This the History of and Reporting Guide for Diamond Ranch Academy in Hurricane, UT

(former address: 1500 E 2700 S, Hurricane, UT  current address: 433 South Diamond Ranch Parkway, Hurricane, UT)

 

THIS PROGRAM IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED AS OF AUGUST, 2023. [SOURCE ANNOUNCED JULY OF 2023 HERE: https://www.ksl.com/article/50686797/teen-treatment-facility-diamond-ranch-academy-closing-after-utah-denies-license-renewal ]

 

On this page you will find incomplete staff and complaint histories with sources cited (i.e. Progress Report), the general advisory against segregated congregate care with sources cited, and a reporting guide for those unlawfully harmed or firsthand witnesses to unlawful harm by or at this location to report violations of the law to the proper authorities/law enforcement.  The staff list itself will not be updated with additional names out of a sense of fairness where those providing the names ask for anonymity or confidentiality.  And, this program will remain eligible for merciful release if all criteria are met and no guest sermon is provided by a qualifying sponsor by that time.  In the meantime, it can graduate the COPE Conversion Program by meeting the Honesty In Marketing Standards (HIMS) or permanently close to be removed from the watch-list/released from the COPE Conversion Program.  If permanently closed prior to graduation or merciful release, it will be buried in the virtual graveyard.   

 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Dennis Mitchell Medical Director Mitchell has been with DRA since 2006.  There is only one Dennis Houston Mitchell licensed as a physician assistant, in Utah.  This may or may not be the same person.  Mitchell is not a licensed medical doctor nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jan Bills Nurse Janet A. Bills is a licensed Registered Nurse in Utah and has been since 1981.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Shawn Gierman (female) Admin Asst. Gierman holds no professional licenses in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Maurie Simons Admissions Simons is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Danny Borchardt Admissions Borchardt is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ricky Dias Program Director Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tayleigh Hann Campus Director Hann is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Melanie Fox Campus Director Fox is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Paul Taylor Asst. Campus Dir. HEAL requires Taylor's full name to verify whether or not he holds any professional licenses in Utah.
Brigham Mclaws Campus Director Mclaws is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Steve Feltner Transition Coordinator Feltner is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Travis Bentley Campus Director Bentley is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Bo Iverson Academic Director Iverson is a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Reeve Knighton Administrator Knighton is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mindy Rawlins Registration Rawlins is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Steve Force Teacher Force is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Jodie Franden Teacher Franden is a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Doug Heideman Teacher Heideman is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Jasson Hansen Teacher Hansen is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Ashley Riddle Teacher Riddle is a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Gary Dean Teacher There are two Gary Deans licensed as educators in Utah.  HEAL requires Dean's middle name for verification purposes. 
Geoff Myers Teacher Myers is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Jamie Harline Teacher Harline is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Gary Ferguson Teacher/ Ferguson is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Cory Fonnesbeck Special Ed. Fonnesbeck is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Sean Elsmore Academic Para Pro Elsmore is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Fotuopala'au Soliai Executive Director Soliai is a licensed clinical social worker and has been only since 2008.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ephraim Hanks Clinical Director Hanks is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since 2008.  Hanks is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been only since April, 2010.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kade Mathews Therapist Daniel Kade Mathews (may be a different person) is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since April, 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
M. Caleb Steele Therapist Michael Caleb Steele is a licensed clinical social worker and has been only since April, 2010.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Stuart Squires Therapist Squires is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Nathan Meng Therapist Karl Nathan Meng (may be a different person) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been since August, 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lorneta H. Ferguson Therapist Ferguson is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since 2006.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jan AuBuchon Instructor AuBuchon is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Rebecca Phillips Therapist HEAL requires Phillips middle name in order to verify licensure, if any.
Steven DeMille Therapist DeMille is licensed as an associate professional counselor only and has only been licensed since March, 2010.  DeMille also "earned" his degree at the University of Phoenix.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Joseph L. Keate Therapist Keate is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since July, 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jessica Clark Admin. Asst. HEAL requires Clark's full name/married name in order to verify any professional licensure in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Shane Johnson Supervisor (Isolation) Johnson is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html  This is a serious concern given Johnson's position in supervising the isolation unit.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires that mental health/medical professionals be in charge of and supervise any use of isolation. 
Paul Lauritzen Parent Coordinator Lauritzen is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Cody Fonnesbeck Case Manager Fonnesbeck is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
John D. Fullwood Medical Manager Fullwood is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Melissa Harrison Medical Technician Harrison is not a licensed medical professional in Utah.  HEAL requires Harrison's full name/married name to determine mental health or other professional licensing, if any.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Robbie Dias Athletic Director Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Betsy Kimber Asst. Athletic Dir. Kimber is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Cody Wardle Coach Wardle is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mckel Abbot Coach Abbott is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Bryce Zundel President/CFO Zundel is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  (Zundel is a certified public accountant) Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Rob Dias Founder/Owner Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Sheri Dias Executive Director Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Karma Lund Nurse Lund is a licensed practical nurse in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Danny Garcia Admin. Asst. HEAL does not typically due staff licensing checks on office staff because such positions do not usually require special licensure.
Lisette Caballero Admin. Asst. HEAL does not typically due staff licensing checks on office staff because such positions do not usually require special licensure.
Cheryl Sanger Accountant HEAL does not typically due staff licensing checks on office staff because such positions do not usually require special licensure.
Andrew Vance PR/Marketing HEAL does not typically due staff licensing checks on office staff because such positions do not usually require special licensure.
Addy Dias Admissions Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ian Abbott Admissions Counselor Abbott is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jordan Williams Teacher HEAL requires Williams' middle name in order to verify whether or not Williams' holds any educator licenses in UT.
Tim Gardner Teacher HEAL requires Gardner's middle name in order to verify whether or not Gardner's holds any educator licenses in UT.
Rod Peterson Art Teacher HEAL requires Rod's full first name in order to verify whether or not Rod holds any educator licenses in UT.
Elizabeth Smart Teacher Smart is a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education
Chad Huntsman Teacher Huntsman is a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education
Jessica Huntsman Teacher Huntsman is not a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education.
Andrew Durrant Teacher Durrant is not a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education.
C.Y. Roby Psychologist Carlos Y. Roby (may be a different person) is a licensed psychologist in Orem, UT and has been since 1983.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jake Roberts Nurse Jacob Roberts (may be a different person) is a licensed nurse in St. George, UT and has been since October, 2013.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jerome Eason Substance Abuse Jerome Eason is a licensed substance abuse disorder counselor in UT and has only been licensed since December, 2014 (less than a year).  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jonathon Parker Therapist Jonathon James Parker (may be a different person) is a licensed substance abuse counselor and clinical social worker in UT and has been since 2012.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Brent Holm Therapist Joseph Brent Holm Jr. (may be a different person) is a licensed clinical social worker in UT, BUT HAS ONLY BEEN LICENSED SINCE APRIL 7TH, 2015 (or for 2 weeks as of this posting).
Katie Soli Therapist Katie Ellen Soli is a licensed marriage and family therapist in UT and has been since June, 2012.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jared Jensen Therapist HEAL requires Jensen's middle name in order to verify whether or not Jensen holds any professional licenses in Utah.
Cassie Robinson Therapist Robinson is not a licensed mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Staci Sandvik Therapist Sandvik is solely licensed as a certified social worker and has only been licensed since October, 2013.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Stephen Howard Parent Coordinator Howard is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tyler Wright Program Director Wright is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Troy Spray Parent Communication Director Spray is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Trevor Thompson Program Director Thompson is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ashli Brown Program Director Brown is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Trevor Jenson Evening Director Jenson is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jace Jones Asst. Evening Director Jones is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Riley Dias Weekend Director Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Anthony Vanorden Asst. Weekend Dir. Vanorden is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Justine Peterson Art Teacher Peterson is a licensed teacher in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education.
Stephen Michaud Vocal Coach Michaud is not a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education.
Michael Michaud Character Coach Michaud is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html   Michaud is not a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education.
Brooks Wiley Admin. Med. Dir. Wiley is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Danny K. Worwood Med. Director Worwood is a licensed medical doctor in UT and has been since 2003.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Brittany Wright Admin. Med. Asst. Wright is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Nick Stucki Nurse Nicholas Earl Stucki (may be a different peson) is a licensed registered nurse in UT and has been since June, 2012.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Dr. Neely (no first name provided by program) Chiropractor Neely is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html  (There are no Neely's that hold chiropractic licenses in UT according to the licensing database.)
Braden Bangerter Med. Tech. Bangerter is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Christopher Rodeback Med. Tech Rodeback is a licensed nurse, BUT HAS ONLY BEEN LICENSED SINCE FEBRUARY, 2015.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lauren R. Paige Med. Tech. Lauren Paige Baird (may be a different person) is a licensed nurse in UT and has been since 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Nanette Jenson Esthitician
Name: NANETTE JENSON
City, State, Zip, Country: HURRICANE, UT 84737, UNITED STATES
Profession: COSMETOLOGY
License Type: MASTER ESTHETICIAN
License Number: 5042889-1109
Obtained By: GRANDFATHER CLAUSE - 08/2001
License Status: ACTIVE
Original Issue Date: 01/08/2002
Expiration Date: 09/30/2015
Agency and Disciplinary Action*: NONE
Docket Number: N/A

Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kayla Abbott Med. Tech. Abbott is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jayson Johns Athletic Coach Johns is not a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education.
Betsy Kimber Athletic Coach Kimber is not a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education.
Chad Holland Kitchen Staff Hollands is not a licensed dietician.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Josh Vidal Kitchen Staff Vidal is not a licensed dietician.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Zach Smith Kitchen Staff Smith is not a licensed dietician.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
     
     
     
THE TRUTH:

All segregated congregate care providers, including those on our watch-list, are welcome to contact us to correct any information or provide additional data that may assist with delivering the whole truth to the public.  The HEAL Mission of COPE (HEAL) found in many cases where this offer has been abused or resulted in revealing additional basis for our concerns. For some examples see feedback.  Now, we are willing to look at the facts and may have questions or require documentation backing up any claims.  We do verify licensing, academic backgrounds, and other qualifications when investigating and researching programs on our watch-lis/enrolled in the Conversion Program to assist consumers seeking additional information on such programs or victims requiring assistance with getting corroborating evidence of their claims.  We do that in order to make sure the information we provide is accurate and verified and cite our sources.  In the event any information we've posted is in error, we're happy to make a correction. 

