TAMPA - Adopted teen accused of rape

Adopted teen accused of rape

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/09/Hi...accused_.shtml

His mother wants the adoption dissolved, saying the state forced the
relationship.

By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
Published January 9, 2008


TAMPA - That 14-year-old Hershel Jackson is accused of raping a
66-year-old relative last month is an awful thing.

But his adoptive mother thought long ago that the boy wasn't quite right.

She says he grew angry and manipulative when he didn't get his way. He
was arrested on a battery charge in August. And soon after Rhonda
Gary-Jackson adopted him in 2001, she says he made clear that he didn't
want to be part of her family.

"They forced us into a relationship he didn't want to be in," she said
of the state on Tuesday.

Temple Terrace police arrested Hershel on Dec. 10. The eighth-grader had
been home on his first weekend pass after many months in an inpatient
psychiatric facility.

His mother said she left for about 20 minutes to go shopping. When she
got back, Hershel was sitting at the kitchen table holding a knife.

She would later hear that he had punched the mentally incapacitated
relative in her face before sexually battering her.

Gary-Jackson recalls how Hershel waved goodbye and wished the bruised
and bleeding family member to "feel better" as they left for the hospital.

"No emotions whatsoever," she said. "No remorse."

Hershel was supposed to be arraigned in court Tuesday on charges that
together carry a maximum of 65 years in prison: sexual battery on a
mentally defective person, lewd and lascivious battery and lewd and
lascivious molestation on an elderly person, and adult abuse.

The hearing got postponed because Gary-Jackson no longer wants to serve
as his guardian.

Instead, she wants the adoption dissolved on the basis that social
workers didn't fully disclose Hershel's mental health history.
Gary-Jackson already failed once to convince a judge to undo the adoption.

Adoptive parents assume the same responsibilities as a biological
parent, said Andy Ritter, the Department of Children and Families'
spokesman in Tampa.

To break ties with an adopted child in Florida, a parent must legally
abandon a child. That puts the parent at risk for being criminally
investigated or not allowed to adopt again.

Gary-Jackson, 43, is a registered nurse. A documented finding of child
abuse under her name in the state registry would ruin her career, said
attorney Clay Oberhausen.

Oberhausen represents Gary-Jackson and the victim. Until spring, he was
general counsel for Hillsborough Kids Inc., which handles adoptions for
the county. The DCF handled adoptions at the time Hershel's went through.

DCF caseworkers were aware of Hershel's mental health issues, Oberhausen
said. They recommended that he be committed for the highest level of
treatment available, and Gary-Jackson agreed.

After his arrest, Hershel was held in juvenile detention. He moved to a
county jail after being charged as an adult on Dec. 28.

But the damage is already done, says Gary-Jackson.

[Last modified January 8, 2008, 23:43:51]








CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAMS....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.


CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...


BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...