(AP) – A lawsuit alleges that Arkansas Department of Human
Services employees knowingly placed foster children into a home with a “known
violent sexual predator.”The lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of seven former foster children of
Clarence Garretson, who was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to
taking a child across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual
activity. He had been charged with 11 counts involving eight minors.The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the lawsuit seeks unspecified
damages from the state.
Services employees knowingly placed foster children into a home with a “known
violent sexual predator.”The lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of seven former foster children of
Clarence Garretson, who was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to
taking a child across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual
activity. He had been charged with 11 counts involving eight minors.The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the lawsuit seeks unspecified
damages from the state.
DHS spokeswoman Brandi Hinkle declined comment on the lawsuit but said that
the vetting system for foster families is more rigorous than it was 20 years ago
when Garretson was approved as a foster parent.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI