Jury acquits man of sexually assaulting foster child
The former owner of a North Las Vegas behavioral health services company was convicted Monday of child abuse and lewdness with his adopted son and acquitted of sexual assault charges relating to his foster son.
Marvie Hill faced 27 counts, including open and gross lewdness, child abuse and sexual assault with a minor. He was acquitted of four counts of sexual assault, the most serious charges levied against him, along with 10 counts of open and gross lewdness.
Prosecutors had alleged that starting in 2006, Hill abused his 13-year-old foster son.
His lawyer, Bret Whipple, said “I’m relieved that he was acquitted of all the serious charges.”
Hill was convicted of one count of sexually motivated child abuse, a felony that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with 12 counts of open and gross lewdness, gross misdemeanor charges, against his adopted son.
Prosecutor Michelle Fleck said Hill’s relationship with the boys was “complex” and lasted into their adulthood.
“We just believe the jury found there was reasonable doubt” in the sexual assault allegations, Fleck said.
Whipple said child protective services workers investigated the allegations involving Hill’s adopted son in 2008 and found them to be unsubstantiated.
Hill and Eddie Wormwood, who ran the behavioral health firm Unity Family Services, were both charged in 2012 with sexually assault of the foster child.
Hill became a foster parent in 2005 and later earned a license to run a specialized group home where he looked after as many as 15 boys at a time, according to Fleck.
The prosecutor said another boy also made allegations of abuse in 2008 but later recanted.
Last year, Unity Family Services pleaded guilty to felony Medicaid fraud for billing for services that were never given. A judge ordered the owners to pay $900,000 in restitution.
The Clark County Department of Family Services stopped placing children in Hill’s home in 2011 after receiving several complaints and Hill violated licensing regulations, Fleck said. All the children were removed from his home after criminal charges were filed.
Wormwood, who faces nine counts of sexual assault with a minor, was awaiting trial.
Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker
