CPS Worker Charged With Official Misconduct

January 19, 2017 at 6:37 p.m.

By Michael [email protected]

A Child Protective Services worker is facing charges after police say she helped a woman violate a custody order in connection with an attempted kidnapping charge.
Irene Hapner, 46, of 311 Madison St., #A, North Webster, is charged with one count of official misconduct and one count of obstruction of justice, both level 6 felonies. Hapner was arrested Tuesday.
Hapner was arranging a visit between two boys, an 11-year-old and 5-year-old, with their great aunt. During the visit, Angela Adams, 39, Pierceton, the children’s mother, showed up unannounced.
Police say Hapner told them the visit was not authorized by CPS. However, during the investigation into Adam’s alleged attempt to kidnap her children out of foster care, police found text messages between Hapner and Adams.
The text messages revealed Hapner asked Adams when she was planning on arriving at the meeting.
The children previously had been removed from their home due to the children failing a drug test, according to court records.
As the children met with their great aunt, Adams, along with two other unrelated persons, showed up unannounced.
During the meeting with the great aunt, the children were given a cell phone to use to contact their mother.
Adams used the phone and e-mail to convince the kids to run away from their foster home and she would pick them up. On Jan. 1, a car was driving around the neighborhood. The foster parents foiled the plan and notified the police. Adams was arrested Jan. 10 and charged with attempted kidnapping.
Ashley Hungate, communication director for the Indiana state personnel department said this morning that Hapner resigned from CPS on Jan. 6.
 

A Child Protective Services worker is facing charges after police say she helped a woman violate a custody order in connection with an attempted kidnapping charge.
Irene Hapner, 46, of 311 Madison St., #A, North Webster, is charged with one count of official misconduct and one count of obstruction of justice, both level 6 felonies. Hapner was arrested Tuesday.
Hapner was arranging a visit between two boys, an 11-year-old and 5-year-old, with their great aunt. During the visit, Angela Adams, 39, Pierceton, the children’s mother, showed up unannounced.
Police say Hapner told them the visit was not authorized by CPS. However, during the investigation into Adam’s alleged attempt to kidnap her children out of foster care, police found text messages between Hapner and Adams.
The text messages revealed Hapner asked Adams when she was planning on arriving at the meeting.
The children previously had been removed from their home due to the children failing a drug test, according to court records.
As the children met with their great aunt, Adams, along with two other unrelated persons, showed up unannounced.
During the meeting with the great aunt, the children were given a cell phone to use to contact their mother.
Adams used the phone and e-mail to convince the kids to run away from their foster home and she would pick them up. On Jan. 1, a car was driving around the neighborhood. The foster parents foiled the plan and notified the police. Adams was arrested Jan. 10 and charged with attempted kidnapping.
Ashley Hungate, communication director for the Indiana state personnel department said this morning that Hapner resigned from CPS on Jan. 6.
 
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