HEAL does not support segregated congregate care for many reasons which include that many such facilities are abusive, exploitative, fraudulent, and lack effective oversight often as a result of fraudulent misrepresentation coupled with the ignorance of those seeking to enroll loved ones in such facilities, programs, schools, or centers without a valid court order and involuntarily.  In the United States such involuntary placements done without a court order are apparently illegal as they either violate the Americans with Disabilities Act community integration requirement or due process rights of those involuntarily placed.  Now, in regards to parents, in the United States parents have the right to waive their own rights, but, not the rights of their minor children.  See https://www.cope.church/legalarguments.htm for more information.  Now, most facilities on our watch list include waivers, indemnity clauses, and sworn statements legal guardians must sign assuring the program that the parents/legal guardians have the right to make the placement involuntarily and without due process in a segregated congregate care environment, however, California and federal prosecutors as well as settled law appears to suggest that is not the case.  In fact, in the David Taylor case found at https://www.cope.church/provocases.htm , Taylor sued Provo Canyon School and his mother as co-defendants.  His mother was found liable for 75% of the damages awarded to Taylor as a result of multiple complaints including false imprisonment, while the program was found only 25% liable because the mother owed a duty of due diligence to investigate anyone to which she would entrust care of her child and she failed to do so. 

Now, HEAL opposes segregated congregate care and we find most placements are happening illegally in the USA which if the youth understood their rights would result in unfortunate outcomes for the parents, particularly when they don't exercise good judgment and support the fraud and abuse rather than their own children when they need remedy and justice.  And, HEAL supports all victims of fraud and abuse in seeking remedies at law for any crimes or torts committed against them.  And, that's true whether or not the program or victims are in the USA. 

HEAL has a 5 point argument against segregated congregate care we'd like you to consider:

a.  Segregated care is unconstitutional and a civil rights violation.  It is only permissible if a person is unable to survive independent of an institutional environment.  For more on this, watch the HEAL Report at  https://youtu.be/C4NzhZc4P0A.  Or, see:   http://www.ada.gov/olmstead/  which includes in part:    "United States v. Florida – 1:12-cv-60460 – (S.D. Fla.) – On April 7, 2016, the United States filed an Opposition to the State of Florida’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.  In the Motion, the State had asked the Court to rule, on a variety of grounds, that the United States could not recover damages for unnecessarily institutionalized children to whom the State had been deliberately indifferent."

b.  Institutionalization is always dehumanizing and coercive.  Institutionalization always harms the institutionalized and deprives them of protected civil rights.  Dr. David Straker, Psychiatry Professor at Columbia University's School of Medicine (Ivy League) explains this in detail at http://changingminds.org/disciplines/sociology/articles/institutionalization.htm.  "Many institutions, from prisons to monasteries to asylums, deliberately want to control and manage their inmates such that they conform and do not cause problems. Even in less harsh environments, many of the institutionalization methods may be found, albeit in more moderated form (although the psychological effect can be equally devastating)."  (See website linked in this paragraph for more info.)

c.  Institutionalization is not in the best interest of children.  Institutions are not ever better for a child than living with a loving family.  Source:   http://www.unicef.org/cambodia/12681_23295.html       

d.  Reform schools, residential treatment programs, and other segregated congregate care settings have been shown to be ineffective and harmful.  Best source on this currently is:     https://www.acgov.org/probation/documents/EndoftheReformSchoolbyVinny.doc

e. Boarding Schools, even the "good ones", result in a form of social death, isolation, and cause both anxiety and depression.  Therefore, it is clearly not in the best interest of the youth subjected to those environments.  Sources: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun/08/boarding-school-syndrome-joy-schaverien-review and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/11662001/The-truth-about-boarding-school-syndrome.html

Beyond the above arguments against segregated congregate care, we have reports from the NIH, Surgeon General, Yale University Studies, and much more showing the methodologies of behavior modification are damaging, harmful, and ineffective.  You can request these documents via e-mail.  In addition, for such programs offering academic services or claiming to offer diplomas, certifications, or the like, it is important to check to see if it is a diploma mill with no accredited academic services.  Please see article: "Avoiding Scams: What You Need To Know"  for important information on how to avoid education/training scams.

If you'd like to see what HEAL suggests rather than segregated congregate care (i.e. committing a crime or tort against your child if done against their will without a court order), please see articles: "Fix Your Family, Help Your Teen" and "Emancipation Guide".
REPORTING GUIDE FOR VICTIMS, SURVIVORS, AND WHISTLEBLOWERS:
 
In Utah, the statutes of limitation do not apply to crimes against children that include sex offenses and human trafficking. There are no statutes of limitation on murder and kidnapping in Utah.  Other felonies have statutes of limitation ranging from 4 years to 8 years. Most misdemeanors in the state have a 2-year time limit. For civil suits in Utah, the statute of limitations is 4 years depending on cause of action. 

Options for you to take action and/or seek redress/justice today are listed below:

1.  Report crimes such as assault, fraud, battery, labor trafficking, and child abuse to law enforcement in Utah. You can call the Hurricane Police at (435) 627-4999  to inquire about filing an official complaint which may provide the probable cause needed to get a warrant for investigation and/or prosecution.  You may also wish to submit a concern to state regulators in charge of licensing Diamond Ranch Academy which you can do at this link: https://hslic.utah.gov/submit-a-concern

2.  File a consumer complaint with your home state's attorney general against Diamond Ranch Academy and include your request for compensation for any harm done to you.  If you live in Utah and/or would like to file consumer complaint as a non-resident with the Attorney General of Utah, visit: https://dcp.utah.gov/complaints.html .

3.  If you do not wish to file a consumer complaint, you can contact a private personal injury attorney and look into suing in tort/civil court.  However, if you can't afford the retainer, you should expect to settle out of court with a non-disclosure agreement which may bar you from speaking publicly about the incident because you've agreed (even if with a grumbling assent) to the terms of the settlement. 
 
4.  You may send a new e-mail to rev@cope.church with subject "Post My Feedback" and we will post your feedback (e-mail printed to .pdf disclosing your name and e-mail address and any information in your e-mail with that subject) to https://www.cope.church/feedback.htm  and add a direct link to those .pdf files to this page . 

 5. You may also wish to provide a guest sermon.  Guest sermons are posted at https://www.cope.church/sermons.htm , under Progress Reports/Guest Sermons at https://www.cope.church/conversion.htm where appropriate, and on program info pages when applicable.  So, one provided by you on your program would also be placed on this page .  Guest sermons should be written into the body of an e-mail and sent to rev@cope.church . Your first and last name will be disclosed (contact info will not be unless you expressly request disclosure).  For sermons available on our site see https://www.cope.church/sermons.htm  (and sermon archives linked on that page).  If you have questions about this option, please contact rev@cope.church. Please see https://www.cope.church/givetoday.pdf  to get an idea what your sermon may be worth.
Death @ DRA: James Richard Shirey died at Diamond Ranch Academy in January, 2009. 
Radio Show: BiPolar Nation LA Talk Radio Discusses Diamond Ranch Academy--March 18th, 2012 
Washington County Sheriff's Police Call/Report Dispatch Log Regarding Diamond Ranch Academy:

St George Consolidated Dispatch Center                     1073
23:05                        CAD Master Call Table                  Page:     1



