Marion foster parent charged with five counts of sexual abuse

Tara Fasol

MARION - A Marion foster parent has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual abuse of a minor and is being held in the Williamson County Jail on a $200,000 bond, according to court records.

Mark A. Ashby, 29, had been a foster parent since Sept. 27, 2006, according to Illinois Department of Child and Family Services spokesperson Kendall Marlowe.

The five counts were filed against Ashby in Williamson County Circuit Court on April 8. The accusations include one Class X felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual assault with bodily harm and four counts of criminal sexual assault.

Marlowe said Ashby was listed on a foster home license with another adult individual, although that name could not be released.

A total of five foster children had resided in the home prior to June 27, 2008, when Marlowe said the youths were removed from the home by DCFS because of "safety concerns."

"We always coordinate our investigations with law enforcement," Marlowe said, declining to comment whether the removal in June was connected to the criminal accusations. Ashby is scheduled for his next court appearance May 4.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com