Father Accused Of Repeatedly Raping Adopted Teen Son

Father Accused Of Repeatedly Raping Adopted Teen Son

POSTED: 4:52 pm EST February 8, 2008

UPDATED: 5:16 pm EST February 8, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A man who was trusted to take care of Central Florida's orphans and troubled children is now accused of abusing that trust in the worst possible way. An adoptive father is accused of raping one of the children he was trusted to care for.

The child rape suspect ran a major treatment program for troubled and foster children. That's how 46-year-old Scott Legrand met the boy. Over the last nine months, investigators said, the boy suffered unmentionable horrors in their home, but he stayed silent until he got to the point where even foster care was better than living with his adoptive father.

It was at Devereux Florida, a residential treatment facility for children just off Powers Drive in Pine Hills, that the adoptive father and son met at. Legrand was the top manager there, now on administrative leave after being arrested for allegedly raping the boy he legally adopted as his own son five years ago.

"The abuse started slow with certain sex acts and progressed to more major crimes," explained Sgt. Rich Mankewich, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Two days ago, the boy told friends and his probation officer about the abuse he suffered in the house. Investigators set up a telephone call between the two of them. The boy told Legrand he wanted the sexual stuff to stop. Legrand agreed and said he was sorry.

The Pine Hills facility Legrand runs houses 43 children. Eugene Roenicke is the stepfather of one of them. He's now worried about the time Legrand took his stepson shopping and bought him expensive video games.

"He's my stepson. His real dad don't want nothing to do with him and nobody's gonna hurt him," Roenicke said.

Devereux said they are questioning all the other children at the facility to find out whether they've had any problems with Legrand.

Meanwhile, Legrand's adoptive son has been taken from their home and he is now with friends.

"He was without a family. He's known this guy as his family for the last five years. It was probably extremely hard for him to come forward. We're obviously glad he did," Mankewich said.

The 17-year-old is not Legrand's only adoptive son. The investigation is continuing.