Oregon man admits abuse of 11 children in day care
Thursday, June 19, 2008 8:42 AM PDT
By The Associated Press
Printable version
E-mail this articleEUGENE, Ore. — A 19-year-old man has admitted molesting 11 children at his mother’s in-home day care center over the past two years.
In a plea bargain, Mason Morell of Springfield was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison on counts involving two girls.
In exchange for what prosecutor Mike Pugh called “a significant break,” Morrell identified all his victims during a lie detector session.
Pugh said Morrell was able to give only first names of many of the victims, and authorities are trying to identify all to make sure they get counseling.
“It was important that we identify these victims as best we could,” Pugh told Judge Karsten Rasmussen.
The victims were boys and girls ages 3 to 6. One of the girls told her mother about the abuse.
Morrell was not employed at the day care, but as an adult over the age of 18 in the home, he was required to undergo a background check. He had no criminal background.
The mother of one victim, a 3-year-old sodomized during a toilet training session, sobbed as she addressed Morrell in court.
“I’ve lost confidence in my ability to parent and protect my own child,” she said.
Outside the courtroom, she said her son seems to have compartmentalized the abuse through counseling.
“He believes that this is a game gone awry,” she said. “He hasn’t been impacted in a huge way.”
Morell’s mother, Heidi Spalding, said the day care operation, certified by the state, remains open.
She said she cares for three to four children at a time, didn’t leave her son alone with the children and had no idea about the abuse.
She did not attend the sentencing but answered the door at her home when a Eugene Register-Guard reporter knocked.
Spalding said her son has learning disabilities and was a sweet boy who didn’t drink or smoke.
“I was extremely shocked,” she said. “I have really wracked my brains to figure out what had happened.”
“I would have expected a little less jail time and a little more help,” she said. “Since Measure 11 passed, people don’t get the help they need.”
Morrell is not eligible for early release and will be required to register as a sex offender after he serves his term.
daddyrench wrote on Jun 19, 2008 9:22 AM:
" he should be charged with all 11 and have more time. The kids will suffer the rest of thier life. "
Common Sense 24 wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:07 AM:
" Treatment??? Do you expect him to get better???? There is only one sure way to make sure he doesn't do it again. "
Reality Check wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:15 AM:
" In this perverted world brought on by feminist changes, every parent should reconsider when they opt for someone else caring for their children. The mother should almost always be the person raising the child in those early critical years from conception to 13 years old. "
stargoddess wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:22 AM:
" He doesn't drink or smoke....but he molests little babies... "
Mama Duck wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:38 AM:
" To Reality Check: It must be nice and sunny in your perfect world. Reality check for you: not every mother has the luxury of staying home with their children from "conception to 13 years old". With the economy the way it is most of the time both parents have to work to survive. "
concerned citizen wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:49 AM:
" What a nightmare. As if it isn't hard enough to steer our children safely through this world without this kind of thing happening. 12 years for destroying the lives of 11 children ages 3 to 6. Somehow it doesn't seem like enough. Never left them alone? I have trouble believing that. Shut that daycare down for heaven's sake. "
tvstad wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:59 AM:
" to Mama Duck..In this economy you can have a one income family, it just takes some planning and adjustments. My wife quit her job to stay with our first, and then two years later our second child. It took alot of adjustments, but has been worth it. I am a blue collar worker (50-55k). Child care scares me because of the mismanagement and all of the mom and pop operations. "
outspoken wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:10 AM:
" She should be shut down! I can't believe that people would still take their kids to her knowing how "in charge" of them she actually is. How do you NOT KNOW that something like that is going on? Her job was to watch someone else's kids. It makes me sad. "
Ella Mentry wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:12 AM:
" Reality Check, may I give you my address so you can mail me a monthly check that would enable me to stay home with my children? Stop making judgments on us (working moms). Would you rather we all be depleting the system of resources by receiving public assistance? And how did you jump from the topic of the article to "feminist changes" and working mothers???? "
Reality Check wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:19 AM:
" To Mama Duck: Believe it or not, it is sunnier in my world because I follow certain protocals for living. I happen to be in a position here in Cowlitz County where I see the financial status of many of the locals. I also learn how they live their lives, and the fact is that it is a matter of choice for most people to have both parents working. Your comment that "both parents have to work" is simply not true. It may be if the people want a lot of toys. So, let me be sure I understand your comment: It's better to get the toys then to be concerned that your children are protected from the perverts running amock these days. That just doesn't sound like the way a "Mama Duck" would talk. "
frankenzombie wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:02 PM:
" As soon as this guy goes to prison he is going to get every bit of abuse thrown back at him. I hear they don't take kindly to child abusers. He should be serving a 12 year sentence for each one of the children he abused. "
Famous in a Small Town wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:29 PM:
" Perhaps it is not a matter of working moms versus stay at home moms, but more a matter that 11 children were molested under the watch of a trusted care provider, who is still providing child care????? "
ashton wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:29 PM:
" Oh here we go again - another working vs stay at home parenting debate. You know-you are right Reality Check, I am going to quit my teaching job and leave about 25 2nd graders without a teacher and then since my husband's job does not offer any health insurance and he makes only about $30K - my family of 4 can start to leach off the taxpayers and sign up for Medicaid since we would give up the health benefits we receive from my job, heck maybe we can even get some food stamps too!! Then I am going to call my sister in law and tell her to quit her job as an ER nurse to stay homw with her kids,so next time you need to go to the ER,you can wait in the waiting room even longer for someone to help you. Thanks Reality Check for helping me set my priorities straight!!