 Record nu Call nature     Cal When Occured Earlie Cit
 --------- --------------- --- ------------------- ---
 C05-62745 911 Hang Up     l   16:45:40 12/25/2005 HUR
 C05-14463 911 Hang Up     l   12:26:15 03/31/2005 HUR
 C04-10653 911 Hang Up     l   07:53:12 03/21/2004 HUR
 C08-01672 Agency Assist   l   19:22:12 01/10/2008 HUR
 C04-50480 Agency Assist   l   14:26:11 12/06/2004 HUR
 C03-26954 Allergy-2       e   11:29:31 07/26/2003 HUR
 C11-19450 Assault-4       lf  20:32:18 04/09/2011 HUR
 C08-29781 Assault-4       l   14:52:39 06/06/2008 HUR
 C07-33800 Assault-4       l   11:31:14 06/27/2007 HUR
 C06-39830 Assault-4       l   11:08:36 08/09/2006 HUR
 C06-13267 Assault-4       l   12:34:35 03/20/2006 HUR
 C06-04130 Assault-4       l   09:27:09 01/26/2006 HUR
 C05-54807 Assault-4       l   13:39:05 11/07/2005 HUR
 C05-49983 Assault-4       l   15:41:16 10/11/2005 HUR
 C05-42915 Assault-4       l   11:03:56 09/01/2005 HUR
 C05-36171 Assault-4       l   08:38:03 07/27/2005 HUR
 C05-35736 Assault-4       le  14:01:13 07/24/2005 HUR
 C04-04909 Assault-4       l   21:00:28 02/08/2004 HUR
 C01-19969 Assault-4       l   11:20:42 06/18/2001 HUR
 C09-63646 Attempt-Locate  l   21:16:20 12/25/2009 HUR
 C02-29785 Attempt-Locate  l   06:43:35 08/30/2002 HUR
 C11-50690 Breathing-6     f   19:31:50 09/02/2011 HUR
 C05-05728 Breathing-6     lfe 08:34:08 02/07/2005 HUR
 C02-43935 Breathing-6     e   10:31:48 12/23/2002 HUR
 C02-34310 Breathing-6     e   14:03:25 10/03/2002 HUR
 C08-43750 Child Abuse/Neg l   16:44:25 08/19/2008 HUR
 C12-43671 Citizen Assist  l   22:40:40 07/21/2012 APP
 C08-03632 Citizen Assist  l   12:26:51 01/22/2008 HUR
 C04-46581 Citizen Assist  l   14:17:55 11/09/2004 HUR
 C01-24929 Citizen Assist  l   04:11:12 07/27/2001 HUR
 C11-03529 Crim Mischief   l   10:43:06 01/20/2011 HUR
 C06-51500 Disorderly      l   15:05:08 10/11/2006 HUR
 C02-01904 Drugs           l   15:52:43 01/17/2002 HUR
 C02-01903 Drugs           l   15:46:43 01/17/2002 HUR
 C09-56691 Extra Patrol    l   20:05:42 11/11/2009 HUR
 C11-35555 Fall-17         f   20:41:04 06/25/2011 HUR
 C09-27232 Fall-17         fe  06:26:38 06/01/2009 HUR
 C02-44216 Fall-17         le  22:09:23 12/25/2002 HUR
 C02-44212 Fall-17         le  21:30:10 12/25/2002 HUR
 C13-00967 Fire-Alarm      f   12:35:02 01/05/2013 HUR
 C13-00762 Fire-Alarm      f   13:49:06 01/04/2013 HUR
 C12-71340 Fire-Alarm      f   16:16:54 11/26/2012 HUR
 C06-60494 Fire-Other      lf  05:42:32 12/01/2006 HUR
 C08-23086 Found Child     l   08:50:04 05/02/2008 STG
 C02-26198 Found Property  l   09:22:21 08/01/2002 HUR
 C02-26108 Found Property  l   15:46:28 07/31/2002 HUR
 C02-25759 Hemorrhage-21   le  13:49:34 07/28/2002 HUR
 C06-56155 Information     l   12:24:57 11/06/2006 HUR
 C05-16817 Information     l   09:39:50 04/14/2005 HUR
 C05-14303 Information     l   12:43:53 03/30/2005 HUR
 C07-20698 Juvenile Prob   l   18:27:01 04/21/2007 STG
 C02-35623 Juvenile Prob   l   12:53:55 10/13/2002 HUR

02/20/13                  St George Consolidated Dispatch Center                     1073
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 Record nu Call nature     Cal When Occured Earlie Cit
 --------- --------------- --- ------------------- ---
 C11-35677 Missing Juvenil l   14:12:38 06/26/2011 HUR
 C08-23076 Missing Juvenil l   02:44:04 05/02/2008 HUR
 C07-50558 Missing Juvenil l   05:59:03 09/20/2007 HUR
 C11-37590 PD Accident     l   14:24:43 07/04/2011 NEW
 C07-46212 PD Accident     l   08:40:21 08/28/2007 HUR
 C03-09048 PD Accident     le  11:27:41 03/15/2003 HUR
 C02-20400 PD Accident     l   16:10:31 06/15/2002 HUR
 C08-11786 PI Accident-29  lfe 17:01:11 03/06/2008 HUR
 C01-19857 Psychiatric-25  le  11:17:02 06/17/2001 HUR
 C06-04187 Rape            l   15:10:05 01/26/2006 HUR
 C05-06385 Rape            l   09:54:28 02/11/2005 HUR
 C05-06293 Rape            l   15:44:27 02/10/2005 HUR
 C13-09038 Runaway Juvnile l   16:57:28 02/13/2013 HUR
 C12-70578 Runaway Juvnile l   15:38:26 11/22/2012 HUR
 C12-69888 Runaway Juvnile l   09:02:14 11/19/2012 HUR
 C12-58179 Runaway Juvnile l   08:28:04 09/25/2012 HUR
 C11-26818 Runaway Juvnile l   20:44:44 05/14/2011 HUR
 C10-42990 Runaway Juvnile l   22:22:47 09/02/2010 STG
 C10-06831 Runaway Juvnile l   19:26:01 02/11/2010 HUR
 C09-58476 Runaway Juvnile l   18:14:19 11/22/2009 HUR
 C06-56075 Runaway Juvnile l   22:03:32 11/05/2006 HUR
 C06-50909 Runaway Juvnile l   08:45:01 10/08/2006 HUR
 C06-50299 Runaway Juvnile l   07:52:46 10/05/2006 HUR
 C06-41517 Runaway Juvnile l   10:54:31 08/18/2006 HUR
 C06-24964 Runaway Juvnile l   05:22:27 05/21/2006 HUR
 C05-54705 Runaway Juvnile l   22:37:39 11/06/2005 HUR
 C05-54572 Runaway Juvnile l   21:03:44 11/05/2005 HUR
 C05-45608 Runaway Juvnile l   14:59:22 09/16/2005 ZAV
 C05-27757 Runaway Juvnile l   15:29:18 06/13/2005 HUR
 C05-13972 Runaway Juvnile l   15:53:33 03/28/2005 HUR
 C05-07137 Runaway Juvnile l   09:14:02 02/16/2005 HUR
 C05-06004 Runaway Juvnile l   19:34:32 02/08/2005 HUR
 C05-05829 Runaway Juvnile l   17:51:09 02/07/2005 TOQ
 C05-05730 Runaway Juvnile l   08:51:39 02/07/2005 HUR
 C04-52803 Runaway Juvnile l   19:35:50 12/21/2004 HUR
 C04-33192 Runaway Juvnile l   07:47:48 08/18/2004 HUR
 C04-32577 Runaway Juvnile l   05:49:11 08/14/2004 WAS
 C04-17346 Runaway Juvnile l   16:39:52 05/04/2004 HUR
 C02-07067 Runaway Juvnile l   22:53:10 03/01/2002 HUR
 C02-06458 Runaway Juvnile l   22:59:07 02/24/2002 HUR
 C01-38278 Runaway Juvnile l   07:35:48 11/11/2001 HUR
 C01-38276 Runaway Juvnile l   07:29:33 11/11/2001 HUR
 C01-20554 Runaway Juvnile l   22:22:44 06/22/2001 ZAV
 C01-20551 Runaway Juvnile l   22:16:18 06/22/2001 HUR
 C10-12830 Runaway Located l   08:03:21 03/18/2010 HUR
 C05-54744 Runaway Located l   08:07:46 11/07/2005 HUR
 C05-16541 Runaway Located l   16:44:04 04/12/2005 HUR
 C10-23439 Seizures-12     f   19:56:18 05/16/2010 HUR
 C10-00465 Seizures-12     fe  08:45:49 01/04/2010
 C03-30600 Seizures-12     e   11:58:27 08/25/2003 HUR
 C08-46661 Sex Offense     l   16:44:49 09/04/2008 HUR
 C03-18607 Sex Offense     l   08:58:29 05/26/2003 HUR

