Trust fund born for Junior the Christmas Boy

Photo by Michael Woodward

LOOKING OVER LETTERS TO JUNIOR: Letters of support pour in to Becca's Cafe for Junior the Christmas Boy. From left, Becca Howsmon, Supervisor of District 5 Les Baugh, Sheriff Tom Bosenko, Dottie Smith, and District Attorney Gerald Benito.

Dottie Smith and Becca Howsmon sorted through presents, a 6-foot Christmas stocking, and letters of love and compassion for a seven-year-old Cottonwood boy hospitalized followed alleged torture from a caretaker. Dubbed Junior, the Christmas Boy, the child has received a tremendous outpouring of support with over 1,000 letters, according to Smith's blog at www.redding.com on Sunday.

After stating that a trust fund for Junior was not feasible, Smith said on Dec. 22 that she and Palo Cedro accountant John Grimes have opened an account at North Valley Bank with over $1,000 as of Sunday - $200 of which came from West Valley 4-H.

Both Smith and Grimes are trustees to the trust, she added.

Smith initially said that money donated to Junior could be deducted from support payments to a potential foster family or otherwise not used toward Junior's welfare. The trust's current set up, approved by Child and Family Services, allows for Junior to write to the trustees and request things that CFS does not pay for, Smith said. The trust can provide Junior with money to go on a class trip or cleats for baseball, Smith said.

"He'll know this is in the bank for him," Smith said.

Following coverage by the Record Searchlight, Sacramento Bee as well as through online channels, Junior's story has reached many. Letters poured in from places as far away as Maui, Wisconsin, and Texas.

"They're tear-jerkers," Smith said

"Dear Junior, please know that you are a good boy," wrote Kim Moore of Cottonwood in one letter. "The whole world loves you and is praying for your health and happiness. May the rest of your life be filled with blessings and joy! Life is going to get better now."

While working at her restaurant, Becca's Cafe, Howsmon said a three-year-old approached her with two Thomas the Train toys, saying, "These are for my friend Junior, I don't know him, but he's my friend now."

Junior's caretaker, Rachel Limon, will face charges of aggravated mayhem, torture, and attempted premeditated murder for Junior's injuries at a preliminary hearing on Jan. 14, 2010, according to Shasta County District Attorney Gerald Benito.

She pleaded not guilty on Dec. 22 to charges of torture and attempted murder, reported the Record Searchlight.

Still in an Intensive Care Unit at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Junior will be asked to write a belated letter to Santa when he gets out, "and we'll use that to shop," Smith said. The $1,400 she and Howsmon received from community members for Junior's Christmas will be spent at that time.

Donations to Junior's trust fund are accepted at North Valley Bank, c/o The Christmas Boy Trust, 9334-A Deschutes Road, Palo Cedro, CA 96073.

Letters can be sent to Junior the Christmas Boy, c/o Becca's Cafe, 2083 Balls Ferry Rd., Anderson, CA 96001.