Wednesday, November 17, 2004 · Last updated 6:13 a.m. PT

Foster father pleads guilty to child rape, victims sue state

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TACOMA, Wash. -- A man who became a foster father two years ago has pleaded
guilty to charges that he raped, photographed and exploited young boys in
his charge.

Meanwhile, the families of seven children who were placed with Ronald Harold
Young and his wife Wendy have filed claims totaling more than $24 million
from Washington state.

Young, 41, of Home, a mobile home repair worker, was initially charged with
54 offenses but pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of first-degree child
rape, four of sexual exploitation of a minor and one each of second-degree
child rape and possession of child pornography.

Those crimes involve six boys ranging in age from 6 to 13 who were placed by
the state at his house on the Key Peninsula west of Tacoma after he and his
wife, who worked long hours at a grocery store, became foster parents in
July 2002.

"I know that he's extremely sorry for what he's done," defense lawyer Gary
Clower said after the hearing in Pierce County Superior Court. "I think he's
disappointed in himself and is very sorry for what he's done to these kids."



Young was arrested and charged after investigators found photographs he had
posted on the Internet showing boys posing seductively, being fondled and
having sex with each other or being raped by a man.

Young, who had often been alone with the children, admitted he took the
photos, including at least one of himself raping a child. The plea agreement
reflects problems with evidence because of "a search warrant technicality,"
deputy prosecutor Rosie Martinelli said.

Tacoma police were alerted in January by the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children about someone using the e-mail address
, but the resulting warrant to search Young's home was
incomplete, Martinelli said.

"We would have had other ways to get where we had to be, but it would have
been more difficult legally," she said.

Martinelli said she was still satisfied because after Young serves his
sentence - 20 to 26 1/2 years under state guidelines - he could remain
locked up indefinitely if he is found likely to commit more violent sex
crimes.

Sentencing was set for Jan. 14.

Meanwhile, in claims filed since July, the families of seven children who
were placed with Young accused the state Department of Social and Health
Services, Child Protective Services, Division of Children and Family
Services and Division of Licensing Resources of failing to protect the boys
from him.

The claims seek damages of $3.5 million to $5 million for each child the
agencies placed with Young, accusing officials of failing to properly
license and monitor his home, check his background, conduct sufficient
licensing reviews or adequately supervise the children.

DSHS spokeswoman Kathy Spears said she couldn't comment on the claims.

The state has 60 days from the date of filing to decide whether to grant the
claims, negotiate settlements or reject them, in which case the victims'
families may file lawsuits.

Chris Robinson, regional administrator for the Division of Children and
Family Services, said Young's foster children had "quite a bit of contact,
not only with our staff but with their (biological) parents and with school
staff," and exhibited no behavior indicating they were being harmed.