WWW arkcity.net

By SYDNEY BLAND
Traveler

In front of a packed courtroom Wednesday, an Ark City man was sentenced to 59 months behind bars for molesting a young girl over several years.

Clifford Foust, 55, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts - aggravated indecent liberty with a child and contributing to a child's misconduct.

He received one year on the second charge but that time will run concurrently with the first charge. With time off for good behavior, Foust could be released after 51 months. He will be placed on parole for three years following the completion of his sentence.

"I know I have hurt not only one child, but I have hurt the whole family," Foust told Judge Jim Pringle before being sentenced. "I understand the wrong things I have done. I have not denied it. I take full responsibility for my actions. From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply sorry for the actions I took."

Foust's attorney unsuccessfully requested that his client be placed on probation and receive treatment.

But Pringle ordered Foust serve nearly the maximum allowed - 61 months.

"After seeing that the abuse took place over a three to four year period and that the crimes committed were heinous, (the court) denies the request," Pringle said.

The small, crowded courtroom consisted of about fifteen friends and relatives of Clifford Foust, and five or six relatives of the victim, now nine. The molestation began when the girl was five. It took place in private and involved pornographic videos, Pringle noted.

"Cliff has taken many things from my family," the girl's mother told the court. "He lied and bribed my daughter with money and gifts. My daughter will be in counseling the rest of her life; he took her innocence; he took her trust. Give my daughter the justice she deserves."

Traveler policy is to not identify victims of molestation or their family members to protect the anonymity of the victim.

In asking for leniency, Rod Iverson, Foust's attorney, said Foust knew he was wrong and said his client previously had a clean record. He was honorably discharged from the Army and has a strong religious background, Iverson added.

Iverson read a report from two therapists who stated Foust was amenable to continued counseling. They recommended that Foust be placed on probation in a work-release program where he would only be around children in supervised situations, or at family gatherings where others were present.

"On behalf of the family, I offer my deepest apologies," Foust's wife, Vickie, told the court. "We don't want (the victim) to go through any more pain. I hope the families will be able to find forgiveness in their hearts."

The court ordered $85 in restitution costs, which covered counseling for the victim. The victim's family requested $2,571.22. Pringle said they could bring a civil suit against Foust to recover those costs.

Foust also will be registered as a sex offender with the State of Kansas and will be required to supply a DNA sample to the state.

Amy Lindsey, Foust's stepdaughter, said her niece has a long, hard road ahead of her to recover from Foust's actions.

"He has destroyed my daughter's life, my life and her mother's life," the victims father said before sentencing. "I know you won't give me five minutes alone with him, so I just hope he gets the most time possible."