By Joseph Snook
Investigative Reporter
![DHS Migueal Fuentes](images/miguel-fuentes-dhs.jpg)
Miguel A. Fuentes
Photo:Washington Co.
Sheriff's Office
|
Beaverton, Oregon
- According to Washington County Sheriff's office, 34-year-old Department
of Human Services (DHS) employee, Miguel A. Fuentes III, was recently
arrested for falsifying 15 child abuse reports.
The sheriff's office
released a report
that reads, "February 9, 2017 – An Oregon Department
of Human Services employee assigned to Child Protective Services was
arrested for falsifying child abuse reports in at least 15 cases.
On February
9, 2017, Washington County Sheriff’s Office detectives assigned
to the Child Abuse Unit arrested 34-yearold Miguel A. Fuentes III.
Mr. Fuentes
has been employed as a Social Services Specialist with the Oregon Department
of Human Services (DHS) since August 2011. He was most recently assigned
to the Beaverton office, where his duties included the investigation
of child abuse and neglect.
During a child
abuse investigation, a sheriff’s office detective and a DHS employee
discovered inconsistencies in official child abuse reports completed
by Mr. Fuentes. Mr. Fuentes submitted reports which documented in-person
contacts and interviews that never occurred. Other reports contained
false statements and work that was allegedly completed on days Mr. Fuentes
was not in the office. Detectives reviewed many of Mr. Fuentes’
assigned cases and found at least 15 cases with falsified information.
When DHS learned
of the investigation in November 2016, they placed Mr. Fuentes on administrative
leave. DHS cooperated fully with this criminal investigation. DHS has
since re-assigned cases affected by Mr. Fuentes to ensure child safety.
Mr. Fuentes
has been charged with 15 counts of Official Misconduct I and 15 counts
of Tampering with Public Records.
Inquiries
about Mr. Fuentes’ employment status should be directed to Oregon
DHS."
DHS was recently
sued
for $60-million in a separate incident. This recent case could be
a "tip of the iceberg" in regard to DHS' overwhelming liability
for un-checked caseworkers who's job is to help, yet sometimes ends
up damaging innocent familis.
Here's two other
recent cases involving DHS abuse:
The
MacLaren Nightmare:
Daughter Wrongfully Taken From Mother
and Placed in Custody of Alleged Abuser
$9.2 Million Lawsuit Filed Against
DHS' Child Caseworker Matthew Stark
If you, or someone
you know have been abused by DHS - contact
the US~Obverver.
We are your voice! 541-474-7885.