This the History of and Reporting Guide for Logan River Academy in Logan, UT

(a.k.a. Tavasi School)

 

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
Larry Carter Executive Director/Owner Larry Carter is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html

Larry Carter, Executive Director of Logan River Academy...“I worked as a hospital administrator for 23 years, including 13 years at Charter, which I found very fascinating,” he explained. “While working in Charter’s psychiatric hospitals, I started a hospital in Utah, but the driving force for me getting into this business occurred when Charter bought Provo Canyon School. After Charter purchased Provo Canyon, I then worked as Regional Director of Charter and Administrator of the new hospital.” (Larry Carter) Larry said he has worked in a couple large companies over the years, both locally and in a corporate position as a vice-president, and that his partners have similar backgrounds from all over the country.  For over 20 years, Larry has been enamored with the mental health field because it is so different. “It isn’t a hard science, but it’s not cut and dry; it is very different to deal with the human mind which makes the field is so varied and vast.”  However, during my 13 years at Provo Canyon School...”  After leaving Provo Canyon for the last time, Larry worked with Aspen Education Group as senior vice-president of their in-patient services. He oversaw all of Aspen’s residential services for just over a year before deciding to start Logan River Academy.
Lori Connin Finance Director/Owner Connin holds no professional licenses in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
(Dr.) Robert H. Crist Medical Director/Owner Co-founder of notoriously abusive Provo Canyon School (and its off-shoots, Somerset, etc.)...  Crist is a licensed medical doctor and has been since 1970 in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mark Petersen Director of Residential Svcs/Owner Petersen is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jeff Smith Operations Director/Owner
With over twenty-six years of residential treatment experience, Jeff has worked in almost every aspect of the organization from counselor to administrator. He has a Master’s degree from Brigham Young University, and serves on the Utah Department of Human Services Licensing Board.  Corruption, anyone?  HEAL requires Smith's full name in order to verify whether or not he holds any professional licenses in Utah.
Lindy (aka Linda)Smith Admissions Linda Smith reportedly no longer works for this program.  HEAL requires Smith's full name in order to verify whether or not she holds any professional licenses in Utah.
Beth Kiester Admissions Kiester is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Matt Erickson Clinical Director Has worked in the industry since 1999.  Matthew Paul Erickson (may be a different person) is a licensed clinical social worker in Utah and has been since 2002.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mont (Monte) Criddle Residential Director Mont worked for Southwest Center Behavioral Health in Cedar City, Utah. Mont worked as a member of the youth services team at Southwest Center for seven years.  Monte N Criddle, Jr. is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Utah and has been since 2001.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Katie Behm No Title Behm has been with the program since just months after it opened.  Kaye Behm (may be a different person) is a licensed clinical social worker in Utah and has been since 2003.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Austin Wood Therapist Wood is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been since 2004.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Margaret Oak Admissions Director Margaret chairs the Cache Valley Literacy Coalition   Oak is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Utah and has been since 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Maureen Olsen Coordinator Olsen has been with Logan River since 2005.  Olsen is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Krys Oyler Therapist Oyler spent his internships at the Family Support and Treatment Center.  Oyler is a licensed clinical social worker and has been in Utah since 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Sean Maynard Therapist Joseph Sean Maynard (may be a different person) is solely licensed as a clinical mental health counselor and has only been licensed since 2012.  (This means he worked as an unqualified/unlicensed therapist at Logan River for years.)  Earned counseling degree through online/correspondence course. (University of Phoenix)
Janaka VanderKooi Therapist Attended Weber State University.  Her experience includes working for an adolescent residential treatment and education center (ARTEC) operated by Valley Mental Health in Salt Lake City;  Three Rivers Behavioral Institute in their female adolescent residential unit; and Palmetto Health Baptist Adolescent Psychiatric Unit.   She has been at Logan River since 2007.  Three Rivers Behavioral Institute in Montana is closed.  Vanderkooi no longer appears to work for this program.   VanderKooi is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Cameron Armstrong Therapist Formerly spent 4 years working for the confirmedly abusive Heritage Schools. Cameron has worked as a therapist at ScenicView Academy, a residential Center for Adults with Learning disabilities and at the Utah State Hospital's forensic unit. Cameron decided to join the Logan River Academy team in 2007. Armstrong reportedly no longer works for this program.  Armstrong now works for Telos Academy/RTC in UtahArmstrong is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since 2009 in Utah.  (This means Cameron worked for at least 2 years as a "therapist" at Logan River without being properly licensed.)
David Allred Therapist HEAL requires Allred's middle name in order to verify whether or not Allred holds any professional licenses. 
