Accused foster
dad convicted
in 1957 of
sexual abuse

The case is the second in a
week involving a foster parent
accused of abuse

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

An Ewa Beach man charged with sexually abusing his foster child was convicted in 1957 of sexually abusing a child under 16, court records show.

Bruce McShane, also known as Bruce Morris, pleaded not guilty Monday in District Court to third-degree sexual assault and attempted first-degree sexual assault -- the second case in the last week of a foster parent accused of abusing foster children.

Also arrested last week for sexually and physically abusing their foster children were Freddie Yadao Jr. and his wife Sharon of Wahiawa. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Yadao has a previous misdemeanor assault conviction in June of 1991 and was sentenced to one year of probation.

McShane, now 60, was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation for the sex abuse conviction.

The Yadaos and McShane were indicted yesterday by a grand jury.

Amy Tsark, administrator of the Child Welfare Branch of the Department of Human Services, said she could not specifically comment on the cases or whether the agency knew McShane had been convicted of sex abuse or Yadao of assault.

The department, however, does conduct criminal history, Child Protective Services and medical record checks of prospective parents, Tsark said.

The prospective parents are also required to undergo a nine-week, 27-hour foster parent training program, to ensure parents are qualified to provide a safe home for foster children.

"We would not have approved them if we felt something in their history posed a risk to the children," she said.

Regarding the recent allegations, the department as a matter of policy will review the cases to ensure licensing procedures were followed, Tsark said.

The department has made changes in its procedures and is in the process of recertifying foster parents and revoking the licenses of those who do not meet a federal law barring licensing of prospective foster parents who have been convicted of child abuse, neglect, spousal abuse, crimes against children including pornography; or violent crimes including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, she said.

McShane, arrested Thursday, is accused of touching his 14-year-old foster daughter inappropriately.

According to a court document, the girl told a family therapist on July 19 that he had been trying to "french kiss" her and had touched her inappropriately. She told police who interviewed her four days later that McShane had been touching her since February -- the latest incident in mid-July.

Freddie Yadao Jr. is accused of sexually assaulting two foster daughters, ages 9 and 12. Along with his wife, he is also accused of beating their foster children with belts, large wooden spoons, a canoe paddle and a metal stick.

According to a court document, a 9-year-old girl told police July 29 that her foster father had sexually assaulted her the day before at their Karsten Drive home.

She also said her adoptive mother, Sharon Yadao, had hit her and her siblings with belts and sticks.

Her 12-year-old sister reported that she too had been sexually assaulted by Freddie Yadao Jr.. Also, she said Sharon Yadao had slapped her on the face, causing such a large bruise that she wasn't allowed to go to school until the bruise was gone. She also said both the Yadaos had recently beat one of her brothers with large sticks, leaving a large bruise on his leg.

Yadao was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, four counts of third-degree sexual assault, second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a minor.