02/20/13                  St George Consolidated Dispatch Center                     1073
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 Record nu Call nature     Cal When Occured Earlie Cit
 --------- --------------- --- ------------------- ---
 C11-52493 Sickness-26     f   18:14:48 09/11/2011 HUR
 C04-31373 Sickness-26     le  17:32:07 08/06/2004 HUR
 C11-39471 Suicide Att-25  lf  00:00:48 07/13/2011 HUR
 C06-04991 Susp Other      l   15:02:36 01/31/2006 HUR
 C04-37106 Susp Other      l   23:38:33 09/11/2004 HUR
 C12-23978 Susp Vehicle    l   21:05:38 04/25/2012 HUR
 C10-12574 Susp Vehicle    l   20:30:08 03/16/2010 HUR
 C08-32903 Susp Vehicle    l   23:50:13 06/21/2008 HUR
 C05-47500 Theft-Felony    l   14:13:43 09/27/2005 HUR
 C09-57233 Theft-Misdemean l   21:13:25 11/14/2009 HUR
 C09-10330 Theft-Misdemean l   08:53:54 03/03/2009 HUR
 C08-13733 Theft-Misdemean l   09:44:33 03/17/2008 HUR
 C03-11219 Theft-Misdemean l   12:04:14 04/01/2003 HUR
 C03-14285 Theft-Vehicle   l   04:13:33 04/24/2003 HUR
 C12-12549 Threatening     l   21:35:26 03/03/2012 HUR
 C11-36416 Threatening     l   21:29:32 06/29/2011 HUR
 C11-28578 Threatening     l   14:53:11 05/23/2011 HUR
 C08-04040 Threatening     l   18:28:09 01/24/2008 HUR
 C08-03138 Threatening     l   09:53:16 01/19/2008 HUR
 C04-21895 Threatening     l   15:49:37 06/04/2004 HUR
 C10-19293 Tobacco Problem l   15:44:10 04/22/2010 HUR
 C03-21415 Traumatic-30    le  21:12:55 06/15/2003 HUR
 C03-06545 Traumatic-30    le  15:47:54 02/23/2003 HUR
 C02-41716 Traumatic-30    le  17:31:47 12/03/2002 HUR
 C02-16168 Traumatic-30    le  13:38:57 05/13/2002 HUR
 C03-19018 Trespassing     l   21:07:05 05/28/2003 HUR
 C09-01613 Unattend Death  lfe 16:16:56 01/10/2009 HUR
 C10-06493 Unconscious-31  lfe 21:55:52 02/09/2010 HUR
 C07-51670 Unconscious-31  lfe 19:12:59 09/25/2007
 C07-29365 Unconscious-31  lfe 20:15:22 06/04/2007 HUR
 C02-29398 Unconscious-31  e   20:33:44 08/26/2002 HUR
 C04-17268 Weapon Offense  l   01:29:25 05/04/2004 HUR
 C04-04781 Weapon Offense  l   20:11:31 02/07/2004 HUR
 C01-30330 Weapon Offense  l   21:47:34 09/08/2001 HUR
 C12-57313 Welfare Check   l   12:52:51 09/21/2012 HUR
 C11-26060 Welfare Check   l   10:50:12 05/11/2011 HUR
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Teens Call 'Academy' a Private Prison By JONNY BONNER  ShareThis        SALT LAKE CITY (CN) - A private prison that calls itself an academy locked up teenagers, "sadistically and verbally" beat them down, and forced them to go barefoot in winter, four teens claim in court.      Tyler Weber, Tracy Sarno, Janet Yelding and Janaye Kearns sued Diamond Ranch Academy on Dec. 3, in Federal Court.      They claim that Diamond Ranch, a self-styled "troubled teen" boarding, reform and alternative school, promised them a "supportive, safe, healthy, camp-like setting with regular and productive therapy/counseling."      Weber and Kearns separately attended Diamond Ranch. Sarno's and Yelding's experiences are not detailed in the lawsuit.      Weber and Kearns say they were forced to work in 100-degree weather without protection and insufficient water, deprived of shoes and sufficient clothing in winter, and repeatedly ordered to dig deep holes and refill them.      They claim they were kept awake until midnight and made to get up at 4:30 a.m., tackled and sat on by staff "for punishment for some perceived slight," and made to sit facing walls "for any reason or no reason."      "The staff sadistically and verbally beat down everyone, and the bullying was excessive," the 20-page complaint states. "Groups of captives were pitted against other groups for the amusement of staff. Although some staff members were more kind and helpful and willing to become friendly, they never mustered the courage to correct the sadistic staff members who enjoyed wielding the power over Mark and Devin, along with all of the others."      Parties listed in the complaint do not include a Mark or a Devin.      "At Diamond Ranch Academy, there was no forum for complaint, explanation, appeal, or grievance against the placement, before, during, or after it occurred," the complaint states. "The only option available to the hapless youth there confined was to 'fake it in order to make it,' for Diamond Ranch Academy is a lock down, closely guarded private prison, where punishments are harsh for any rule infraction, real or instigated by the Diamond Ranch Academy staff for their amusement."      The plaintiffs say Diamond Ranch's "extravagant fees fraudulently suggest great expertise and cloak its staff's minimal credentials and multiple mistakes.      A website from "Diamond Ranch Academy Survivors" (www.drasurvivors.com) harshly criticizes the place.      For example: "Diamond Ranch Academy is not a legitimate treatment facility and their methods are unethical, illegal and abusive. Please, do not send your child to Diamond Ranch Academy."      The site calls the "therapeutic" treatment program, based in Hurricane, Utah, "The Devil's Ranch," adding "Out in the middle of nowhere ... hot, desolate and miserable."The school did not respond to a request for comment.      Diamond Ranch states on its website: "Our students become their best selves in a structured elite private school environment with a personalized therapeutic approach."      The plaintiffs seek punitive damages for fraud, false imprisonment and child abuse.      They are represented by Thomas Burton.  Source: http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/12/08/teens-call-academy-a-private-prison.htm
Olympus Academy currently operates at the former Diamond Ranch Academy location at 1500 E 2700 S, Hurricane, UT.
Diamond Ranch Academy claims accreditation from NATSAP and the IECA, neither of which or licensed accreditation agencies.  Diamond Ranch Academy lies.

  diamond ranch academy--repeated epa violations!

Ref: SENF-W, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Docket. No. SDWA-08-2007-0047

 

"The above referenced public drinking water system (at Diamond Ranch Academy) has violated certain provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 42 U.S.C. Subsection 300f, et seq., and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations at 40 C.F.R. part 141.  The violations consist of failure to monitor for chlorine residual, nitrate, lead/copper, and total coliform, failure to provide public notice, and failure to notify the state of violations.  Our records, obtained from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, indicate the violations noted below. 

Date of Violation Violation
2006 Failure to monitor maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDL
2005 (monitor monthly, report quarterly, compliance based on annual averages)
2004 (   )
2006 Failure to monitor for nitrate
2006 Failure to monitor for lead/copper
2004  (  )
April 2006 Failure to monitor for total coliform bacteria
Sept. 2005 (  )
Nov. 2003 (  )
August 2005 Failure to take 5 additional routine total coliform samples
Feb. & Nov. 2004 after a total coliform positive sample the preceding month.
Oct. 2003 (  )
Oct. 2004 Maximum contaminant level exceedance for total coliform bacteria
2003-2005 Failure to provide public notice of violations
2003-2006 Failure to report violations to the State
ONGOING!!!  
 
