Former Foster Dad Sentenced for Sex Abuse

Former Foster Dad Sentenced for Sex Abuse

July 22, 2010
By Dan Corcoran

EUGENE, Ore. -- It is sentencing day for a local man who admits to sexually abusing three of his own foster children.

Joshua Thomas Friar will spend nearly 20 years in prison for what the victims' families call the ultimate abuse of trust.

It wasn't until Friar's sentencing Thursday that KEZI learned just how disturbing some of his actions were. Friar was entrusted to care for three young boys, only to betray that trust in so many ways.

"There could be no more intimate place where you could be in contact with a child than in a family setting behind closed doors," said Assistant District Attorney Eric Hasselman.

Behind closed courtroom doors is where Friar admitted to sexually abusing three of his foster children. That admission that has landed the 26-year-old behind bars for 220 months.

"We've looked at this case as being one that's particularly disturbing," said Hasselman.

Prosecutors say Friar was an employee at Jasper Mountain Treatment Facility working with young and often troubled children. That's where he met one of his victims, a 13-year-old boy who needed a home.

With Department of Human Services out of resources, Friar stepped up to be a foster parent. At that time, there were no red flags.

"There weren't any warnings that came up in a background check, anything would cause them to think that he was a danger to work around children," said Hasselman.

Over the next several months, two other boys, ages 9 and 11, were also placed in Friar's Springfield home.

It wasn't until November 2009, after the children had moved in with new foster families around Oregon, that any of boys spoke up about inappropriate contact.

Over the course of 18 months, Friar now admits to abusing the boys. Prosecutors say he violated the law in every conceivable sexual manner. Faced with a daunting legal battle ahead, Friar pleaded guilty to 6 of 28 counts of sexual abuse.

"People that are otherwise pillars of the community, but behind closed doors are committing criminal acts against children," said Hasselman.

The victims are all in therapy and trying to move forward. Friar did speak out in court Thursday. He did offer what he called his deepest apologies for breaking the trust of children that he loved. He said he'll work now on giving back to society instead of taking from it.

http://kezi.com/news/local/182308