Vivant Behavioral - Brighter Path - Sequel (conclusion)

November 2, 2022

A WBNS News (Columbus, OH) investigation, which included a review of 400 police calls for service (over a two-year period), 911 calls, police body-cam footage, and state incident reports submitted to both OHMAS and FCCS, found:

  • 125 patient escapes
  • Police response to 36 assault reports and 14 alleged sexual assaults
  • Substantiated cases of teen-on-teen violence and sexual assaults
  • 24 incidents of staff being accused of improper restraint. [67]

Sources: 

[1] https://revealnews.org/podcast/the-bad-place/

[2] https://revealnews.org/podcast/the-bad-place/

[3] https://www.bizapedia.com/us/vivant-behavioral-healthcare-llc.html

[4] “Sequel Pomegranate closes as advocates, Paris Hilton call for change in 'troubled teen industry',” 10Investigates, Oct. 21, 2021.

[5] https://www.lakesideofks.com/ 

[6] https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2022/06/24/state-closes-st-pete-treatment-facility-for-boys-amid-child-abuse-allegations/

[7] https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/10/26/is-st-johns-youth-academy-shut-down/

[8] https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/10/28/i-team-closer-look-at-recent-facility-closures-in-florida-following-st-johns-youth-academys-sudden-shutdown/

[9] “Parents of ex-student sue residential center,” Salt Lake Tribune,” July 21, 2004 and Utah Court Report (Lexis) on Darcy Keenan Stowe.

[10] “Parents Sue Over Girl's Hiking Death,” Salt Lake Tribune, May 29, 2002.

[11] Robertson v Red Rock Canyon School, et al., Case no. 2:05-cv-758, United States District Court for the District of Utah, February 29, 2008.

[12] Ibid.

[13] “St. George man accused of sexual abuse of three teens,” Fox 13, August 3, 2012.

[14] “Former youth worker sentenced in sex abuse case,” St. George News, June 5, 2014 and https://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=2084679&AgencyID=54438&x=f482f7b9-7b97-4421-9bc5-1a57320ee62b

[15] Ibid.

[16] “Youth treatment center staffer charged in drug case,” The Spectrum, December 22, 2015.

[17] Lexis criminal record search results on Jerold Oloti Sua.

[18] Facility Evaluation Report on Normative Services, Inc., California Department of Social Services, October 11, 2016.

[19] “NSI addresses high volume of emergency calls,” The Sheridan Press, May 30, 2017.

[20] “Former student counselor re-indicted on student sex charges,” WAAY ABC 31, October 8, 2018, “Madison youth counselor charged with sex with students,” WAFF 48, July 21, 2017, and https://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=10381360&AgencyID=54247

[21] Ibid. “'They told me it was going to be a good place….' and “For-profit Iowa academy for troubled youth hired felon who raped student,” Des Moines Register, November 11, 2018.

[22] “Mental health facility worker pleads guilty to assaulting child,” Daily Herald, February 22, 2019 and “Aurora residential facility employee charged with sex assault of minor staying at center,” Aurora Beacon-News, January 9, 2018.

[23] “Second victim says a Utah school’s employee sexually abused him,” Salt Lake Tribune, March 9, 2018.

[24] “Clarinda students were restrained and injured as punishment, records show,” Des Moines Register, December 22, 2018.

[25] Re: License #CI130201440, Investigation #2018C0103021, Starr Commonwealth, Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services Division of Child Welfare Licensing, June 12, 2018.

[26] “Employee of facility for troubled youth arrested for sex crimes,” KTEN NBC 10, August 22, 2018.

[27] “Washington foster kids sent to Iowa were abused at Clarinda Academy, report says,” Des Moines Register, October 22, 2018

[28] Ibid.

[29] “'They told me it was going to be a good place': Allegations of abuse at home for at-risk kids,” NBC News, March 26, 2019.

[30] “For-profit Iowa academy for troubled youth hired felon who raped student,” Des Moines Register, Nov. 28, 2018.

[31] “Police reports detail fights, sex crime at Iowa academy for troubled youth,” Des Moines Register, November 26, 2018.

[32] Op cit. ‘They told me it was going to be a good place….”

[33] “Police arrest 5 after riot at St. George treatment center results in 25 injured students,” St. George News, April 29, 2019.

[34] “Franklin County Children Services note ‘concerns’ in unannounced visit to Sequel Pomegranate,” WBNS-TV 10, Oct. 22, 2019. URL: https://www.10tv.com/article/franklin-county-children-services-note-concerns-unannounced-visit-sequel-pomegranate-2019

[35] “He was abused by staff at Red Rock Canyon School. Now, this Oregon teen wants to change the foster system that sent him to Utah.,” Salt Lake Tribune, Feb. 6, 2020 and “Red Rock Canyon School to close after multiple abuse allegations,” The Spectrum, July 10, 2019.

[36] “Three Springs: Juveniles to be relocated ‘this week’,” WAFF TV (Madison, AL), August 19, 2019. URL: https://www.waff.com/2019/08/20/three-springs-juveniles-be-relocated-this-week/

[37] “Franklin County Children Services note ‘concerns’ in unannounced visit to Sequel Pomegranate,” WBNS-TV 10, Oct. 22, 2019. URL: https://www.10tv.com/article/franklin-county-children-services-note-concerns-unannounced-visit-sequel-pomegranate-2019 and “Sequel Pomegranate cited for improper restraints, failing to report sexual assault allegation,”  WBNS-10TV (Columbus, Ohio), August 21, 2019. URL: https://www.10tv.com/article/sequel-pomegranate-cited-improper-restraints-failing-report-sexual-assault-allegation-2019

[38] “Second Utah facility for troubled teens closes in a month,” Salt Lake Tribune, July 16, 2019.

