XPost: stl.general, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, sac.politics   
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   From: someone@outlook.com   
      
   ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Two foster parents are facing charges after   
   Florissant police said they sexually abused the children they were   
   fostering for years.   
      
   Michael Moore, 63, and Berlin Baldwin, 43, were each charged with multiple   
   counts of sodomy and statutory sodomy in connection with alleged abuse   
   between November 2020 and January 2025.   
      
   Florissant Police Chief Tim Fagan said in November, their department   
   initiated an investigation after receiving a referral from the St. Louis   
   County Children’s Division regarding allegations of sexual abuse.   
      
   Detectives found four male victims between the ages of 8 and 15 who said   
   Moore and Baldwin sexually assaulted them in their Florissant home on   
   Gateswood Drive.   
      
   "These are people that were at a vulnerable time in their life and they   
   were looking for a safe space and they were taken advantage of, and I   
   think that's the real tragedy here, among other things." Fagan shared, "I   
   think any time you have a case like this where there are multiple victims,   
   we're always concerned that there could be more people out there."   
      
   Both men were taken into custody this week and were charged with seven   
   counts of second-degree statutory sodomy and two counts of second-degree   
   sodomy.   
      
   "What stands out is that they probably really made sure that they had   
   access to children and use their position as foster parents to gain access   
   to very vulnerable children who would likely be at risk," shared Amy   
   Robins, a forensic interviewer with the St. Louis Children's Advocacy   
   Center.   
      
   Robins said the state should have regular home visits and individual   
   check-ins with children.   
      
   "You have to give kids an opportunity to disclose. For instance, if you're   
   only going to see them within a home setting and the potential offender is   
   right outside the door or in the next room that would be really   
   intimidating for a child to be able to find the courage to speak of   
   someone who is there and responsible for meeting all of your basic needs   
   on top of it," added Robins.   
      
   Robins also notes what male victims may be facing.   
      
   "There's a lot of stereotypes that come with that, concerns on whether   
   they will be believed, a fear of questioning their own sexuality, and a   
   lot of that is used in the manipulation and grooming of those victims from   
   the beginning or onset of their abuse. So those are just additional   
   factors that unfortunately play a part when you have a male victim," said   
   Robins.   
      
   5 On Your Side reached out to Missouri Department of Social Services, who   
   oversees the children's division. 5 On Your Side asked how long the two   
   have been foster parents, how many children they have fostered, and if   
   there had been any previous reports.   
      
   A spokesperson shared this statement:   
      
   "Under Missouri Law (Section 210.150, RSMo), the Department of Social   
   Services Children Division (CD) records are closed and confidential and   
   can only be released under very limited circumstances. While we cannot   
   discuss specific cases, CD’s role includes assisting local law enforcement   
   as allowed by statute and responding to reports made to the Child Abuse   
   and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738. The safety and welfare of   
   Missouri’s children remains the department’s utmost priority in every   
   action we take."   
      
   That's why 5 On Your Side filed a public records requests to get more   
   information.   
      
   A spokesperson with Florissant police said in 2022, they were called to   
   that same home for a similar allegation, but the case was reviewed with   
   the prosecutor’s office and insufficient information was found at the   
   time.   
      
   As this case continues, other potential victims can act now.   
      
   St. Louis County prosecutor Melissa Price Smith shared, "We want victims   
   to know, your voice matters and when you come forward, you will not be in   
   this alone."   
      
   Both men are being held on $750,000, cash-only bonds.   
      
   On Wednesday, both men made their first court appearance. They'll be back   
   in court Feb. 11 for a bond reduction hearing.   
      
   The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the case   
   or who believes they may be a victim is asked to call the Florissant   
   Police Department at 314-831-7000.   
      
   https://media.ksdk.com/assets/KSDK/images/e83fb5c5-7c5c-40e7-9361-   
   85a3b7619737/20260204T163108/e83fb5c5-7c5c-40e7-9361-   
   85a3b7619737_1920x1080.jpg   
      
   Michael Moore(L) and Berlin Baldwin(R) were each charged with multiple   
   counts of sodomy and statutory sodomy in connection with alleged abuse.   
      
   https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/foster-parents-accused-abusing-   
   their-foster-children-years/63-852035b9-648b-47c7-8c25-bceb6b285d4d   
      
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