MORE
MORE THAN
MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE WORKED AT THAT CAMPUS.
THAT CAMPUS. >>> VICTIM OF THE SYSTEM,
SEXUALLY ABUSED BY HIS FOSTER
MOM WHEN HE WAS A KID.
GEORGIA MAN IS NOW PREVENTED BY
STATE LAW FROM SUING THE
DIVISION OF FAMILY AND
SERVICES.
SERVICES.
SERVICES. THE CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
DISCOVERED THAT THEY KEPT
SENDING HIM TO A CHEROKEE
COUNTY FOSTER HOME BECAUSE THE
ABUSER SPECIFICALLY
ABUSER SPECIFICALLY THEM.
THEM.
THEM. >>
THEM. >> Reporter: DANIEL IS HEADED
BACK.
BACK.
BACK. BACK HOME.
BACK HOME. BACK TO THE NIGHT IN THE 1990S
WHEN HE RAN AWAY.
YOU LOST YOUR VIRGINITY TO YOUR
FOSTER MOTHER.
FOSTER MOTHER. >> SHE WOULD WATCH PORNOGRAPHIC
VIDEOS AND POINT OUT WHAT SHE
WOULD LIKE ME TO TRY ON
>> THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
CHILDREN SERVICES SENT DANIEL
AND OTHER BOYS TO LIVE WITH
SHERRY JOE WILKES.
RECORDS SHOW THE FOSTER MOTHER
SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT
BOYS BE PLACED WITH HER.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND HOMES
THAT WOULD ACCEPT TEENAGE BOYS.
AFTER A MONTH, DANIEL BUILT UP
THE COURAGE TO TELL HIS
CASEWORKER THAT HIS FOSTER MOM
WAS SEXUALLY ABUSING HIM.
>> YOU THOUGHT HERE COMES THE
CAVALRY.
CAVALRY.
CAVALRY. >> THEY SENT ME BACK TO THE
FOSTER HOME.
FOSTER HOME. >> SHERRY JOE WILKES WENT TO
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
AND CLAIMED THAT DANIEL HER .
DETECTIVES DISCOVERED OTHER
VICTIMS IN THE HOME.
FOSTER BOYS WHO INSISTED THEY
WERE ALSO SEXUALLY ABUSED.
ONE?
ONE?
ONE? CLAIMED THE FOSTER MOM KEPT HIM
SILENT WITH
SILENT WITH SHERRY JOE WILKES PLEADED
GUILTY TO FELONY CHILD
MOLESTATION AND RELATED CHARGES
IN 1993.
IN 1993.
IN 1993. IN RETURN, SHE WAS GIVEN 10
YEARS PROBATION AND NOT PRISON.
SHE WAS ORDERED TO PAY $100 IN
RESTITUTION AND THE JUDGE
ALLOWED HER TO CONTINUE
BABYSITTING AND FOSTERING
CHILDREN ONCE THE PROBATION WAS
OVER.
OVER.
OVER. >>
OVER. >> THE JUSTICE SYSTEM STOPPED
AT THE FOSTER MOTHER, GAVE
PROBATION DIDN'T GO OUT TO THE
SYSTEM TO SEE WHO MAY HAVE
KNOWN AND FACILITATED THE
ABUSE.
ABUSE.
ABUSE. >>
ABUSE. >> HE WANTS TO SUE THE
DEPARTMENT FOR PROTECT
PERPETUATING THE ABUSE BUT HE
CANNOT.
CANNOT.
CANNOT. WHILE GEORGIA BRIEFLY ALLOWED
ADULTS TO SUE INDIVIDUALS WHO
ABUSED THEM DECADES EARLIER, IT
IS ONE OF TWO STATES IN THE
NATION THAT PREVENTED VICTIMS
FROM SUING ENTITIES UNDER THAT
EXTENDED STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS.
LIMITATIONS. >> NO AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD FIX
WHAT HAS BEEN BROKEN.
>> DANIEL HAS BATTLED ADDICTION
AND HOMELESSNESS.
AND HOMELESSNESS. NOW HE IS FIGHTING FOR HIS
DAUGHTER.
DAUGHTER.
DAUGHTER. HIS 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS PLACED
IN FOSTER CARE BY
COUNTY.
COUNTY.
COUNTY. >> YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE GOOD
FOSTER PARENTS.
FOSTER PARENTS. >> I BELIEVE THERE ARE CHILDREN
THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN FROM
THEIR HOMES AND THEIR CHILDREN
THAT ARE BEING ABUSED.
>> WE ASKED IF THE AGENCY
WANTED TO APOLOGIZE AND WHAT
SAFEGUARDS HAVE BEEN PUT IN
PLACE TO PREVENT SIMILAR
THEY RESPONDED THAT
CONFIDENTIALITY LAWS PREVENT
THE AGENCY FROM EVEN
ACKNOWLEDGING HE WAS IN THE
SYSTEM BUT THE STATE DID INSIST
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE
BEEN MADE WITHOUT DETAILING THE
CHANGES.
CHANGES.
CHANGES. >> NOW YOU SEE HIS DAUGHTER AND
IT IS ALL COMING FULL CIRCLE.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOSTER
>> THE FOSTER MOM, NOW TELLS US
SHE WAS FORCED INTO TAKING A
PLEA.
PLEA.
PLEA. NONE OF THE CHARGES ARE TRUE.
SHE DID NOT REQUEST