It is not always about income or choice - I love being a teacher and am lucky to have an awesome daycare provider,I love my students almost as much as my own kids. No working parent should ever feel guilty going to work to suport their family, my job provides my family with the health insurance and such that we need and helps put food on the table and a little roof over our head. We have no toys my friend, we each drive 10+ year old cars,and have a 29inch old school TV.Get a clue. "
It is not always about income or choice - I love being a teacher and am lucky to have an awesome daycare provider,I love my students almost as much as my own kids. No working parent should ever feel guilty going to work to suport their family, my job provides my family with the health insurance and such that we need and helps put food on the table and a little roof over our head. We have no toys my friend, we each drive 10+ year old cars,and have a 29inch old school TV.Get a clue. "
Bounder wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:39 PM:
" Frankenzombie you took the words right out of my mouth. 12 years for each child sounds good to me. I can't believe his mother said "I would have expected a little less jail time and a little more help" She shouldn't be able to watch over children if she thinks that is to harsh of a punishment for what he did. "
LVALUMNI wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:47 PM:
" Reality Check: Quote "I happen to be in a position here in Cowlitz County where I see the financial status of many of the locals..." It sounds to me like you are either some kind of social worker, or in the field of consumer lending. Has it dawned on you that if all of us working moms quit our jobs, YOU likely wouldn't have one either?
My point is that this is a case about child abuse/molestation in a state certified child care facility. Note, I said "STATE CERTIFIED." The blame here should not be placed on working mothers for their "feminist ideals" and choice to work to help support the family. The blame should be placed on the CHILD MOLESTER and his Mama who obviously has a serious DENIAL problem.
I agree, children who are cared for by their parents at home during the early and impressionable ages of birth to 13 are typically more well-balanced. However, (at least is the case here in Clark County) Rent alone costs more than what I made as a salary professional in Cowlitz County and, no, that is not because we choose to live in upscale housing or beyond our means. We live very modestly. In this economy, it TAKES two incomes to support a family and raise children.
I feel that you are placing the blame here in the WRONG direction. "
My point is that this is a case about child abuse/molestation in a state certified child care facility. Note, I said "STATE CERTIFIED." The blame here should not be placed on working mothers for their "feminist ideals" and choice to work to help support the family. The blame should be placed on the CHILD MOLESTER and his Mama who obviously has a serious DENIAL problem.
I agree, children who are cared for by their parents at home during the early and impressionable ages of birth to 13 are typically more well-balanced. However, (at least is the case here in Clark County) Rent alone costs more than what I made as a salary professional in Cowlitz County and, no, that is not because we choose to live in upscale housing or beyond our means. We live very modestly. In this economy, it TAKES two incomes to support a family and raise children.