[39] “Employee says she was fired after improper restraint of teen at Sequel Pomegranate,” WBNS – 10 Investigates, Nov. 12, 2019 and “Ohio reaches settlement with Sequel Pomegranate after threatening to revoke license,” WBNS, Feb. 5, 2020.

[40] Inmate Search page for Atonio Kavea, Tulare County Sheriff website, “Police say a staffer at this Utah school for troubled youth fathered a child with a former student,” Salt Lake Tribune, Oct. 1, 2019 and https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/Details.aspx?ID=BM3414

[41] “Foster boy sues Oregon officials who sent him to Red Rock Canyon School in St. George,” The Salt Lake Tribune, November 21, 2019.

[42] “Hearing dates set for Sequel Pomegranate as state threatens hospital license; CEO departs,” WBNS – 10 Investigates, Dec. 12, 2019.

[43] “Franklin County Children Services suspends admissions to Sequel Pomegranate after ‘pattern of concerns’,” WBNS - 10 Investigates, Jan. 6, 2020.

[44] “$4.5M lawsuits says child was repeatedly raped at Kingston Academy,” WVLT, Feb. 19, 2020.

[45] “Ohio reaches settlement with Sequel Pomegranate after threatening to revoke license,” WBNS, Feb. 5, 2020.

[46] “Advocacy group calls on state to inspect Sequel Pomegranate after pattern of abuse allegations,” WBNS 10 – Investigates, Mar. 3, 2020.

[47] “Foster care teen’s death draws scrutiny to group home outbreaks: Who is looking out for these children?” USA Today, May 15, 2020 and https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/michigan-family-of-teen-who-died-after-restraint-at-facility-settle-lawsuit/  

[48] https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/kalamazoo/death-of-16-year-old-cornelius-fredericks-ruled-a-homicide/69-33240f73-fb30-40f7-812d-fcf6c01dec6d

[49] “Group calls for reform of private juvenile facilities in wake of 16-year-old’s death,” WWMT, May 14, 2020.

[50] “Organization calls for shutdown of Lakeside Academy,” WKZO, May 20, 2020.

[51] https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90640-532682--,00.html

[52] “Three charged in death of Michigan teenager restrained at youth academy,” New York Times, June 24, 2020.

[53] "Statement from the Starr CEO to the Starr family," letter from Starr Comonwealth CEO Elizabeth Carey, July 1, 2020, URL: https://starr.org/wp-content/uploads/Statement-from-the-CEO-7.1.2020.pdf and "IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION & MEDIA STATEMENT REGARDING STARR ALBION PREP," Sequel Youth & Family Services, undated, URL: https://www.starralbionprep.com/

[54] https://adap.ua.edu/uploads/5/7/8/9/57892141/letter_to_state_re_sequel.pdf

[55] https://www.woodtv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2020/06/Cornelius-Fredericks-Civil-Rights-Complaint.pdf

[56] https://www.10tv.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/state-agency-revokes-license-of-sequel-pomegranate-citing-recurring-incidents/530-5dd9cd1c-1bbf-4c67-a7aa-655bf0e4b951

[57] “State pulling all students in its care from Aurora youth residential treatment facility following reports of abuse,” WGN-9 (Chicago), Aug 16, 2021, URL: https://wgntv.com/news/state-pulling-all-students-in-its-care-from-aurora-youth-residential-treatment-facility-following-reports-of-abuse/ and “Administration to Transition Students Out of Northern Illinois Academy Following Findings of State-Commissioned Equip for Equality Report,” Illinois State Board of Education, May 14, 2021, URL: https://www2.illinois.gov/IISNews/23312-Administration_to_Transition_Students_Out_of_Northern_Illinois_Academy.pdf

[58] Joaquin Palomino and Sara Tiano, “Newsom bans sending foster youth to faraway treatment programs after Chronicle abuse investigation,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 19, 2021, URL: https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-bans-faraway-treatment-programs-after-16325292.php

[59] https://nbc25news.com/news/state/former-lakeside-nursing-director-pleads-no-contest-in-student-death-case and https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/former-lakeside-nurse-sentenced-to-probation-for-teen-restraint-death/ar-AAOSAXP

[60] Desperation without Dignity – Conditions of Children Placed in For Profit Residential Facilities, National Disability Rights, October 2021, URL: https://www.ndrn.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/NDRN_Desperation_without_Dignity_October_2021.pdf

[61] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/former-lakeside-nurse-sentenced-to-probation-for-teen-restraint-death/ar-AAOSAXP

[62] https://dockets.justia.com/docket/michigan/miwdce/1:2021cv00848/102821

[63] https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/investigation-finds-albuquerque-facility-for-vulnerable-youth-had-years-of-abuse-allegations/ and https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/families-in-limbo-after-bernalillo-academy-announces-plan-to-close-its-doors/

[64] Goshay v Lakeside for Children, et al, case no. 1;21-cv-00848-RJJ-RSK, US District Court for Western District of Michigan, Southern Division, filed September 30, 2021.

[65] “NSI addresses high volume of emergency calls,” The Sheridan Press, May 30, 2017.  

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