Neighbors, boss shocked by sex abuse allegations

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Unbelievable. Shocking. Those are the words a Springfield man's neighbors and boss use to describe allegations the man sexually abused two foster children, who he first met while working at a home for children with emotional problems.

By all accounts, Joshua Thomas Friar appeared to be good with children, but detectives believe more sinister activity was taking place in Friar's foster home.

Oregon State police investigators believe Friar identified vulnerable boys he met while working at Jasper Mountain, a facility for children with emotional problems, then requested to foster them. At least two, possibly more, were molested, said detective Chris Ashenfelter.

Friar, 26, was arraigned on four counts of sodomy, one count of tampering with a witness and one count of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.

Oregon State Police would not elaborate on the charges, but ORS 163.670,using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct is defined as:

(1) A person commits the crime of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct if the person employs, authorizes, permits, compels or induces a child to participate or engage in sexually explicit conduct for any person to observe or to record in a photograph, motion picture, videotape or other visual recording.

(2) Using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct is a Class A felony.

One of the boys came forward with the allegations earlier this month, after he was moved out of Friar's home. Investigators have identified a second boy as a victim. Ashenfelter said the abuse took place when the boys were between the ages of 10 and 15.

"I think there's a possibIlity this has been going on for a while, I think there are other victims out there," said Det. Ashenfelter.

Ashenfelter did not know how long Friar had been a foster parent or how many boys had been in his care.

Jeri James, who lived near Friar for two years, said she saw close to a dozen different boys stay with Friar in that time.

She says the allegations are unbelievable.

"For boys, we were thinking, hey that's good some of these guys that didn't have a dad growing up they get to come into a foster home and have this college-aged kid taking care of them, like a big brother and could probably do them some good," said James. "I'm freaked out, really, honestly."

Friar worked at Jasper Mountain for three years and was still employed there at the time of his arrest.

Dave Ziegler, executive director of Jasper Mountain, said the allegations are shocking.

In addition to passing a rigorous screening process--including a criminal records check--Jasper Mountain staff also received recommendations from Friar's former supervisors at child-mentoring organizations.

"All of his former employers and people he was involved with gave him glowing recommendations," said Ziegler. "If it turns out to be true, it's a new activity or something he was able to hide for quite some time."

Ziegler said he's now reexamining how Jasper Mountain screens employees.

"I am a specialist in this area of identifying people that are of concern and risk assessment," he said. "It was very, very surprising that one of our staff would have made, or at least is alleged to have made decisions that would harm children in a sexual way."

On Saturday, police served search warrants at two homes in Springfield. They seized evidence from a house on 17th Street, where Friar lived for the past three years, and a home on South 41st Place, where Friar moved into earlier this month.

Three boys, ages 7 to 16, were living with Friar at the time of his arrest. The Oregon Department of Human Services has taken those boys into custody. Investigators have determined Friar did not abuse those boys.

Friar is being held on $2 million bail.