I feel that you are placing the blame here in the WRONG direction. "
writegirl wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:59 PM:
" Oh geez here with go with the crazy debate about working moms versus stay at home moms. The blame lies with the abuser! Not the parent who put her child in daycare so she could earn a living! That said, since the topic has already been raised, I will point out that many working parents (myself included) are working in order to provide HEALTH INSURANCE for their children. Not toys. I work full time because my husband's benefits are expensive and inadequate. I own a very modest house that was built in the early 40s and is drafty and needs a new roof. I drive a car that is ten years old that is paid for, and my husband's car is eighteen years old. My son plays with toys that are handed down from his cousins and friends. So please, before you start making judgements about mothers who work, consider the alternative: I could be staying home, getting state health insurance that covers next to nothing that YOUR TAX DOLLARS are paying for. "
writegirl wrote on Jun 19, 2008 1:09 PM:
" And one more thing. My decision to work has NOTHING to do with "feminist ideals". I would give ANYTHING to be at home with my son, but that is not an option for me, because as I stated before, I refuse to rely on state health insurance. There is no feminism at work here, just plain old good parenting, providing for your child as best you can. Last time I checked that wasn't a crime. "
littlered wrote on Jun 19, 2008 1:23 PM:
" Yes you can stay home and live on one income. We do and receive no public assistance. That can't happen for most single mothers. But there are single mothers because of the break down of family values. And there are women out there that rather put their kids in a day care and have others raise them. "
Rosey Glasses wrote on Jun 19, 2008 1:31 PM:
" As a working mother who when I could, did stay home with my children. That didn't stop the parents of other children from molesting or the sitter who lived next door. However, we moved on and my children are learning to find peace in their lives. NOW! why did I work? because the abusive ex-husband didn't pay a dime of child support and my current husband wasn't expected to pull the whole weight. I worked to give my children a better life. I had the jerk prosecuted and he got off with "ludeness with a minor" on one of the other children. I was never told why until recently and am furious that I was not told earlier to defend why my child brought these allegations. This person should be sentanced to general population (which he won't) and to serve the rest of his natural life in prison like that. His mother's day care should be shut down for her neglegence in protecting them little angels. *I have said my peace* Justice is not served properly. "
lola*in*longview wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:01 PM:
" this isn't about both parents having to work, it is about these innocent children having been destroyed, Can we all stick to that please, I believe we have had this argument already. It is simple wther the mother works or not it not the issue. This scum getting only 12 years is a joke, You know what heppens to guys like this in prison, so hopefully justice will be done after all. "
Common Sense 24 wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:18 PM:
" That doesn't happen in prison anymore. I have been there and there are cameras everywhere now. Even in blood alley at Walla Walla. The code of honor is no more intact than it is in the general public now. Forced rapes don't happen either. There are so many willing to gladly give it up that there is no raping anymore. The DOC has taken drastic steps to protect these types of individuals and have culminated an acceptance and tolerance policy. "
Peach wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:51 PM:
" This is so scary what the world is coming to. You can't even trust someone to care for your children. It's very sad.
If this day care owner never left her son alone with the children, then how could the abuse happen without her knowing. He was obviously left alone with several of the children on several different occasions. "
If this day care owner never left her son alone with the children, then how could the abuse happen without her knowing. He was obviously left alone with several of the children on several different occasions. "
ashton wrote on Jun 19, 2008 3:11 PM:
" One more thing to think about beyond finances and such - is that it is the quality of time and nurturing you spend with your children, not the quantity. As a teacher I deal with the whole spectrum of kids kids from single parent homes, kids who have both parents who work and go to daycare, kids who have a SAHP and I can tell you that from my experience the is not always the kids who have a SAHP who are the best behaved or well rounded, nor is it always the daycare kids who are disobedient and such, it is a combination of both. It was not my kid who got suspended from school for telling his teacher to F off, it was the kid down and across the street whose SAHM looked down on me and my daycare kids, she though she was such a better parent than me because she stayed home. All she did all day long is watch TV and let her kids do the same or play video games or surf the net after they get home from school. Like I said the one kid got suspended in 2nd grade and her older son just flunked 8th grade, so which kids are better off? I may not get the amount of time in as SAHPs but when we are home at night with the kids after work/school, TV, computers and games are off, family dinner at the table etc. So SAHP dont be so quick to judge that just because you make financial sacrifices for your kids to live off one income that they will turn out better than daycare kids do you want a medal or something? Lets all check back in about 10 years or so and see how things turned out for everyone OK? Both my parents worked and I went to daycare I did not turn into a serial killer.
Lets just all be respectful of the decisions that people make for their own family either way.
And sadly kids get molested at places besides daycare my cousin got molested by her friends dad when she was playing over at her house her mom was a SAHM so lets not dilute the issue that daycare kids are the only ones who sadly have to be careful out there of these creeps. "
Lets just all be respectful of the decisions that people make for their own family either way.
