Social worker accused of seducing a child client(doing it for the children alert)

south bend tribune ^ | 7.25.03 | SARA TOTH

[freepatriot32]

ELKHART -- A 26-year-old social worker was charged this week, accused of seducing a child whose welfare she was supposed to supervise for the LaGrange County Department of Family and Children.

Tammy Ross, of Goshen, was charged Monday with felony child seduction in an incident that happened in mid-April in LaGrange County.

Child seduction occurs when someone of authority engages in sexual conduct with a person who is at least 16 years old but younger than 18.

A 17-year-old boy told a sheriff's deputy in May that he had been sexually involved with Ross, who was his case worker, according to court records.

In a taped meeting with sheriff officials, the victim said he went with Ross on April 12 to pick up belongings at his mother's home, according to court records. The boy said he and Ross had sexual intercourse and that Ross had performed oral sex on him while at his mother's house.

In a separate interview with sheriff officials, Ross said she handled this victim's case inappropriately but denied having sexual intercourse with him, according to court records.

LaGrange County Prosecutor Jeff Wible said child seduction charges are rare, but Ross' alleged actions are serious.

"The worst part of this case is she violated trust," Wible said. "This was a person she was supposed to provide some guidance for. She absolutely violated the trust."

LaGrange County officials said relations between Ross and the victim may also have occurred in Elkhart County, where Ross lives.

"Our investigation has revealed the fact it was possible that it happened also in Elkhart County," Wible said. "But I can't be certain about that."

As of Thursday, no charges had been filed against Ross in Elkhart County, said Bill Wargo, chief investigator for the Elkhart County prosecutor's office. Wargo also said Elkhart County was not conducting any investigation related to Ross' alleged actions.

Staff writer Sara Toth:

stoth@sbtinfo.com

[freepatriot32]

this is definitly someone that takes we gotta do it for the children a little bit to seriously

[Cable225]

The boy said he and Ross had sexual intercourse and that Ross had performed oral sex on him while at his mother's house.

Apparently, the young man didn't care for her technique.

[Pearls Before Swine]

What's really sad is that this might be the best thing Social Services did for the boy.

[Anarchist]

Kids today know that it takes only an accusation, not proof, of sexual involvement with a minor to assure that a teacher or other authority figure never works in that job again.

There's a good chance that the kid was angry about something the social worker did, so he accused her of sexual involvement. Guilty or innocent, she just lost her career.

Male teachers are particularly vulnerable to this tactic.

[cajungirl]

LOL,,,she put the social into social services but I doubt the kid.

[JmyBryan]

Somehow I think this kid is gonna be alright ...

[moyden2000]

Either she did it, or social workers are finally getting caught up in the witchunt culture that they created.

Either way, justice will be served. Let's just hope she got her adoption bounty.

[Chewbacca]

Shouldn't that be "doing it to the children bump"?

[telebob]

Doesn't really ring with truth. When I was seventeen, if a 26 year old women had offered me *ahem*,services, I would have been most grateful and discrete. Honest.

[Old Professer]

Discreet.

[telebob]

Sorry. Discreet, not discrete. My brain can only handle analog or discrete input.

[DannyTN]

Well I know in TN, these kind of social workers are paid minimum wage by the state. They are often foreign nationals or recent immigrants and don't speak good english. The state hides behind "policies" instead of hiring competent care workers.

The turnover among the social workers is high, because workers soon find out that they can make $3-$4 more an hour at the local oil change place. The only workers who stay with it for so little pay are either very charitable and love the work, pretty much incompetent with no iniative, or have alternative reasons for staying in that role.

I don't know if that's the case in this situation or not.

[L.N. Smithee]

The boy said he and Ross had sexual intercourse and that Ross had performed oral sex on him while at his mother's house.

In a separate interview with sheriff officials, Ross said she handled this victim's case inappropriately but denied having sexual intercourse with him, according to court records.

This report leaves some gaping holes. Is her denial that she and the kid had intercourse but admission that she was "inappropriate" a de facto confession that oral sex occurred?

[Graybeard58]

She's obviously using Clinton's definition of what sex IS.

[Bonaparte]

When you hear somebody say her actions were "inappropriate," you know you're dealing with a felon.

[ThorSinger]

Did you forget? Oral sex isn't really sex. And besides, it depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is.