SURVIVOR STATEMENT #2   [FEEDBACK] DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY PURSUANT TO 28 USCA 1746 I, ____Anonymous (verified)_____________, declare and state as follows: 1.   Diamond Ranch Academy 2.   Hurricane, Utah 3.   11/17/2007-9/26/2008 4.   They're coming back. All my bad memories are coming back. November 17th, 2007 5am. Confusion. Where were these strangers taking me? Looked to my parents for answers. But they're faces had none. All I saw was sadness from my mom and blankness from my dad. I remember getting in their care. Seeing my parents for the last time for 5 months. I remember both of their faces. At the airport confusion was still my main emotion. Where was I going? The only bit of information I knew was that I was going to "school". The plane ride was full of questions that the 2 transporters would not answer. They covered it up with food and drink offerings. I was neither hungry nor thirsty. We landed in Las Vegas. I was tired so I slept on the car ride to my destination. I remember waking up on a highway. Desert all over. I wasn't in Las Vegas. I was in Hurricane, Utah. Middle of nowhere. In the distance I could see assorted metal buildings. Not to compare my experiences with Nazi concentration camps but you will see many similarities throughout this passage. I felt as if I arrived at Berkanau. They tried to make the place look decent. It did from one view, and then you turn your head and its desert or weathered trees. I arrive at what was called the "blue house". Looked exactly as it sounded. I entered a small room and was sat down. "What's your name?" Asked a muscular assistant program director. "CJ Clark" I said. "Your real name" he asked getting tempered already. "Christian" I said. I was stripped of all my possessions except for my shoes and coat. I was told to remove my clothes. My clothes were then searched and I was made to turn around many times, naked, to make sure I had nothing on me. They provided with me a bright orange hoodie and sweat pants. You'd think that the desert is hot all year round. Not in winter. I was told I was to be sent to the first component of the program called "homeless". I was literally homeless. Outside all the time. Breakfast was oats. Not those brown sugary oats you would usually eat for breakfast. It was oats, water, and powdered milk. That's it. That was breakfast every day. Lunch and Dinner were always the same. Either undercooked or burnt rice and a bean called a lentil. That's it. 16 days of freezing winds outside every day. Also the homeless component contained the most rigorous physical training throughout the program. First day I arrived I was to run a mile straight. No walking at all. You walk you'll run longer. I hadn't run more than a few meters in years. First 1/2 a lap I was dying. My chest was burning. Very little oxygen was going into my brain.  My other companions in the component attempted to pep talk me to keep going. They were scolded and made to run more. There was no talking between anyone in this component. I staggered my way another 2 laps before just giving up. In this level of the program you had to pass 14 successful days. I failed my first day for this incident. The rest of this level was filled with 2 work projects a day. Out there in the freezing cold literally digging tracks for a new parking lot. I was a slave laborer. There was nothing I could do. The best part of my day was sleeping. The only rest I got. I looked forward to it every day. I completed my 14th successful on my 16th day. I had to make a fire out of a bow and some wood. I was then upgraded a level. I was now a student. I got to eat regular food. Not allot but it was somewhat normal. I got to go to school. It felt pretty good. Now think of this. Your life seems fucking amazing because you get to eat peanut butter and jelly instead of burnt rice. Your life is 10 times better because you now get to attend school. Regular school. While in the "inside" you were able to talk to other program students during very short time slots. During those all we talked about how we look forward to life on the outside. To see civilization again. Have a small piece of chocolate. Having the privilege to speak with your own family when you want. All these things were distant memories for us. When we weren't being terrorized by the simple fact of little contact with your family the staff had fun with your emotions. When you broke a rule you received a citation. Each cite is worth a certain amount of points which at the end of the week would add up and determine if we got put on what's called "unemployment". This was another component after school for kids that broke too many rules. You were to pull around a large cart everywhere you went. You did physical training just like you did in the first level. You were to sit silent in a room and work for hours on end. Back to playing with emotions. Staff had the power to cite anyone at anytime. So they played with you. Even if it was during a time where you were allowed to talk they would take that away. If you talked you were cited. Cites equaled a more miserable life. Even if you didn't break the rule they would cite you just to see you break down. They'll say this never happened but ask any kid that's been there. It happens all the time. And then there were the restraints. If you were out of line a staff could take you down and bend your wrist behind your back and apply pressure to "calm you down". If you have never been in a bent wrist control hold basically it sucks. But then there were the kids that couldn't help their actions. Mentally retarded kids aged 12, 13, and 14. I recount a student that was autistic. Very nice and caring kid. 13 years old. But couldn't control his anger and energy. He has his outbursts and he was cranked just like anyone else. Except he got it way more than regular kids. He had a handicap. HE COULDN'T HELP IT. And yet he was still made to run and taken down when he thought he was not doing anything bad. Think about this. Think of a brother, cousin, friend that has a mental handicap. Put him in a situation with nothing to look forward to. Always being run and restrained. Little contact with his family. I can't imagine. I've witnessed kids being emotionally terrorized by staff. I remember and instance where everyone was to partake in what was called an amnesty. We were to write down everything we'd done wrong or witnessed someone else do something wrong. Every director was there. These people had control of your life. We were given strict instructions not to look up from our paper. There was a 13 years old kid that got to see his parents for the first time in 5 months later that day. He looked to the left for 2 seconds. He was yelled at. The program director said that his visit was cancelled. He would not be able to see his parents for another long while. He straight up cried in front of everyone. Nobody came to comfort him. He was alone. We were all alone. Take a look at their website: http://www.diamondranchacademy.com 90 percent of what is on that site is a lie. Ask me anything about it. It's most likely a manipulative try to get the parents' money. Everyone all I can say is do your best. Don't get sent away. Don't go through what I did. You can prevent it.             I give HEAL permission to use this statement.  I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.  Executed on __May 5th_________________, 2009.                                                                             ________________________________                                                                         Anonymous (Click here to contact the author!)                                                                                                                     PRIVATE                                                                         SPECIAL NOTE:  Statute does not require notary.
SURVIVOR STATEMENT #3 [FEEDBACK] DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY PURSUANT TO 28 USCA 1746                 I, [private] declare and state as follows: 1.   Diamond Ranch Academy 2.   Hurricane, Utah 3.   March 19, 2007 – December 19, 2007 4.   I too have had an awful experience in my  nine month stay at Diamond Ranch Academy, located in Hurricane Utah. This is a very difficult subject and a very negative time in my life and is hard to talk about. I will fill you in on the details as much as I can remember.  My family told me that I would be going to look at a boarding school and decide if I wanted to stay. I have always lived in British Columbia, Canada and I had no idea what a "program" was. I arrived for my tour at D.R.A on March 19, 2007. While getting my tour of the ranch, I decided that I didn't like it. I guess my family had already signed the papers and the staff were telling me I had no choice. It was so heartbreaking to hear that you can't leave with your parents. I couldn't believe these people were telling me that I couldn't leave. They held me while I watched my family drive down the 2 mile dirt road. This was just the beginning. They took me to the "blue house" and proceeded to yank out my nose ring, my earrings. They took away all my belongings and told me to strip down. This was so violating. Being a virgin, I have never let anyone see me naked. I felt so violated during the strip search. I remember just standing there crying my eyes out and the staff just standing there... they didn't care.They told me that if I behaved properly that everything would be okay. I was so scared, that I could barely function. I couldn't believe what was happening. I was then taken over to the boys campus where the nurse's station was located. They told me that in order to stay that I would need to give a blood sample. When I was younger I had a bad experience with a needle when I was in the hospital, so i was terrified. I told them that i didn't feel comfortable giving them my blood. The nurse (a 250 pound man) told me that: "We could do this the easy way, or the hard way". Still refusing he called in another woman and another male staff to have me restrained. In which I was sat on, held down and unwillingly had my blood drawn. This was so traumatizing. In the first level called "homeless" we weren't allowed any rights. We had to raise our hand for everything. I got in trouble a couple of times because I put on lip chap without asking. We had to sit cross legged for hours on the cement working on silly projects. We were given oats (water and oatmeal) and fruit for breakfast. For lunch we had rice and lentils and dinner was rice and lentils. We were given a 4L Milk jug that was filled up with tap water daily that we were forced to drink, yet we could only go to the outhouse a few times a day when they felt like taking us. I know of 4 girls that had urinated themselves because a staff member wouldn't allow them to use the washroom. If you didn't do what you were told you had to do "energy release". This is where Ricky Dias could make you run up and down a field for 3 hours in the scorching hot sun with no water. I remember Ricky Dias yelling at a girl for not getting out of the shower on time the night before. He told this girl that if it happened again tonight he would: "Rip her out of the shower by her hair naked." You weren't allowed to talk to your parents for the first couple of weeks. You were completely isolated and unable to talk to anyone. The homeless staff would humiliate you in front of others and made me feel worthless. I felt like a horrible person and I began to believe what they told me. I 100 percent believe that Diamond Ranch Academy is a brainwashing scam. Thankfully I was only in that Homeless level for 20 days. Things get a little bit better once you are no longer in the "homeless component''. Once inside you could write a 1 post card to your parents Monday-Friday. You were given a 30 minute phone call every 2 weeks with your parents. You couldn't talk to your friends or other family. If you told them anything negative in either the phone call or postcard you were in huge trouble. Usually resulting in being dropped a level which made you stay for another 2 weeks. It was considered "manipulation" to tell your parents that you want to go home. I couldn't even tell my mom that I missed her. To make a miserable long story short; I faked the entire program to get out earlier. I sucked up to every single staff and made sure that they loved me. I was also encouraged to "tell" on other girls when they were doing something they shouldn't. This looked really good if you told on other girls. I graduated after 9 long months and went home in December 2007. I did okay for about a week after being home and then relapsed. I don't even have words to express how much anger and hatred I have towards all the staff of DRA and the program. For the past 2 years now I have at least 1 nightmare a week about being at DRA. I have developed such harsh anxiety and have even been medicated because of it. I would have a panic attack if I thought about DRA or after a nightmare. It is very difficult to live with. I HIGHLY discourage anyone from sending their kids to a program. They may look like they have changed, but it is out of fear. I give HEAL permission to use this statement.  I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.  Executed on May 13, 2009                                                                             ________________________________                                                                         Anonymous (We have verified this person and their statement.  If you'd like information or to contact them you can do so by sending HEAL a request that we will forward to the author.  NO ABUSIVE OR DISRESPECTFUL MESSAGES WILL BE FWD'D!)                                                                         PRIVATE                                                                         PRIVATE                                                                         SPECIAL NOTE:  STATUTE DOES                                                                         NOT REQUIRE NOTARY]  
