had been exposed to sexual behavior.

Washington state to pay $8.5M after placing girls with sexually abusive foster parent, despite earlier report

In 2012, Washington's Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) received a report that a 4-year-old girl said she saw a man in her previous foster home expose himself. About a year later, the state placed two more girls there. The...

www.seattletimes.com

 

[The Night Nurse]

I swear, it would probably be impossible to find an example where a child protective agency did something right.

 

[Inferus]

Incompetent or in on it. Put him in a dress and drop him in Sodom.

 

[GoneWest]

I swear, it would probably be impossible to find an example where a child protective agency did something right.

When cases are handled properly they don’t make the news because they rarely end in tragedy. So of the 5,000 cases an agency may handle, you’re not going to read about the 4,990 that worked out as well as can be expected. But that does little to comfort the ten that fell through the cracks though, through negligence, incompetence, or dereliction of duty. I’m also not suggesting every tragic outcome is the fault of CPS, but there is no denying that our system for protecting our most vulnerable is broken. And to make matters worse the denials, lies, and cover ups of mistakes derail any hope for improvement.

 

[The Night Nurse]

When cases are handled properly they don’t make the news because they rarely end in tragedy. So of the 5,000 cases an agency may handle, you’re not going to read about the 4,990 that worked out as well as can be expected. But that does little to comfort the ten that fell through the cracks though, through negligence, incompetence, or dereliction of duty. I’m also not suggesting every tragic outcome is the fault of CPS, but there is no denying that our system for protecting our most vulnerable is broken. And to make matters worse the denials, lies, and cover ups of mistakes derail any hope for improvement.

I stand corrected.

 

[Forfcuksake]

So he wouldn’t have been caught if he hadn’t rang them and confessed.
They ignored the first child completely.
Any allegation even if it’s exposure should be investigated as abuse. No excuses.
The 15 year old is way too wise beyond her years.
Well done to her for doing something from the inside to help these kids who fall through the cracks.
I only hope the sheer workload, the red tape and the exasperation don’t temper her enthusiasm and she is actually able to make a difference. It’s needed.

 

[Sejanus]

I wonder how many foster pervs fall through the cracks

 

[rushman]

So the dude pulled his Florida out of his pants eh

 

[Doober]

Pedos should have a mandatory face tattoo like a scarlet letter...

 

[Old Man Metal]

The intake worker and his supervisor decided that because the child denied being abused, the allegation did not qualify for investigation by Child Protective Services (CPS), according to their declarations filed in court. Instead, it would be investigated as a potential foster-home licensing infraction.

How the hell is waving your dick around in front of kids a "licensing infraction"?

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir, your foster home doesn't have the proper licensure for weiner-wagging. I'm going to have to write this up as an infraction. You'll have to apply for and receive, a state license for Foster Genital Display if you want to continue with this practice in the future."

 

[runninfawn]

How the hell is waving your dick around in front of kids a "licensing infraction"?

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir, your foster home doesn't have the proper licensure for weiner-wagging. I'm going to have to write this up as an infraction. You'll have to apply for and receive, a state license for Foster Genital Display if you want to continue with this practice in the future."

when i am really mad at a story here i can always count on you to use wits to make me laugh ty.. laughing and crying at same time ... foster parent is not a license to abuse the child in your so called care they went through way to much as it is .. your job is to love and protect those children and show them a better way of life..

 

[Sugar Cookie]

I hate that the desperation for foster homes allows people like this to further traumatize children.

My problem specifically with this story is that a four year old made an allegation that should have lead to the home being closed.

If they thought it was a minor infraction they still should have monitored the home closely and checked in with any future children placed in the home.

I know from experience that their will be children that make false allegations (usually older children) but each and every allegation must be investigated and treated like it is true.

It is safer to close the home and not place any child in a situation where they could be abused.

 

[EyEgOrE]

And how much of that $8.5 million will come from taxes?

 

[NicNac22]

weiner-wagging.

LMFAO idk y I found this as funny as I do but I literally cannot stop giggling over here.

 

[GoneWest]

And how much of that $8.5 million will come from taxes?

$8.5 million.

 

[Turd Fergusen]

So he wouldn’t have been caught if he hadn’t rang them and confessed.

If you read the whole story the girl told his wife, who confronted him, and then he called. So most likely she would have called if he didn't or maybe killed him.