Former foster son testifies about 'tickling' by Salinas man

Former foster son testifies about 'tickling' by Salinas man

By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY
Herald Salinas Bureau
Posted: 07/16/2010 05:49:53 AM PDT
Updated: 07/16/2010 05:49:54 AM PDT

An 11-year-old boy Thursday unflinchingly faced the adoptive father he says molested him and his younger brother after they came to him as foster children.
The boy, who was removed from the home of his biological mother because of a prior molestation, said he first enjoyed living with Brett Passineau and his wife. There was a big backyard and toys to play with, he said.

But on a father-sons camping trip in 2005, Passineau initiated "the tickle game," he said.

Identified as Caleb, the boy has assumed a new name and lives in another county with his aunt and brother.

Leaning forward to speak directly into the microphone, the slender boy said Passineau initiated the mutual touching game on multiple occasions, sometimes focusing more on his brother.

That, he told prosecutor Gary Thelander, made him "kind of jealous, because I liked doing it, but I don't like it now."

Passineau, 48, is charged with eight felony counts of committing lewd acts with the boys, who were 6 and 4 at the time. He faces a sentence of 30 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.

Salinas police began investigating the case in 2005, after the boys' aunt, who is now their legal guardian, reported that the boys told her about the molestations. The children lived with her after they were removed from their mother's home, but she released them to foster care because of health problems.

In his opening statement to the jury early Thursday, defense attorney Eugene Martinez

Advertisement

said the boys had been talking about their prior molestations. He asserted that the aunt, who was allowed regular visitation, made a false, delayed report to police to prevent Passineau and his wife from moving the children to a ranch they bought in Oregon.
As a result of the charges, Martinez told jurors, his client lost the children, the ranch in Oregon, his marriage and a successful business. His Salinas home is nearing foreclosure, he said.

Martinez will continue the cross-examination of Caleb this morning, but has been prohibited from questioning him, or anyone else, about the prior molestations.

Under an agreement between Martinez and Thelander, the jury was told only that the crimes occurred.

Virginia Hennessey can be reached at 753-6751 or vhennessey@montereyherald.com.

http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_15531219?nclick_check=1