SURVIVOR STATEMENT #4 [FEEDBACK] DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY PURSUANT TO 28 USCA 1746                 I, _____ Aaron [Private]_____________, declare and state as follows: 1.   [NAME OF PROGRAM]..Diamond Ranch Academy        2.   [LOCATION OF PROGRAM] Hurricane Utah 3.   [PERIOD OF INTERNMENT  MM/YY TO MM/YY] 6/23/06-12-23-07 4.   [DECLARATIVE   STATEMENT] Yes  Living with the ghosts--a donation to the present and future    There I am torn from reality into a pseudo-society which my dog gets better treatment then these people.  I have eaten out of a bright metal bowl on the ground while Utah thunderstorms shed ounces of water into my 16 oz of barely thawed out rice.  Slowly and slowly I started to realize how much I had changed from a hard drug addict to a Brainwashed cult member. Being locked in a 450 square foot white cinderblock room hopeless while I am seriously wishing I was in jail where I can be myself. Everywhere I went they went single file without a word being spoken. Many nights I remember crawling in my bed with drops of urine on my sheets from a top bunk that had a teenager with a bladder issue.  I found myself at times in a shower that had feces in it from a teen in my family of 10 who did not belong at a tough love facility... Adding to the issue there where a lack of nursing for anything. All types and sorts where sent to this tough love camp, anywhere between children dealing with family lose to gang members Aged 12-17 ½.  I didn’t see my parents for 7 months at a time. That was against the law so they had to make an exception.   Therapy was meaningless and most of the time was overlooked here you can see myself with my therapist. The kid who did all that on my mattress is in the green.(http://www.diamondranchacademy.com/therapy/therapeutic-program.php)They legally have to take you out once a week to speak with you and once every two weeks you can call your parents. In this picture my therapist decided to double up sessions to accommodate the increase in people. When this happened the normal 8 beds per dorm maximum turned into 8 people in bunks and six on the floor. Not to get into more detail about malpractice I can recall a therapist being fired for an “issue” with a girl. No one said anything and the girl got pulled from the program. Obviously something happened.  A lot of this went on daily the thing is in the middle of nowhere next to a polygamist colony no one really cares.   They had a system of cites which was a alternative of punishment. I ended up with over 365 or pieces of paper each paper for a different thing I did wrong one week. That’s how much I stopped caring and ended up being sent to homeless for a good 7 months of my program. This was there hardest form of punishment which had happened to be the first part of the program. I had a lot of exercise a lot of rice a lot of punishment. When they are bored at 3 am and want to torment someone you get sent out at 3 am in the morning. In the middle of winter for things as little as sharing food you would receive this.  I lost over 10 pounds of muscle all my body fat and due to the fact I was always sitting Indian style I have herniated l4 and l5 discs. I was involved in and everything that functioned there and pretty much helped out at every job.  I knew how they worked and it pissed them off that I knew that they lied to my parents that I was losing weight naturally. Go ahead and put fat camps out of work if you must but this is more like a concentration camp. I would try and write home or tell my parents how I felt on the phone but the more I let out the truth the more they hung up or tore up my postcards.  Check this out though this is the most important factor of the program.  If you write your parents your being abused they rip it up.   I have seen a male physically restrain a girl while she screamed for him to get off her and started crying from the amount of force he applied to the restraint. WHERE WAS THE FEMALE STAFF HMM? Sounds FOXY to me.   I have seen friends restrained in urine while urinating due to lack of bathroom and being forced to drink a gallon of water daily. Obviously they told you when you can speak, eat, sleep, turn you head to look, use the bathroom. The worst part out of everything was the rice and lentils. I would go days without any nutrients. There is mold all over the ceilings above the kitchen. When you stole staff food you would be forced to eat food with nothing but rice soaked in pickle juice and sauerkraut. They even went as far to soak oatmeal in hot pickle juice. It was so acidic kids where throwing up and I would get a bowl down and try to not throw up. Yet the thing is they made rules like if one person stole food in homeless they would make everyone suffer. That’s called blanket punishment so I gave up and stopped eating sauerkraut.  After being threatened to be restrained for 30 minutes and have a fat feeding needle stuck in my arm I had a bowl of sauerkraut a day to keep the needle away. The third week there I received serious food poisoning from rice that had hand sanitizer snuck into it by a deranged kitchen staff. He was making food unsupervised at snuck behind the camera.  So the cooks leave at night and leave the cooking up to the kids. Most of the teens did the work due to that fact. You can find proof that they let 13 year olds handle and manage large amounts of food without any certifications or permits after they fed “fresh” food to goats.  Hands and dishes never washed.  Out of everything that pissed me off I find that the place ends up taking in the teens and baptizing them into a LDS and this is with the family that owns the place. There is no limit to what the family would do. One time I tried to tell a parent and her son not to come here and was lectured on how I should express those feelings to her directly. So if reading this and trying to figure out this place get in touch with any kid and ask did you enjoy it.   As far as dorms go nasty beds that have been used from 2002 have holes dust mites and 90% have urine and other fluids on them. Mold in the pipes no hot water at night unless its summer. 5 minute showers without soap sometimes. Other malpractices include hiding bedding when state inspection comes. I have spoken with state inspection but they seem to give three craps in the wind what I had to say. There have seen combinations of cocktails given to recovering minds such as high doses of three different psychotropic mood controllers and high doses of amphetamine based medication while taking a benzodiazepine. . In the morning we would be forced to take medication and eat food which had no nutritional value. Lucky me I had been given only one anti depressant. There was this big book that had all our names in it that we would sign with our name next to the medication we took. Sometimes I would catch of others pages. It seemed to me they loved giving out lithium for about everything.    Early one day I witnessed a child have the most intense panic attack I ever have seen. The kid told us he had been raped beaten and abused his whole life the staff knew this and yet he had to pull a cart by himself while we watched when he snapped they had four staff one per limb towards breaking point. Not the kind of treatment someone with that emotional baggage deserves. With knees on the back of his neck, and being PINCHED on every pressure point the fifteen year old had. This also was the most distraught I have ever seen someone yet he still managed to barely breathe. I have over 30 different voices screaming out that echo in my mind from this treatment. I can recall my first day in the beginning stage where I was sent face down into lava rocks by the programs owner son, yet there was grass next to the lava. I thought to myself later on in the program what I had gotten my first day beats getting your arm broken like a thirteen year old 90 pound sixth grader did for not obeying program structure. Who did this didn’t believe the 13 year old child and forced him do psychical exercise with a broken arm. Then when the kid started crying, he was forced to do something else other and then forced to keep running. Who may ever send your child here this place is filled with deception (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=381747488&albumID=1143602&imageID=17232469) The kids are told to smile and that’s  are places/websites you can look up there so many cover ups and the staffs past which include but not limited to resisting arrest dealing and hard drug usage.  The family uses this place as a front for stealing at the damage to many young struggling individuals. My family is in debt over 100,000. The things I’ve come forward about will help close doors that have been open too long and I will not rest tell this is my gone to an end. There will be more of these letters as I am very connected with lifelong friends who suffered here. There will be others including staff willing to aid in this effort. I added personal links of pictures due to my creditability based on the facts I have.   It is great to read a letter of one of my homeless students (homeless is the beginning) I had mentored at the end of my program.  I am grateful for a website such as this and will do all in my power to make the best description. Please understand this is an account of over a year and a half of my life. http://www.diamondranchacademy.com/program/testimonials.php  They believe that there 49 percent of my custody during 6/21/06-12/21/07 “ENTITLES” them to any picture taken or letters written of or by me. I am still on DRA’s website .I called the family to take me off from a unblocked number giving my name. Yet they still have my name and a few pictures. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT -THAT’S WHAT YOU TOLD ME-PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVE SUFFERED UNDER THE CARE OF DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY.             I give HEAL permission to use this statement.  I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.  Executed on ___July 20th________________, 2009.                                                                             ________________________________                                                                         Aaron [Private]                                                                         [PRIVATE]                                                                         [PRIVATE]                                                                         [E-MAIL]                                                                         SPECIAL NOTE:  STATUTE DOES                                                                         NOT REQUIRE NOTARY]
