Foster Care's Child Sexual Crime Problem

A John Hopkins University study of a group of foster children in Maryland found that children in foster care are four times more likely to be sexually abused than their peers.

Mugshot of Justin Dwayne Johnson

In a story which exploded last month, a Florida foster dad named Justin Dwayne Johnson, who fostered twenty kids, was charged multiple counts of child pornography and voyeurism.

Here is more from People Magazine.

Authorities have confirmed that a Florida man charged with child pornography and sexual abuse had been approved to serve as a foster parent, and over the last three years, took care of some 20 children — most of them girls.

A statement confirms Justin Dwayne Johnson, 47, was arrested on Feb. 15 by Sanford Police as part of an ongoing investigation.

He faces three counts of video voyeurism with a child less than 16 and two counts of possession of 10 or more child pornography images. Police said Johnson hid cameras throughout his home to capture the abuse on video.

It was one of eight news stories I found from throughout the country since the start of 2022 of a foster parent involved in a child sexual crime.

Another news story from February 2022 from Lincoln County, Missouri, involved a man who fostered forty children was charged with sexually abusing them since the 1990s.

A Lincoln County foster parent is accused of sexually abusing multiple children. Court records indicate he had a pattern of abuse that began in 1995.

According to court documents, Ronald Gene Graham Jr. has adopted several children into his home over the years, and Graham is state certified and licensed to be a foster parent.

Prosecutors believe there could be more victims out there. Investigators said Graham has been charged in the case. Charges were filed on Feb. 9 and included 10 felony counts including statutory rape, statutory sodomy, and child molestation.

Prosecutors said the crimes date back to January 1995. Graham has been investigated for abuse several previous times. Authorities said the alleged victims were as young as 12 years old. Investigators said the crimes are sexual in nature.