Shannon Kegerries Therapist Kegerries is licensed solely as a clinical mental health counselor in Utah and has only been licensed since 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mike Bodrero (aka Bodero) Therapist/Activities Director Bodrero/Bodero is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Bryn Bingham Therapist Bingham no longer appears to work for this program.  Bingham is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kirk Farmer Academic Director HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Lanee Adamson Teacher HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Bill Chandler Teacher Chandler no longer appears to work for this program.  HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Elliott Rich Academic Coordinator Rich no longer appears to work for this program.  HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Cyndi Johnson Teacher HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Jessica Hills Teacher Hills has been with Logan River since 2006.  Hills no longer appears to work for this program.  HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Eric Alder Teacher HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Julie Williams Teacher HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
MaryAnn Irvine Teacher HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Clint Firth Teacher HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Carly Palacios Teacher HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Ryan Williams Staff HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Shaunda Wenger Staff HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Brooke Lambert Teacher Lambert no longer appears to work for this program.  HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Ben Watkins Teacher Formerly worked at an unnamed wilderness program in Eastern Idaho.*  Watkins no longer appears to work for this program.  HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Andrew Kraning No Title Kraning no longer appears to work for this program.  Kraning is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ron Wood Residential Has over 25 years in the program industry.*   Wood has worked for Logan River Academy since it was founded in 2000.  Wood is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Chris Baum Residential Baum is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Joe Lindsey Residential Lindsey has worked for Logan River since 2006.  Lindsey reportedly no longer works for this program.  Lindsey is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Sau Lee Residential Lee is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ken Bott Nurse Graduate of Weber State University.*  Bott reportedly no longer works for Logan River Academy.  Bott is a licensed registered nurse and has been since 1999 in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Alyson Egan Nurse Egan has worked at Logan since 2007.  Egan reportedly no longer works for Logan River Academy.  Egan is not currently (March, 2013) a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Darby Golden Staff Tavasi School.  Golden is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Liz Severe Nurse Logan River Academy.  Elizabeth Ann Severe (may be a different person) is a licensed registered nurse and has been since 2011 in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Sarah Hazzelton Therapist Hazzelton is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Garret Wood Dorm 5 Staff Also son of Ron Wood.  Wood is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Brandon Wood Development Staff Also son of Ron Wood.  Wood is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Nicholas Green Development Staff Green is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mike Martinez Dorm 3 Staff HEAL requires Martinez' full name in order to perform license verification.
Mike Warde Dorm 5 Staff Warde is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Michael Dahle Supervisor Dahle is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tom Manning Manager Manning is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Justin Koeven Tavasi Staff Tavasi School  Koeven is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Derrick Trujillo Dorm 9 Staff Logan River Academy.  Trujillo is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
John Pinkston III Dorm 8 Staff Pinkston is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mark Nielson Dorm 8 Staff Nielson is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Greg Carter Staff Larry Carter's son.  Carter is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Justin Smith Staff HEAL requires Smith's full name in order to verify licensure.
Andrea Manning Staff And, wife to Tom Manning (Manager)  Manning is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Deon Atwood Kitchen Staff HEAL chose not to do a license verification on Atwood because duties would not require professional licensure.
Lance Atwood Maintenance HEAL chose not to do a license verification on Atwood because duties would not require professional licensure.
Jason Eric Stanger Teacher Reportedly worked for this program in 2001.  HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Marilyn Liddle Teacher Reportedly worked for this program in 2001.  HEAL is contacting the Utah Department of Education to verify whether or not this person is a licensed educator.
Joseph "Tui" Pan Residential Staff Reportedly worked for this program in 2001 and was very punitive towards children in the program.  Pan is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Chad Carter Residential Staff Son of Larry Carter.  Reportedly worked for this program in 2001.  Carter is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Aaron Enddicott Residential Staff Reportedly worked for this program in 2001 and now lives in suburb of Las Vegas.  Enddicott is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Chris Brockman Residential Staff Reportedly worked for this program in 2001 and no longer works in residential treatment.  Brockman is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tweet with article about 2021 arrest of Logan River Staff for sexual abuse: https://twitter.com/heal247/status/1369079062698749952 
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 Logan Police at (435) 716-9300     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 Logan River 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 Logan River 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.
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".
6/15/22: COPE Conversion Program Progress Report: Logan River Academy

 

 Last Updated: February 28th, 2023

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