TAMPA - Adopted teen accused of rape

Adopted teen accused of rape

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/09/Hillsborough/Adopted_teen_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...