SURVIVOR STATEMENT #5 [FEEDBACK] DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY PURSUANT TO 28 USCA 1746                 I, _____ [Anonymous]_____________, declare and state as follows: 1.   [Dra].. 2.   [Dra, Apple valley,St george Ut] 3.   [april 14-feb 12] 4.   [To inform others of the hidden truth behind the scenes]             I give HEAL permission to use this statement.  I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.  Executed on  September 28, 2009.                                                                             ________________________________                                                                         [Anonymous]                                                                         [PRIVATE]                                                                         [PRIVATE]                                                                         [PRIVATE]                                                                         SPECIAL NOTE:  STATUTE DOES                                                                         NOT REQUIRE NOTARY]                                                                         Please don’t call or put my personal info on site including my address   (Dra, Apple Valley;st george, apr14-Feb12,)   I want to remain anonymous   Diamond Ranch Academy exposed Ok bear with me everyone. Im sorry if any information is scattered but please just read all of it,Thank you. It started april 12 2009 I was driving down the road in St george. I was looking for somewhere to get caught up in school.My parents and I went to go check out this place they said they could me caught up in school so I took their word for it.They sat my parents down and told them that it was a good school and it would get me caugh up in school they said it was a boarding school not a rehab I knew their were drug addicts there but they made it seem like a school.I wouldnt have went there if I knew all their rules they don't fill you in on any of these until you parents signed documents you had to be there for 10 months some 12. I think it is unjust because some people can get their problems fixed in under 10 months. With that in mind I went in with a positive attitude and was their for school only, but Dra they took all my freedoms away besides getting food and water they strip you your first day. Im a good girl, Im already mormon but they violate that when they leave the door open when your taking a shower in the homeless program.I broke down crying because I didn't know it was a lockdown and nobody would talk to me. My staff that night told other staff I was going to run away because I was breaking down.They put me on run watch and took me shoes and put me in flip flops for 3 weeks.Its all apart of their drama scheme they actually live off drama there the staff they hire at least.I learned this after being there staff would make fun of girls as well especially if they were homeless they'd call you girl in orange and tell you tobe positive or you'd stay in homeless longer. They treated you badly I had a panic attack a few times One staff walked in the lunch room one day and was like I don't feel bad for any of you I read your papers. Dra automatically treats girls like they are below you by eating good food in front of you and teased us about it daily they were happy when they treated us like lower humans.I will not dramatize this but I want to make it known there is some things to look into at dra that are yet to be exposed.I can't begin because you have to "see for yourself" they have a clan of people working to make money for them and are using teens to serve as a purpose to do so. At 18 I signed out and I chose to be homeless for a few days and lived in the mountains,but I survived because I went into town and a lady at Maverick asked me whats wrong.I told her everything and she said look you need to have a home and I dont want to see you on the streets.I told her "ok but I can't go back to Dra,I didn't like the way it made me feel" When I got to her house she treated me far better even as a stranger she didn't treat me like I was in a rehab I was very nice, and I let her know I wouldn't steal from her she clothed me properly and told me her house is open and her kitchen and let me take a shower. At dra they don't respect you as nice as the lady I met at maverick, they automatically think your going to steal and just do everything bad,they need to change the way the operate because it won't be successful if they think something like were going to steal it's bound to happen.That's how they operated they used all their rules to make it seem effective but it backfired if someone broke one they'd add like 2 more rules everytime.Its based on scare tactics the staff actually yells at you I repeat yells at you even when working out or at dinners(everywhere). Even when I was ready to leave they wouldn't let me go they got me to come back after I legally signed out on my 18th birthday.They even got the head staff cody to come looking for me to give me their contact card to come back.He told me and the lady who took me in that he'd buy me dinner.Instead he dropped me off at this hotel that I couldn't even get into. Yes the lady was blown out of her mind how cruel and uncaring these people were.She told me to stay with her and I did until I stayed in a motel for a couple days refusing to go back.Well I called his number after because my family told me to and he Manipulated me by saying you can leave in 3 weeks if you come back. Though they lied I was there longer for like 5 weeks longer then I was suppose to. Well after I got my ged my only way out I had a recognition February 13th. ( 2 months after my birthday)   Which brings me to another subject abuse was huge at Dra mentally,verbally,physically.  If you didn't participate they'd say what don't yo want to leave?Whats the matter with you? Do army crawl, do 50 man pushups ,when I say down down.They use their power for control over us they know we can't leave when we first get in so they use their power to push us around. As aggressive as they were I remember countless times they restrained girls for no reason one girl didn't want to go to homeless and the staff cody grabbed her wrists and yelled at her then shoved her into the cart, so she hit him after, but it was provoked . Well for me I did what I could I had to put on a show that's what Dra teaches you tell on other girls, say you love the place, never tell your parents the truth if you said you hated it and told them anything negative they end your phone call.If they were real honest to goodness program they wouldn't care what children told their parents even if it wasn't good. They are trying so hard to look good that it' actually backfired there is now groups on facebook not rallying against it but they are voicing their opinions about the abuse.Dra needs to be shutdown sometime it is getting more powerful though so we need as much help as possible to help us.It is not a way to rebell I really feel like this program abuses kids when their purpose is to get kids off drugs it actually abuses them in the process which might trigger their relapse and feelings they play too many mind games and deny us of fresh water. Please Go to http://www.heal-online.org/diamond.htm Well I never had tried drugs alcohol smoking or taken part in anything sexual.I know that it's not all their fault that girls relapse but they would even let girls listen to songs about weed and M.I.A's drug songs this was the Girls campus head staff "Brigham". They let the girls on the basketball team hear lyrics about drugs in a rehab...that should be forbidden.Once again staff didn't follow the rules so there was not a good example for girls there.They have staff who've committed felonies,been in jail,sold drugs, even our first homeless staff amber was a heavy alcoholic,and partier.A homeless staff! You could tell by looking at her and they would hire anyone to work for them.Even obese ladies and woman who use to be drug addicts and still were. Let me tell you there were some good things I weighed 118 when I left I looked like a rail who hadn't eaten much and had all her portions under control and much excersise.I learned that I can do bootcamp hard things but life is not this way.It was a real transition program Well I had a panic attack a few times and the least they could do was send me to homeless.After crying being in the bathroom saying I want to go home and shaking and shaking.I couldn't help it I was losing my mind I believe.Well a staff was called to my doorm and his name was Bryant he told me Id have to get up im like no im staying here.He said well you need to go to bed I was like I can't stop shaking.He says why Im 'like I don't know Bryant I don't know.He replied "well I'm going to have to restrain you if you don' get up,"They then radioed staff and 1 mean staff from guys side I will tell you his name once I remember it(THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED) This man was escorted with a nurse into my doorm they took me to the med closet and were like I'll give you benadryl..and I said I don't want it I just want to go to the hospital. I knew I needed medical attention since I was having a severe panic attack.Anyway they looked at me like I'm just trying to help and I said i'm sorry I just don't want medication.Well the man yelled at me and threatened to restrain me and put me on my bed,so he threatened to touch me and force me on my bed and go to bed. He told me I was a "waste of their time and also faking this whole thing and stop playing games."Well I wasn't it was a panic attack and Dra doesn't care if your out of breath or shaking he also told me not to have another panic attack again. It was a haunting expirience I was scared and forced to lay on my bed,but I was still shaking. (This was 1 of my 3 panic attacks at dra also keep in mind I hadn't had one for 3 years) So they resisted to give me medical attention at the hospital.This is what they did, and theres even been a death in January 2009, because they denied to give a student medical attention all happening in 2009. Its not a good place to send kids for that reason. For me My bad habits started after going here I never did a drug tasted alcohol anything even sex!Well 4 months after my depart of Dra I went to my first rave in June and tried ecstasy and cigarettes and hung out with addicts who've done heroin and were heavy boomers.I know I never would have done this but in a way it actually reminded me of Dra.They talked about drugs in good ways and I wanted to try it.It didn't stop I also went to another rave In august and did ecstasy with coke.I can't and won't  do that anymore still I believe dra had alot to do with my curiosity.I tell you this because I've actually been to a rehab before when I was 12 but it was for anger issues not drugs or anything else.I can honestly say they dont help your kids, everyone I know has either relapsed or worse and I was the girl who never tried sex,drugs,alcohol,or anything at all before Dra.Now I am alot more expirienced when it comes to substances. I went to Dra to get caught up in school I was 1 year and a half behind I actually saw it online.They don't tell you a thing about it until your locked down and physically prevented from leaving.That place is electrically fenced and surrounded with water making it a harsh environment if a Kid actually did run away and succeed he'd die. Thank you for your time, but I do want to say it made me very skinny I highly believe this program produces eating disorders our portions were sometimes smaller then a fist.
Diamond Ranch Academy is being sued.  The suit was filed in 2016 regarding the suicide death of a youth in their care.  Click here to read the complaint.
