Oregon Department of Human Services agrees to $1.3M settlement for foster child

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon's child welfare agency has agreed to pay a $1.3 million settlement to a girl who was placed with a foster father later accused of sexually abusing her.

The state placed the girl, who was age 4 at the time, into the Gresham home of Gabriel David Wallis and his wife in 2014, The Oregonian reported Wednesday.

The suit claimed Wallis abused the girl in summer of 2014, and the state neglected her safety by placing her in his home.

Wallis was charged with rape and six counts of first-degree sex abuse, but he was acquitted of all charges in June 2015.

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The charges came about after his wife had discovered possible indicators of abuse and took the child to speak with child abuse investigators.

The lawsuit claimed the state certified Wallis as a foster care provider despite observing warning signs.

"During the home study for foster parent certification, Wallis disclosed to DHS that he self-described as a sex addict, he was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder and had obsessions and compulsions with pornography and strip clubs," Josh Lamborn, the girl's attorney, wrote in the lawsuit.

An Oregon Department of Human Services spokesman declined to comment.

The lawsuit did not directly address the fact that Wallis was acquitted of the criminal charges.

"This case was one of the most egregious I've ever seen for certifying a foster parent who has these glaring issues," Lamborn said. "These red flags were just so obvious and the certifier did really nothing to independently investigate these issues."

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