DCFS Placed Boy in Foster Home With Convicted Sex Offender Who Repeatedly Abused Him: Suit

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services placed a boy in a foster home with a convicted sex offender, who repeatedly sexually abused the boy, according to two lawsuits filed Thursday.

The office of Cook County Public Guardian Charles P. Golbert filed one lawsuit against DCFS, and one against both the foster parent the boy was placed with and her husband, who is the registered sex offender.

According to court documents, Cook County juvenile court appointed DCFS as the boy’s guardian on October 30, 2014, because his grandmother could no longer care for him. That same day, DCFS placed the boy – referred to as John Doe - in the care of licensed foster parent Shawanda Lucas.

At the time, Lucas was married to James White, who was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor in 2002, at which point he was required to register as a sex offender. White also had felony convictions for possession of controlled substances, armed robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle, the public guardian said.

The public guardian claims in the suit that DCFS did not perform an investigation into White's background or criminal history, as required by law. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges DCFS case workers visited the home once the first month and never returned until seven months later.

State law required DCFS to visit the foster child at least once a month to ensure he was safe.

“What was really inevitable happened: this foster father repeatedly sexually assaulted and sexually abused this 12-year-old boy,” said Golbert. “The State of Illinois failed this child.”

John Doe left the foster home in June, 2015. According to the lawsuit, he reported the alleged abuse to a therapist in October, 2017. DCFS investigated and found credible evidence of abuse in May, 2018.

No criminal charges have been filed against White.

White is currently in prison in Iowa on a battery conviction.

Lucas is accused in the lawsuit of leaving John Doe unsupervised with a registered sex offender, putting John Doe at risk of sexual abuse and failing to report suspected abuse. She could not be reached for comment.