Andrew Keith Wells, 20, sexually assaulted 8 of his 9 siblings. His parents, Brian and Janelle Wells, knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it. Andrew Wells had been homeschooled and had only a fifth-grade education, as well as “numerous mental issues.” His younger siblings were all being homeschooled at the time of his arrest.

The abuse came to light when Wells walked into the Burlington police station and confessed to having molested his siblings for the past eight or nine years. He also confessed to possessing a large amount of child pornography.

Brian and Janelle Wells were each charged with two counts of child endangerment and accepted a plea agreement to avoid prison time by agreeing not to contact their minor children for five years in exchange for two years’ probation. Andrew Wells pleaded guilty to sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a child, and incest, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Date: February 24, 2014
Location: Burlington, Iowa

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