Sexual Assaults at Diamond Ranch Academy By Craig VernonJuly 26, 20170 Comments/ CONTACT: Craig Vernon, attorney, cvernon@jvwlaw.net; (208) 667-0683 or cell (208) 691-2768 Wes Larsen, attorney, wes@jvwlaw.net; (208) 667-0683 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sexual Assaults at Diamond Ranch Academy A lawsuit filed today seeks to uncover why a Diamond Ranch Academy therapist repeatedly sexually assaulted teenage girls inside his office WHAT: Press conference where teenage survivor of sexual assault, her mother and their attorneys will discuss the lawsuit against Diamond Ranch Academy. Laura Wilkin and her daughter Hannah, who reside in Arkansas, will discuss the sexual assaults, betrayal of trust and broken promises. WHO: Laura Wilkin, her daughter, Hannah Wilkin, and Attorneys Craig Vernon and Wes Larsen (Utah State Bar No. 14572) WHEN: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 11:00 am Mountain Time WHERE: Courtyard by Marriott 185 S. 1470 East, St. George, Utah 84790 DETAILS: (July 25, 2017 – St. George, Utah) A lawsuit was filed this afternoon against Diamond Ranch Academy (“DRA”), a therapeutic boarding school and treatment center for troubled teenagers in Hurricane, Utah, by a victim of child sexual abuse and her parents, seeking answers to why these sexual assaults happened. Why was a DRA therapist allowed to cover the windows of his office while he sexually assaulted teenage girls? Was this allowed at DRA? If not, why didn’t anyone at DRA do something when they saw the windows covered during these so called “therapy sessions”? And why didn’t DRA report the abuse to the local authorities after the girls reported it to DRA management? The lawsuit was filed by Laura and Timothy Wilkin, residents of Arkansas, on behalf of their minor daughter, Hannah. According to the lawsuit, the DRA therapist sexually groomed, molested and assaulted Hannah Wilkin starting in April of 2016 until May of 2016. The DRA therapist, Troy Ammon Carter, used his position of power and authority to prey upon the young girl. According to the lawsuit, Carter disparaged Hannah’s relationship with her parents in order to win her trust; disclosed confidential information to Hannah about her parents; made inappropriate comments to Hannah regarding her apparel and physical appearance; asked Hannah for details about her sex life and the sexual activities she was interested in; disclosed details of his own sex life to Hannah; told Hannah about inappropriate dreams he had about her, and that he had a crush on her; and straddled Hannah from behind while she laid on a couch in his office, unhooked her bra, and massaged her back, upper buttocks, and upper pelvic area skin-on-skin. Carter also allegedly pretended to have a chiropractic license and performed chiropractic adjustments on the minor Hannah. According to the lawsuit, Carter was terminated by DRA in May of 2016 for inappropriate physical contact with a different girl who was also his therapy patient, and Hannah Wilkin came forward about her own abuse shortly thereafter. The Wilkins’ lawsuit further alleges that prior to Carter’s abuse of these teenage girls, Carter signed a document at DRA’s request agreeing to not have physical contact with the teenagers in DRA’s care; furthermore, Carter had been reprimanded for inappropriate physical contact with several teenage boys in the school’s cafeteria. Attorney Craig Vernon expressed frustration at what he termed DRA’s “turning a blind eye to the obvious warning signs” that Carter exhibited prior to abusing Hannah and the other unnamed girl. “DRA had already reprimanded Carter for inappropriately touching students, but did nothing to protect these vulnerable girls, who were isolated and far away from their families.” Attorney Wes Larsen notes, “If DRA really cared about its students’ safety, it would have terminated Carter, put him on leave, or at least supervised him after the cafeteria incident. But for whatever reason, DRA chose to do nothing. DRA put other interests ahead of protecting the already-vulnerable kids within its care.” Attorney Vernon comments that “not only did DRA not terminate Carter following inappropriate conduct, it allowed him to put paper over the windows of his office where he sexually assaulted Hannah and the other girl during these so-called counseling sessions. DRA literally allowed Carter to cover up the sexual assaults while they happened.” According to Timothy Wilkin, “Our family was under significant stress when we enrolled Hannah at DRA. We, and our daughter, turned to DRA for help based on the services they offered, their location, facilities and the claims made in their professional marketing materials. DRA completely violated our trust and turned this into our worst nightmare.” Hannah Wilkin expressed concern that other children had been or could be abused by Carter and predators like him who work at therapeutic boarding schools like DRA: “I just don’t want what happened to me to happen to other kids. We enroll at DRA to get help with the problems life throws at us, not to get molested by the counselor DRA assigns to us.” About James, Vernon & Weeks, P.A.: James, Vernon & Weeks, P.A. is a nationally-recognized law firm of the nation’s leading lawyers in the field of child sex abuse. See www.jvwlaw.net for more information on attorneys Craig Vernon and Wes Larsen. Download the Complaints here.  Source: http://jvwlaw.net/sexual-assaults-at-diamond-ranch-academy/
Diamond Ranch Academy is sued after a therapist is accused of sexually abusing teen student By TIFFANY FRANDSEN | The Salt Lake Tribune First Published Jul 28 2017 05:42PM    •    Last Updated Jul 29 2017 01:19 pm Share This Article An Arkansas couple on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in Utah against a Hurricane ranch for troubled teens, alleging that a therapist sexually assaulted their then-16-year-old daughter last year. A therapist employed by Diamond Ranch Academy touched the teenager inappropriately, asked her for details about her sexual interests and told her about his sex life in April and May of 2016, according to the lawsuit filed in 5th District Court. The teenager enrolled in the academy and lived on the campus from March to October 2016, according to the suit. Diamond Ranch declined to comment on the lawsuit. Students are "assigned an individual therapist" to attend to their behavioral development, according to the school's website. The defendant was assigned to be her mental health counselor and therapist in April, less than two months after he received his license, the suit states. When hired, the therapist signed an agreement to not touch students. In addition to the alleged inappropriate touching and conversation, the defendant disparaged the teen's relationship with her parents, described dreams he had about her, gave her massages and told her he had a crush on her, the lawsuit states. Therapists at the academy are allowed to put paper over the windows in their offices for patient privacy, creating, the lawsuit alleges, "a perfect environment in which sexual grooming and sexual abuse could occur." x A different female student accused the therapist of "inappropriate physical contact" in May, and he was fired. After hearing about the abuse of her fellow student, the teenager told an academy staff member about her story of abuse, the suit says, but the employee didn't report it to law enforcement. The lawsuit alleges that the teenager was told by a staff member to renege her story and tell law enforcement that she had lied about the abuse. The teen remained at the school until October. Communication with her parents was limited while the girl attended Diamond Ranch Academy, the lawsuit states. Students are allowed to talk to their family once a week, during a session supervised by a therapist. If a student has something negative to say about the academy, he or she would have to say it in the presence of a therapist, the lawsuit stated. Students can write letters and emails, but those are routed through the academy. In-person visits are awarded to students, but they are limited. The parents request in the lawsuit that the academy post on its home page the names of anyone associated with the ranch — past or present — who is a known sexual abuser or offender. They asked for the academy to pay for two years' worth of mental health treatment for anyone sexually abused by an employee of the academy. The parents also want the academy to fund independent workshops that detail anything that allowed sexual assault at the academy, what has been done to prevent future abuse and ways to protect children from sexual predators. The parents also have requested that a task force be formed to investigate and monitor the academy. The Salt Lake Tribune is not releasing the name of the teenager because she is a minor. The Tribune is not naming the defendant because he has not been charged. tfrandsen@sltrib.com Twitter: @tiffany_mf  Source: http://www.sltrib.com/news/5561608-155/diamond-ranch-academy-sued-after-a
Girl, 16, files sexual assault lawsuit against Diamond Ranch Girl, 16, files sexual assault lawsuit against Diamond Ranch Bree Burkitt, bburkitt@thespectrum.com Published 4:17 p.m. MT July 28, 2017 | Updated 12:08 p.m. MT July 29, 2017 Buy Photo The 5th District Courthouse in St. George.(Photo: Kevin Jenkins / The Spectrum & Daily News)Buy Photo 22 CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE A former Diamond Ranch Academy student has filed a lawsuit against the therapeutic boarding school alleging a therapist sexually groomed and assaulted her. According to the 23-page lawsuit filed July 25 in the 5th District Court, Hannah Wilkin, who has chosen to identify herself in court documents, and her parents are suing Diamond Ranch Academy and former mental health therapist Troy Ammon Carter. The Arkansas resident is no longer attending the residential treatment center. The lawsuit alleges the incidents occurred multiple times in April and May of 2016. The treatment facility caters to “troubled teens,” according to its website.   According to court documents, the newly-licensed therapist intern assigned to provide counseling services to the 16-year-old victim used his “position of power and authority” to prey on Wilkin. Carter allegedly told the minor details about his sex life, questioned her about her own sexual history and made inappropriate comments about her physical appearance. Additionally, the complaint also states he straddled Wilkin and unhooked her bra while providing a back massage in his office without a chiropractic license. More: Cedar City man charged with fondling three children pleads guilty During a police interview, Wilkin told investigators Carter would attempt to disparage her parents in attempt to gain her trust and detail inappropriate dreams he had about the minor. The windows of his counseling office were covered with brown butcher paper, Wilkin's attorney, Craig Vernon, said. “He used the paper to cover up the windows to literally cover up the sexual assaults while they were happening,” Vernon told The Spectrum & Daily News. “It’s very curious to me that would go unnoticed.” Carter was terminated in May 2016 for inappropriate physical contact with another student. Wilkin came forward shortly after. Prior to the alleged incidents, DRA required Carter to sign a document pledging he would stop all physical contact with his patients, the complaint details. He had previously been reprimanded for inappropriate contact with multiple male students. The lawsuit claims the treatment center provided the "perfect environment" for victims to be groomed and sexually abused due to inadequate supervision and internal policies. It also alleges her complaints about Carter were not properly forwarded to law enforcement. More: Report: 'quiet' recreation brought $17.4 million to Cedar City area “DRA had already reprimanded Carter for inappropriately touching students, but did nothing to protect these vulnerable girls, who were isolated and far away from their families,” Vernon said. Diamond Ranch Academy did not respond to The Spectrum & Daily News' request for comment. Vernon said two other victims have since come forward with similar allegations against Carter. Following an investigation by the Hurricane Police Department, the Washington County Attorney’s Office ultimately declined to file any charges due to a lack of sufficient evidence. It is not known whether the three other alleged victims intend to file a criminal complaint at this time. Wilkin opted to identify herself in the suit to show other victims they are not alone. “I just don’t want what happened to me to happen to other kids,” she said. “We enroll at DRA to get help with the problems life throws at us, not to get molested by the counselor DRA assigns to us.” Ultimately, Vernon said the Wilkin family is seeking the $6,000-$12,000 per month tuition in addition to compensation for the victim. More: Stewart’s ‘Northern Corridor’ bill clears hurdle “Money is symbolic of both Carter and the DRA accepting responsibility for what happened,” he explained. Diamond Ranch Academy was also under scrutiny in 2015 when a teacher was arrested for possessing hundreds of images depicting child pornography on a personal cellphone and a computer at the school. Chad Huntsman and his wife, who also worked at DRA, were both terminated following the arrest. In February, Huntsman was sentenced to 22.5 years in federal prison. The charges against his wife were dismissed due to a lack of intent.    Follow reporter Bree Burkitt, @BreeBurkitt. Call her at 435-218-2241.  Source: http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/cedar-city/2017/07/28/sexual-assault-lawsuit-filed-against-diamond-ranch-academy/521752001/
3/30/22: COPE Conversion Program Progress Report on Diamond Ranch Academy
3/13/23: Katlyn C., Survivor of Diamond Ranch Academy in UT, click here for feedback.
7/14/23: Diamond Ranch Academy announces it is permanently closing after State denies license renewal: https://www.ksl.com/article/50686797/teen-treatment-facility-diamond-ranch-academy-closing-after-utah-denies-license-renewal 

 

 

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