Man testifies he was repeatedly molested by director of California mental hospital

Man testifies he was molested by hospital director

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A 27-year-old man broke down in tears Tuesday as he testified about the alleged sexual abuse he experienced at the hands of his foster father, who was a former state mental hospital director.

During a preliminary hearing, the man said he was molested repeatedly for at least 10 years and was told what was happening to him was normal. He said that Claude Foulk threatened him if he ever reported the abuse.

He broke down and cried when he was asked to describe in graphic detail what had been done to him throughout the time he lived with Foulk beginning in 1992.

The case is the one of several allegations against the former executive director of Napa State Hospital that falls within the statute of limitations. The Associated Press is not naming the witness because it has a policy not to identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.

The man testified that he had been in foster care from the time he was born and had gone through 10 different homes at the time he met Foulk, who offered to take him in.

“At first, it was great to be in a stable family with a stable father,” he said, adding that they moved to a house in Huntington Beach. “We had a dog, it was right on the ocean. For six to nine months, it was everything I ever wanted.”

Then, he said the sexual assaults began.

“I was young,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do. I knew it wasn’t normal, but I didn’t know what to do.”

He said that at times, he asked Foulk to stop.

“I remember him telling me: ‘This is normal — part of what a growing man needs to do,’” he testified. “It never came to me at the time to say no.”

He said Foulk told him that if he said anything, “he would send me back where I came from.”

As the attacks escalated, he said, “There was nothing I could do, and I would be crying for hours.” Sometimes, he said he feigned illness to escape from more molestations.

“I was afraid he could take everything I had,” he said.

When he finally tried to break away in 2004, Foulk became even more controlling. Eventually he left.

Looking across the courtroom at Foulk, the witness said, “I know he needs to pay for what he’s done. I’ve lived this long with my knowledge of what he’s done … I’m here today to close this chapter of my life. I want to move on. I’m great with my life right now. It’s been extremely hard.”

The alleged victim was due to undergo cross-examination on Wednesday.

Foulk’s lawyer Richard Poland said his client maintains his innocence. The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Danette Gomez said she was unsure if she would call more witnesses Wednesday.

Superior Court Judge J.D. Lord will decide at the end of the hearing whether there is sufficient evidence to hold Foulk for trial.