And sadly kids get molested at places besides daycare my cousin got molested by her friends dad when she was playing over at her house her mom was a SAHM so lets not dilute the issue that daycare kids are the only ones who sadly have to be careful out there of these creeps. "
Mama Duck wrote on Jun 19, 2008 5:04 PM:
" You know what's funny? I was a SAHM until my husband left me and our three kids with no money. I am now in college and work part-time but I am home with my kids whenever they are. I never have had to send them to daycare. However, that is not the point..... The point is I was sticking up for people that don't have any choice. And, everyone is right, the article is not about the old debate of SAHM VS. Working moms. It's about the terrible crime that was committed against these poor kids who will forever have the memories of what happened to them, no matter how much treatment they get. He should have gotten a much longer sentence. Even if he did get 12 years per kid, it would still be nothing compared to the sentence he imposed on these children. "
angel wrote on Jun 19, 2008 7:16 PM:
" I don't know if I trust the daycare provider. She says she never left the children alone with him? Well, obviously she did! Oh wait, he must have followed them home. I feel she, as the care provider, is just as responsible as her son for this. I had child care in my home for several years and I can honestly say I never left a child alone, in the house or out. If someone needed a potty break we all went and waited in the hall. Regardless of the reasons that children are there, whether you believe a woman's place is in the home or not, it was the provider's responsibility to protect those children. Quit placing the blame on the parents. "
kitten wrote on Jun 19, 2008 7:16 PM:
" RealityCheck,
With the way the economy is heading, lots of people will be staying home with the kids.
As far as this story, who would leave their children with a person whose 19 year old disabled "man" lives with them? Sounds like the woman already had her hands full. "
With the way the economy is heading, lots of people will be staying home with the kids.
As far as this story, who would leave their children with a person whose 19 year old disabled "man" lives with them? Sounds like the woman already had her hands full. "
mommy6 wrote on Jun 19, 2008 7:19 PM:
" Would Reality Check please help my husband find a job in the same field he is in so I can quit my job and stay home with my kids. You seem to think you have all the answers so why don't you just tell our husbands where to find these jobs so we as working class wives can stay home where we REALY would like to be. If you cann't do this then PLEASE hush up and stop judging those of us who work to help support OUR familys.As for the true reason of the artical would someone please show that judge the effect this so called "man" had on these children first hand and then maybe a better sentence will be handed down. Like oh maybe LIFE with parole or I would go as far as deth for these people who think it is ok to harm our children this way!!!!!!! "
Teresa wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:09 PM:
" He may be disabled in some way but he's still a dangerous predator and shouldn't be free, ever. This is very sad and I'm so sorry for the child victims and the parents.
If we must use childcare, please be careful! :( "
If we must use childcare, please be careful! :( "
feistyone wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:31 AM:
" Well he admits the abuse but lets hope if found guilty the Judge doesn't release him for an appeal. "
lucky1 wrote on Jun 20, 2008 7:14 AM:
" First off why in the world would they allow that daycare to stay open. The children in her care were abused. If they arent going to close it everyone should pull there children out. Second what is this magic age of 13. Does that mean when my child is 13 I dont need to take care of her anymore. Its not about working or non working moms. Its about a mom who let her child molest other peoples children. She should go to jail too. "
Maniacal Mom of 6 wrote on Jun 20, 2008 1:35 PM:
" The daycare should be shut down, the mom of the disabled man needs to be held just a responsible as her son, and she should face serious consequences. You can't trust people you do not know very well. Even then, sometimes they are adept at hiding what they do not wish their friends and neighbors to know.
The best way to keep your child safe is for a parent to stay with them, but even then some parents are the perverts.
I can't speak for every one, but I am a stay at home mom, who is needing to go back to school and have a part time job. I will either need to find childcare or have my kids go to a relative I trust. I won't be taking my kids to daycare. Not all daycares are bad, but who really knows what happens when no one is looking?
And having a criminal record does not mean you are going to rape babies and steal their childhoods. "
The best way to keep your child safe is for a parent to stay with them, but even then some parents are the perverts.
I can't speak for every one, but I am a stay at home mom, who is needing to go back to school and have a part time job. I will either need to find childcare or have my kids go to a relative I trust. I won't be taking my kids to daycare. Not all daycares are bad, but who really knows what happens when no one is looking?
And having a criminal record does not mean you are going to rape babies and steal their childhoods. "
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