Prosecutors say Houston man accused of sexually abusing 6 adopted sons is feigning ‘terminal illness’ (Graphic content)

On Thursday morning, Chaim Cohen was brought to the courtroom, where he was charged with sexual abuse of at least six of the nine sons he adopted.

HOUSTON. A Houston man accused of sexually abusing at least six of the nine boys he adopted has eight more charges.

Chaim Cohen, 38, was brought into the courtroom on Thursday, where prosecutors said five other adopted sons supported their 17-year-old brother’s demands.

Prosecutors also raised questions about Cohen’s claims that he was terminally ill and in hospice. They said they had witnesses who said Cohen was faking his illness and a video to prove it.

According to court documents, the son told investigators that Cohen did not actually need a wheelchair or oxygen. The teenager said he only uses them when other people are around, not when he is at home with his sons.

In the courtroom were Cohen’s three eldest sons, aged 22, 20 and 19.

Cohen is also being sued by an international exchange student from Spain who lived with his family while attending a local high school. He said Cohen sexually assaulted him multiple times in 2019.

Podcast: Cry for Help

The investigation began after a 17-year-old son called into a podcast and told listeners that he had been sexually abused by his adoptive father (Cohen) since the age of 11. He said that his adoptive siblings had also been sexually abused on numerous occasions.

The boy told listeners that Child Protective Services conducted eight investigations, but Cohen always threatened or bribed the victims not to tell the truth, according to court documents.

The teenager said he had a backup phone so Cohen wouldn’t catch him calling.

Other members of the podcast urged the teenager to help himself and his brothers. He said he waited until he was 18 to report Cohen to law enforcement.

CPS Launches Investigation (WARNING: Disturbing Details)

*All information below is taken from court documents.

According to court records, a CPS investigator found out about the podcast, tracked down the IP address, and contacted the 17-year-old.

During the interview, the investigator turned on the podcast and said that the boy was “visibly frightened and trembling”. He confirmed that he called.

The teenager then began to describe what goes on behind closed doors. These are some of the accusations. Further, everything from the charging document.

  • He said Cohen’s abuse began three weeks after his 2016 adoption.
  • He said that Cohen had the boys massage his legs before molesting them and forcing them to have sexual intercourse with him.
  • When he turned 14, the teenager said that Cohen began to rape him.
  • He said that Cohen forced him and his younger brothers, now 16 and 14, to perform oral sex on him and each other while he watched. He said the 16-year-old ran away but was brought back to the house by police deputies.
  • He said that two 10-year-old brothers said they had also been abused, but the teen said he had not witnessed it. He said that when Cohen called one of the boys to his room, they all knew what it meant.
  • Cohen also verbally abused his sons, calling them “white trash” and “racist”, according to the teen.
  • He said that Cohen uses a wheelchair and oxygen tanks in public places or when people come, but not when he is alone with his sons.
  • The boy said that Cohen had warned him that if he told anyone, it would be his word against Cohen and his siblings.

He told the investigator that he was “not brave enough to say anything.”

Foreign exchange student

In 2019, Cohen was charged with indecency towards a child after an international exchange student from Spain told a school principal that Cohen was abusing him.

The boy was 16 at the time.

He told police that Cohen would make him feel guilty if he did something wrong, like leaving his clothes on the floor or not cleaning up after himself. Cohen said the boy’s behavior “made him sad,” so the boy “needed to make him happy.”

The student said Cohen started petting him in the bedroom after the other boys had gone to sleep. A few months later, according to court documents, Cohen began forcing the victim to have sexual intercourse with him.

“Behavior turns inside out. This is worse than we could even imagine,” said Sherry Scott, the victim’s lawyer. “There are so many feelings and emotions here that it’s hard.”

“The student said he did it because he felt that if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to finish the year and would lose one school year if he was sent back,” court documents say.

The judge released him on $75,000 bail and Cohen returned home, where the violence began again, according to the 17-year-old. The 2019 case is still pending.

In 2021, an exchange student filed a lawsuit against Cohen and ERDT, the student exchange organization that placed him with the defendant.

CPS reported that all the children were taken from their homes and are now in foster care.

Editor’s note: KHOU 11 spoke about Cohen and his nine sons in 2019 before any of the allegations were known. He was not charged at the time.

Child Abuse Resources and Services

If you or someone you know has been the victim of child abuse of any kind, we can help you. You can start by contacting one of these agencies or organizations.

  • Children’s Assessment Center 1-800-252-5400
  • Help for children 1-800-4-A-CHILD
  • Juvenile Division of the Houston Police Department 713-731-5353
  • Outlaws of Houston 713-521-4600

You can also tell an adult you trust, such as a teacher, principal, or school counselor, about this.

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