Robert Keith Foster, 31, of Morrisdale, pleaded guilty to several crimes recently, including teaching his four and five-year-old children to smoke marijuana, theft, possession of marijuana and criminal mischief.
Foster was given a state prison sentence by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman at a recent session of Plea and Sentencing Court.
Foster pleaded guilty in five separate cases to endangering the welfare of children and theft by unlawful taking — both are felonies of the third degree; criminal mischief and prohibited offensive weapons — misdemeanors of the first degree; criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person — misdemeanors of the second degree; accidents involving damage to other vehicle — misdemeanor of the third degree; possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana — ungraded misdemeanors; and was sentenced to serve a minimum of one year and a maximum of 10 years in state prison.
Foster’s attorney, Ryan Dobo of the public defender’s office, said the probation department recommended a maximum sentence of six years and asked that it be lower because he has a minimal prior criminal record.
Ammerman said although he often sees cases where children witness their parents using illegal drugs, this is the first time he has seen a parent give a four-year-old and a five-year-old marijuana to smoke.
According to the affidavits of probable cause, on Feb. 20, 2020, Children, Youth and Family Services received a report that Forster would allow his children to smoke marijuana to get them to go to bed.
On Feb. 21, the five-year-old was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Clearfield. During the interview he said he saw his parents put needles in their arms numerous times.
He also said his parents would make lines using razor blades and snort them.
The child said his father would put marijuana in a pipe and let him smoke it. The child went into great detail on how the marijuana was packed into the pipe and smoked.
The four-year-old was also interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center and he said he would smoke marijuana with his father and brother.
Foster was interviewed at the state police barracks in Clearfield on June 17, 2020.
During the interview, Foster admitted to smoking marijuana in front of the children but denied giving it to them. When confronted with the statements by the children, Foster continued to deny the allegations.
As the interview continued, Foster became upset and began to cry and said he will never be the father he wanted to be. Foster then terminated the interview.
In another case, on June 2, 2020 state police spoke to the victim who stated someone stole two cables from his property sometime between June 1 and 2, 2020.
The value of the wire is $5,500.
State police spoke to Foster, who lives nearby and he said he saw someone on the property cutting the cables and thought it was odd.
State police spoke to officials at Novey Recycling and they reported Foster had brought the cable to the company and sold it for scrap.
On June 21, 2021, state police went to a residence along Empire Road when they found Foster, who had multiple warrants for his arrest.
He was taken into custody and he had marijuana in his possession.
On Nov. 1, 2021, state police were dispatched to Morrisdale Dam Road where they found a pickup truck parked along the road.
Foster was inside and the smell of burnt marijuana was detected inside the vehicle.
Foster handed the state trooper a pipe containing burnt marijuana residue.
Inside the vehicle a glass pipe and a torch lighter could be seen in plain view.
A search warrant was obtained and inside the vehicle was found brass knuckles, a small vial containing suspected methamphetamine, a black container with suspected marijuana, a grinder, a glass spoon, straws, a metal scoop, a metal scraper, and a rolling machine.
Foster was also ordered to pay the victim $5,500 in restitution and to have no contact with the victims.
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