Daughter accuses father of rape, molesting granddaughter (Allegan County, Michigan)

Notice that dad HARRY BETKE is not only accused of sexually abusing his daughter, but of stripping her of custody of her own daughter, so he could abuse the grandchild.

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/accuses-1396391-sexual-allegan.html

Woman accuses her father of sexual abuseSeptember 28, 2011 9:51 PM

ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – An Allegan County man is accused of sexually assaulting a child and investigators are concerned there may be other victims out there.

Harry Betke is charged with two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct. One of those accusing him is his own daughter, who spoke to Newschannel 3 on Wednesday.

Newschannel 3 had also arranged to meet with Betke to talk about these charges, but when we arrived at his home he was gone because his attorney told him not to speak to us. We did however get a statement from his attorney saying that Betke has been falsely accused and eagerly awaits exoneration at his jury trial. You can find the whole of that statement at the end of this story.

According to Betke's daughter, Stacey Sparks, there is a long history of abuse here, starting with her when she was very young.

“I have some memories,” said Sparks. “I'm working with a counselor to bring the rest of them out.”

Sparks says the abuse happened in a home in Plainwell where her parents still live. Sparks says she was repeatedly raped by Betke and even introduced to meth.

“I just did it because he told me to,” said Sparks. “He's a very controlling person, very manipulative and very scary.”

Sparks says she and her husband Rick were addicted to meth for years, but they've been sober since 2004, and says it wasn't until very recently that they learned their daughter had also allegedly been abused.

“We both kind of came out with it in the same year, this past summer,” said Sparks. “She said what had happened in my father's house when he had guardianship over her while I was a drug addict.”

Sparks says she found a journal entry that her daughter wrote in 2008 when she was thirteen, saying she's not a virgin because her grandfather raped her.

“I just think she came to a breaking point,” said Sparks.

“Do you believe you and your daughter are isolated victims or do you fear that there are more victims?” asked Newschannel 3's Jared Werksma.

“I fear that there are more and I know that there are more,” said Sparks.

Sparks says her mother ran a daycare out of the family home in the 80s and 90s, and state police came to talk to her then about her father possibly abusing another young girl.

“My dad had given the girl a bath, but I was a minor at the time and my dad told me to tell them that I was sleeping because I had the flu, and I did, so it was dropped and I'm still in contact with the victim,” said Sparks.

“Is it hard for you to talk about this, knowing how your family and your sisters will likely view this interview?” asked Newschannel 3's Jared Werksma.

“Yeah,” said Sparks, “I fear retribution, I probably won't sleep well tonight.”

Sparks says despite her fears, she needed to talk.

“I'm hoping more victims come forward,” said Sparks. “I'm hoping he is taken off the streets, cause I feel he is a danger to other children.”

Sparks says she's talked to the Allegan County prosecutor about the sexual abuse she says she experienced and it is possible more charges could be coming against Betke. Newschannel 3 put in a call to the prosecutor's office to confirm that, but have not been able to yet.

Betke is currently out of jail on a $50,000 bond.

The full statement sent to Newschannel 3 by Betke's attorney follows below.

“Harry Betke has been falsely accused of sexually molesting his teen-aged granddaughter when she was a young child. Harry is innocent of these charges and eagerly awaits exoneration at his jury trial.

Harry and his wife, Laury, accepted guardianship of their granddaughter when she was very young. A difficult custody battle developed, and during that custody battle, the Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office accused Harry of enticing his granddaughter to steal rings from her paternal grandmother. After a trial in 2006, a jury found Harry not guilty of those charges.

Now, years later, the Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has undertaken a second effort to prosecute Harry for conduct alleged to have occurred years ago when he had custody of his granddaughter. Just like the first allegations, these second allegations are untrue; and Harry trusts the jury to reach the same result–that he is not guilty.

Because the prior prosecution was supervised by the Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker in her prior role as chief assistant prosecutor, Harry has requested that a different judge review the appropriateness of Judge Bakker presiding over his case.

Again, Harry Betke, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, is entirely innocent of these charges, and we are looking forward to his jury trial.”