Sexual abuse by parent/guardian

Reversed - DCF did not have sufficient evidence to support an allegation of sexual abuse when Appellant boyfriend of Mother adamantly denied touching the child inappropriately and no further evidence was presented to refute this denial. Given Appellant's lack of sexual abuse history, the child's…

Affirmed in part and reversed in part - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect but not sexual abuse. The Department had a history of involvement with both the Appellant father and the child's mother, both of whom had been cited for domestic violence. However, in this particular…

Reversed - Hearing Officer reversed a supported allegation of sexual abuse of adopted son by adoptive father because (1) the child’s friend’s mother who filed the report was believed to have filed the reports inappropriately, (2) the son’s testimony was consistent with that of his father that the…

Reversed - DCF did not have sufficient evidence to support allegations of abuse when the only support for its decision came from inconsistent testimony from the alleged victim’s friend.

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for both sexual abuse and neglect against the Appellant (biological father). The Appellant, who is divorced from his children's mother, arrived to the area to visit his children, aged 9 and 12, for the holidays in December. The…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A report for sexual abuse. The Appellant father allegedly sexually abused his child five years prior to the child’s disclosure, and subsequent report. The Appellant was a classified Level II Sex Offender. The mother, who made the report,…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support an allegation of neglect where: (1) a child reported being inappropriately touched in a sexual manner; (2) the child was punished/threatened so that they would not report the abuse; (3) the child was considered credible; and (4) the child's recollection…

Affirmed in part and reversed in part - DCF had reasonable cause to support allegations of neglect where Appellant’s children were sexually abused, and exposed to threats of violence and excessive violence. The children also witnessed a pattern of domestic violence between Appellant and Appellant’s…

Affirmed - The Hearing Officer decided to affirm the department’s supported 51B decision. A hearing officer can affirm when (1) a parent has been accused of touching a sleeping child on the breast over their clothes; (2) the incident happened three years before reporting; (3) the parent has…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to believe that abuse had occurred when (1) Appellant Father had been accused of touching a sleeping child on the breast over their clothes; (2) the incident happened three years before reporting; (3) the parent had undisputed alcoholism; and (4) the child did not…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for sexual abuse against the Appellant (the boyfriend of the biological mother of children F, S, and T). There was insufficient evidence to support allegations that the Appellant had taken his clothes off in front of the three…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for sexual abuse against the Appellant (biological father of children D and J). In an initial disclosure to a mandated reporter, D and J stated that they had played a game with the Appellant where all three of them took their…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a 51A report of abuse where the child disclosed that Appellant Father sexually abused her on multiple occasions by inappropriately touching her and making the child inappropriately touch him.

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to find neglect and sexual abuse when (1) the department failed to verify the information given and relied solely on the statements of the young adult alleged victim; (2)the young adult’s statements were not corroborated by anyone; (3) the Appellant…