Grand jury doesn’t indict caretaker at center of The Refuge abuse scandal

If you or somebody you already know has been sexually assaulted, you possibly can obtain confidential assist by calling the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s 24/7 toll-free help line at 800-656-4673 or visiting its online hotline.

A grand jury in Bastrop County didn’t discover sufficient proof to indict Iesha Greene, the previous caretaker accused of promoting nude pictures of kids at a state-contracted shelter.

The Refuge, a foster care facility for victims of intercourse trafficking in Bastrop, had its license suspended and closed on an emergency basis in March after the allegations towards Greene surfaced.

Greene was accused of promoting and soliciting nude pictures of two ladies in her care, utilizing the proceeds to buy and provide medicine and alcohol to the kids. The Refuge fired Greene over the allegations.

“The Grand Jury did not indict Iesha Greene, or any other person, for any offense(s). The Grand Jury did not find sufficient evidence to support an indictment on any criminal offense,” Conor Brown, an investigator with the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, wrote to The Refuge. The case was introduced to the grand jury on Sept. 13, and the shelter obtained a duplicate of the letter within the mail on Tuesday. Brown didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Brooke Crowder, the founder of The Refuge, stated in an announcement to The Texas Tribune that “we expected a different outcome from the grand jury because our singular goal has been justice for our two residents who were mistreated by a former employee.”

Testifying earlier than a committee investigating the allegations in late March, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw stated he was confident Greene would be arrested on expenses of sexual exploitation of a baby and baby pornography when legislation enforcement can present additional proof.

Court-appointed watchdogs of Texas’ foster care system, in the meantime, have stated there’s “ample evidence” that former intercourse trafficking victims have been abused at a foster care facility, although they didn’t point out Greene. U.S. District Judge Janis Jack stated she would search a federal criminal investigation into allegations that kids have been sexually abused and trafficked at The Refuge.

Greene was previously fired by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for having inappropriate relationships with kids in her care, state data present. The Refuge officers have testified that they run state-required background checks on all potential workers and that Greene’s screening revealed she didn’t have a felony document. The Refuge workers didn’t attain out to Greene’s earlier employers nor did they request her TJJD personnel data after they employed her.

Eight different workers members have been additionally accused of subjecting seven kids staying at The Refuge to sexual and bodily abuse, neglectful supervision and medical neglect. While Greene was fired instantly after the primary report towards her emerged on Jan. 24, kids remained within the facility till it was pressured to shut in March.

Crowder stated the shelter has created a brand new worker screening course of because it was ordered to shut and that she hopes the grand jury’s choice means the power can reopen quickly.

“We are humbled that this decision seems to clear the final obstacle to the restoration of our license, and we hope that our licensing agency and elected officials will expedite that process,” Crowder added. “It is time to once again welcome to our healing community the children whose lives have been upended by exploitation so they can continue their healing process in earnest.”