Conn. Gay Couple Accused of Molesting Adopted Sons
A gay Glastonbury, Connecticut couple is being charged with sexually assaulting their adopted sons over the past 10 years, reported Connecticut's Fox station, FoxCT.
Doug Wirth, 43, and his husband George Harasz, 48, were arrested on Wednesday on sexual assault and other charges after the Glastonbury police completed their investigation. The authorities started their investigation after they received complaints from the Department of Children and Families.
Wirth posted his $75,000 bail and was released from jail. Harasz, however, did not come up with his $350,000 bail and was turned over to the state Department of Correction, the news station reported.
Harasz will appear in court on Jan. 11 and Wirth on Jan. 10.
The allegations have caused turmoil within the family and has divided them, with family members forced to choose sides. Harasz's biological daughter, Jackie, 19, told the media that she strongly believes that the couple is innocent. Chris Harasz, one of the adopted boys, says that all of the allegations are true.
Wirth and Harasz adopted nine boys from three different sibling groups over the past ten years.
Harasz was charged with sexually assaulting two children and Wirth with sexually assaulting one.
Jackie Harasz says she lived with the family for about eight months in 2007 and that the accusations against the couple are "baseless."
She also said that the men were a caring and loving couple who wanted to take in the most troubled and challenging kids because they created an environment that could potentially help them.
"My father got tutors for the children. They had all the clothes they wanted, all the food, all the care,'' Jackie Harasz said in a telephone interview with the news station.
Chris Harasz, 18, and his three brothers lived with George Harasz in 2000. He says that the charges against him are true and he had a traumatic and unhealthy experience living with the couple. He claims he does not live with them anymore.