Utah foster parent accused of beating teen in his care

KEARNS — A foster parent in Kearns is accused of beating and threatening a teen boy in his care.

Anthony Siliveinusi Niu, 27, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony.

“A foster parent is supposed to be the protector of vulnerable children who have already had a tough life. The foster parent in this case, instead of providing a safe environment and loving home, verbally and physically assaulted the victim to the point that he lost consciousness, then threatened to kill him,” prosecutors wrote in charging documents.

In June, Unified police were called to investigate a report that a 16-year-old boy was “physically and mentally assaulted” by his foster parent, the charges state. The boy told investigators that after being yelled at by Niu,