Foster abuse case settled: $11 million for 8 boys

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In the summer of 2003, graphic photos began regularly appearing on Internet sites frequented by pedophiles. They were "brand new," according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and they were being posted by someone in the Tacoma area calling himself "foster dad."

In the world of Internet crimes, it seemed fairly straightforward to solve. The trail led directly to a foster father named Ronald Young, who lived in rural Pierce County. But according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Young's victims, local police failed to immediately act on the information, leaving the children to suffer additional abuse.

This week, lawyers for eight boys who were between the ages of 5 and 12 at the time of the abuse settled the lawsuit for $11 million — with three government agencies and Young's wife, Wendy, contributing toward the total.

Young was sentenced in 2005 to 26 years in prison. Wendy Young was not charged, although the lawyers believe she should have known what was going on.

According to the lawsuit, Ronald and Wendy Young were licensed as foster parents in September 2002. Had the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) checked Young's background more thoroughly, it would have discovered that his stepfather had served time for child rape and that he lied on his application about his education, his income and other details.

The Youngs came highly recommended by friends, who described them as good Christians. Indeed, Young wore a gold cross around his neck and carried a Bible.

But by night, he scooped up his foster children from their beds and sexually abused them, posting photos on the Internet that were so graphic that even other pedophiles thought they bordered on sadistic. One boy later said he'd tried to sharpen a plastic toy to defend himself.

Seattle Times