Monsters Inc.?

Gay Connecticut couple accused of raping adopted children will face trial

If it's true that George Harasz, 49, and Douglas Wirth, 45, a married couple from Glastonbury, Conn., repeatedly "raped and abused" two of their nine adopted boys, then I hope they are punished to the fullest extent of the law. But I have admit, my first reaction to the story -- and I admit I have very little information -- felt a little more McMartin Preschool trials and Arnold and Jesse Friedman ("Capturing the Friedmans") -- with a hint of Paula Poundstone -- than Jerry Sandusky.

While it's not unusual for prosecutors to offer plea deals to avoid putting victims of sexual abuse on the stand -- especially children -- it seems very suspicious to me that these two alleged monsters were offered SUSPENDED prison sentences and probation, despite having been accused of "repeatedly raping" two of their nine adopted children, including a 5-year-old. Wouldn't a a plea for something like that be more like five years instead of 25, or 10 years instead of 50? That there's not one shred of physical evidence against the men is very possible, but one kid says his foster fathers "took turns repeatedly raping him" from the time he was 6 years old. (Wouldn't there be some injury back there?) Three more of the kids have now come forward to say they were abused -- again, with no physical evidence, but this would as supportive of the serial pedophile allegations as it would the "yucky gay dads are child molesters" hysteria  -- but what sounded most peculiar to me was that some of these kids were also alleging their dads were making them sleep "in the closet," a rather ironic claim in a same-sex-parent household, and one that sounds like impressionable children might throw out there not understanding what "in the closet" means. (Again, this is merely my gut talking.)

The Daily News reports that no new charges have been filed so far related to the three new accusations, but that the men decided to withdraw their plea and fight to clear their names. One of couple's supportive children, Carlos Harasz, said the accusers were lying and that the abuse suffered was under previous foster parents. Carlos added that the state Department of Children and Families “took the word of an angry, damaged, disturbed boy and destroyed a family.”

The parties are set to appear in court again June 5. Here's hoping the truth is revealed. If anyone has more information to bolster or belittle my off-the-cuff reaction, please let 'er rip in the comments.

Read HERE.