Plea Deal for Abusive Foster Father

Enrique Fabregas, the 53-year-old man accused of sexually abusing girls in his care over a period of years, pleaded guilty on Monday to lesser charges -- one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, when he was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Foster father admits sex crimes, Seattle Times, May 15, 2007.

Prosecutors did not charge Fabregas with child rape (a more serious charge) because of the statute of limitations and issues of proof for some of the incidents.

The article quotes former Trial Ad instructor David P. Moody, who represents three victims in a civil suit against Fabregas. He blames DSHS for the prosecution problems -- if the 25 complaints against Fabregas between 1996 and 2004 had been investigated better, then prosecution would have been possible.