MI - Couple accused of abusing their adoptive children

[mysteriew]

A Grand Rapids couple that was honored as the Michigan Adoptive Parents of the Year and are well-known in the community have had their adopted children taken away from them after allegations of abuse.

The allegations against Jerome and Beryl Richards are serious, but it is important to note that they have not been criminally charged with anything.

However, there is an ongoing investigation by Child Protective Services, and at this time there is no plan to return the 12 adopted children to the home.

The family was recognized in 2002 by the Michigan Foster and Adoptive Parent Association for their efforts and looked at as a model for others in the adoption community.

But for the last six months, 12 of those adopted children have not been living in that home. They were taken out while Child Protective Services investigates claims of abuse.

According to court proceedings, those allegations include the Richards knew about sexual abuse amongst the children and did nothing.

They are also accused of physical abuse.
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4097540&nav=0Rce

 

[mysteriew]

A Kent County jury found enough evidence against adoptive parents Beryl and Jerome Richards to give a judge jurisdiction over 12 of their adopted children.

After weeks of testimony, members of the jury had their say. They heard the evidence against Beryl and Jerome Richards, specifically charges that the couple knew about, but ignored sexual abuse between children in their home. There are also allegations that they didn't properly feed the children. Prosecutors also accused the Richards of beating the children. An attorney representing eleven of the children, Kris Newhouse, asked the jury, “Is it discipline? Belts, extension cords, hangers, spatulas, spoons, slippers, positions that last over days, food deprivation that lasts over days."

In the end, the jury found that the prosecution proved its case. So, members gave jurisdiction over the children to the court. After hearing that decision, Prosecutor Vicki Seidl said, “I felt we always had a strong case. Every one of these children has been consistent in what they said happened in that home. I have no reason to disbelieve the children." Seidl says the case does raise some issues about the way children are treated within the state system, considering that the Richards adopted 13 children. Seidl said, “We took them away from their original parents and put them in a place that wasn't safe for them. Hopefully this time we get it right and we'll listen to them."
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=47471

 

[Rayemonde]

December 20th, 2005:

A Kent County Judge has ruled in favor of Jerome and Buryl Richards. In a decision handed down this morning, Judge Nanaruth Carpenter has decided that Jerome and Beryl Richards will keep custody of their 12 children. While parental rights were not terminated, the Richards' will not regain custody of the children immediately. The court also state that the Richards will have to have counseling sessions...

Defense attorney Kevin Cronin argued that the Richards did not know about any sexual abuse, that they fed their children well, and simply disciplined the kids. He told the jury, “Yes, they spanked the children and they used belts. I told you that on opening statement. They used reasonable force and the law does not prohibit a parent from using objects." The Richards' attorney told the jury, the couple was just helping already troubled children.

http://archive.wzzm13.com/news/article/48226/0/Judge-Rules-in-Favor-of-Jerome-and-Beryl-Richards

 

[Rayemonde]

March 2006:

A couple once chosen as Michigan's adoptive parents of the year but who later found themselves accused of physically abusing their adopted children agreed on Wednesday to give up parental rights to 12 of the children.

Beryl and Jerome Richards had been in court-ordered treatment intended to ultimately reunite them with the children, who range in age from 7 to 17, said David Murkowski, the couple's attorney. But the Richardses decided that hard feelings held by some of the children who did not want to return to their care, along with a nearly year-long separation, were obstacles too big to overcome...

The Richardses denied being abusive and suggested that their form of discipline was Bible-based. In December, a jury ruled that their parental rights should be severed and the court should have jurisdiction over the children. Judge Nanaruth Carpenter of Kent County Family Court opposed terminating the couple's parental rights, however, and gave them an opportunity to regain custody by taking part in a treatment plan.

http://articles.southbendtribune.co...parental-rights-allegations-of-physical-abuse