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Foster mother accused of statutory rape

Saturday, May 3, 2008
By Brian Mosely

A Shelbyville foster mother has been indicted by the Bedford County grand jury for allegedly having sex with a foster child she had access to.

Alea Rhea Rippy, 25, has been charged with eight counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, according to true bills issued by the grand jury on April 21.

Rippy appeared in Bedford County Circuit Court before Judge Lee Russell Thursday and is scheduled to appear again on June 5, at which time she can either enter a plea or have a date set for trial.

The indictments alleged that Rippy "did engage in unlawful sexual penetration with" a boy that was 13 years of age or older, but less than 18.

Rippy was at least four years older than the boy, which resulted in the charges of statutory rape.

Informed sources told the T-G that the child in question was not directly in Rippy's care nor did he live with her, but Rippy did have access to the boy, who was the foster child of another foster parent that was a friend of Rippy's.

The foster mother of the victim was not aware of what allegedly transpired between Rippy and the boy, the informed source explained.

The indictments stated that Rippy "was at the time of the offense, in a position of trust or had supervisory or disciplinary power," over the boy, "by virtue of (Rippy's) legal professional or occupational status and used the position of trust or power to accomplish the sexual penetration..."

According to the true bills, the eight alleged incidents took place between January and March of this year.

Detective Becky Hord of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department arrested Rippy on March 16. Rippy is represented by attorney Joe Ford.

Comments

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This is a really crazy news story. I hope the kid is okay.

-- Posted by cfrich on Sun, May 4, 2008, at 9:46 PM

What is this world coming to! You think that when a child has been taken out of their home for some reason, they would be put where they be safe. This world can't stand much longer. Can't this woman fine her a man? Instead a child?

-- Posted by tnwoman1948 on Sun, May 4, 2008, at 11:16 PM

You know. This is a sad situation. No matter what the circumstances. I just lose faith in these foster families everyday. So crazy!

-- Posted by redneck on Sun, May 4, 2008, at 11:29 PM

Folks, read this story carefully...Rippy is not this child's foster mother. She may be a foster parent, but not to this child. Lord knows I'm not defending her...the girl has major issues, but lets get the facts straight in our minds.

-- Posted by jtjustice30 on Mon, May 5, 2008, at 9:16 AM

ok maybe my math stinks here but Rippy is 25 years old. The child is somewhere between the ages of 13-18...and Rippy is 4 years older than the boy.

Does this sound much like one of those confusing math riddles?

Even by my math she could be 7 years older than the boy and he still be an adult of 18.

Don't get me wrong here I am in no way defending her I don't even know her...the math was just confusing to me.

-- Posted by Dianatn on Mon, May 5, 2008, at 12:52 PM

the article stated she was AT LEAST 4 years older. This indicates to me 4 years is the minimum age difference for it to be statutory rape

-- Posted by greeneyes on Mon, May 5, 2008, at 1:49 PM

I have never heard of there having to be at least 4 years difference in age for it to be statutory rape. If that is the case it wouldn't be statutory rape if a 18 year old had sex with a 15 year old? Of course there are tons of things I have never heard of...

-- Posted by Dianatn on Mon, May 5, 2008, at 2:40 PM

Diana, I don't think if it were to be found that a 15 and an 18 year old were having sex that it could be prosecuted properly. I mean, it's still wrong but I do believe there must be 4 years difference in age. The article just says that he was somewhere between 13-18 and she is 25. There is a minimum age difference of four years meaning that the boy COULD possibly be 13 years old or he could be 18 and the offense(s) could have occured when he was 17.

-- Posted by LauraSFT on Mon, May 5, 2008, at 3:08 PM

i just don't understand how someone could take advantage of a chid this world is so lost!!!

-- Posted by dumbstruck on Mon, May 5, 2008, at 5:34 PM

I know all parties involved and was shocked to see what had happened. The foster mother of this child is a very giving and trustworthy person. I do not know what Alea could have been thinking. I feel so sorry for her husband and children also. All fosterparents are not bad... there are some that really have the best interest for these children. They love and care for them like their own, and even adopt them if they can.

-- Posted by For the kids on Tue, May 6, 2008, at 7:03 PM

I don't understand with people nowadays and I believe this woman needs a big time help and she don't deserved to be a foster mother. I hope the kid is alright.

-- Posted by Big H on Thu, May 8, 2008, at 3:59 PM

Another misleading title. Perhaps it would be clearer if it was titled, " Foster mother's friend accused of statutory rape "

-- Posted by daisy mae on Mon, May 12, 2008, at 9:25 AM

Well, she IS a foster mother, just not of this particular child so it's not so misleading.

-- Posted by LauraSFT on Mon, May 12, 2008, at 10:07 AM