But a Senate staffer helping to write the legislation cautions that in order to get a bill passed, they will likely have to tie compliance to funding, and are unlikely to mandate it. Bryan Clemensen was not among those charged. "If you have children who are fearful that they're going to be sent back to these facilities, you see a lot of instances where children might recant their stories," said Caitlin Whaley, director of legislation for the department. A 2007 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found thousands of abuse allegations between 1990 and 2007 in 2005 alone, 33 states reported 1,619 staff members involved in incidents of abuse. But hes not complaining. Thanks to the generous support of The Frazier Family Foundation, Gala sponsors, Gala attendees, and the community, $369,402 was raised in support of the next two homes at The Ranch during the 2021 Legacy Gala: A Matter of Time! After the state removed students from the school in August, Circle of Hope voluntarily shut down. The former director of Agape Boarding School pleaded with a Cole County judge on Monday to keep himself off the state's central registry of child abuse and . Jan. 18, 2023. (Agap denies any knowledge of these allegations. He liked Metallica and Garbage Pail Kids cards, and had a tendency to cause trouble. As owners of the Circle of Hope Ranch, the couple faces 100 criminal abuse charges between them. The Clemensens sent 100 boys home, and moved the rest to base housing. The program markets itself as a Christian school that turns around rebellious boys. Schrags parents said they were unaware of any abuse occurring at the facility; the school had promised close supervision and to redirect his anger in positive ways. We want to hear it. (Clemensen says this was a nickname the boys had for an elbow injury, and denies the abuse.) Former students and their attorneys allege that for years Clemensen has been a toxic presence at the school, encouraging his staff to use violence to maintain order. Via Fox13, the local news station out of Salt Lake City, we get a detailed response to the lawsuit from ranch management: "We at Turn-About Ranch strongly deny the allegations put forward in Ms. Allred's press conference. The last time would be his graduation. It took a disturbing criminal case to make it happen. Though the area is largely Baptist, Cedar County has a tradition of religious tolerance. That was the last straw; they had him committed. In civil suits, Agap students describe being choked with rebar and electrical cords, pushed through drywall, having their noses broken, and hit in the testicles hard enough to cause traumatic groin injury. They say several boys attempted to hang themselves, in what they call a pandemic among students. Agap, through its attorney, denies the allegations, and says that no student there has ever killed himself. At the time of reporting, he is not yet in police custody, and an arrest warrant has been issued in his name. TOUGH-LOVE SCHOOLS CAN BE traced back to the 1950s, when a secular group called Synanon pioneered an approach to curing heroin addiction with isolation, humiliation, and sleep deprivation. First published on January 11, 2023 / 6:04 PM. "If you're using the Bible or God to justify any of these things, that is sacrilegious.". Sick with a heart condition, Jim left the force in 1979 and moved Kathy, Bryan, and his siblings to Stockton, a sweltering agricultural city on the once-mighty San Joaquin River. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak, House select committee hearing paints China as a strategic antagonist, JetBlue flight forced to abort landing in close call at Logan Airport, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settles claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M, Agape Boarding School, Stockton, Cedar County, Missouri. For more on this story, watch NBC's "Dateline" episode, "Broken Circle". He is pleased to hear the Missouri attorney generals office is now investigating Agape Boarding School. Editors picks Agape Ranch-courtesy photo. January 11, 2023 / 6:04 PM STOCKTON, Mo. There, according to Bindley, he was put to work painting, roofing, and helping to dismantle a web of lead pipes covered in asbestos, which he was told to carry to the top of a hill and throw into a pit used to burn garbage. Staff members at Agap don't have to go through background checks, and the facility is not required to document how or why children are restrained. Many of the kids my parents took in would be back six months later in worse shape, Bryan says. Jim Clemensen, a former California Highway Patrol officer, initially decided to open a group home in Stockton, California, before setting up Agap on an old Air Force base in Othello, Washington. If you need expert assistance finding the right program for your boy, fill in this inquiry form or call 888-363-0888 (24/7) for a free, confidential information service (not affiliated with Agape). There were horses, a swimming pool, and a football team. At a hearing in the Missouri Legislature on Wednesday, a department official said it has been difficult to substantiate abuse allegations at religious boarding schools due to "a culture of restricted access.". The cases against five people who worked at Agape Boarding school are moving forward. But then, Breshears made friends and began to reconsider his allegiances particularly, he says, after he witnessed classmates getting restrained. Its good to be back with family, he says. Netflixs Outer Banks Buries Itself in Ridiculous Season 3 Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. 24 homes where foster children can receive the support they need in order to mature in all aspects of their lives. Agape Boarding School Abuse Lawsuit - Pennsylvania Schools Details: WebFormer students of Agape from Alabama, Texas, and Michigan have filed two civil lawsuits against the Boarding School for multiple charges that include physical, agape ranch abuse Verified 5 days ago Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Address . One former student said he was raped at Agape and called "seizure boy" because of his epilepsy. Amanda Householder is suing her parents, Boyd and Stephanie Householder, owners of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School. One night, he got into an argument with his mom and stepdad that turned physical, and they accused him of being possessed. Its about getting these kids to a place in their life where they have to look to God for help, he says. You can start to heal., For his part, Breshears is grateful to be free. Askins reached out to Child Protective Services and then shared the video with the Householders estranged daughter, Amanda. The committee is considering bills introduced by Ingle and a Republican colleague last month to give the Missouri Department of Social Services oversight of religious boarding schools. In addition to the fired staffer, DSS has substantiated findings of child abuse or neglect against Bryan Clemensen and two other Agap employees, according to The Kansas City Star. 1.0 Stephen H. Winter Haven, FL. James Clemensen was a California State Highway patrolman with a death wish so extreme the wives of his fellow troopers forbade their husbands from hanging out with him. Former Calallen ISD teacher Joseph Sandoval sentenced to 35 years in prison for sexual abuse . Church was on Wednesday and three times on Sunday. Staffers grabbed Breshears and, he claims, threw him onto the glass. They held a blood drive, organized a Fourth of July fireworks spectacular, and began holding an annual rodeo. Within months, Jim was both saved and married, and Bryan had a new stepdad. Right away, staff shaved his head, handed him an orange shirt and a pair of Wranglers, moved him into a dorm that looked like Marine barracks, and introduced him to a dizzying litany of rules. "For nearly three decades, students at Agape Boarding School have experienced emotional, mental, physical . Shrag is holding an Agape year book. His outrage became open defiance. Colton Schrag remembers the night at the Agap Boarding School when, he says, a staff member punched him in the face. Please enter valid email address to continue. By JIM SALTER. The highway patrol says it began its investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect at the facility in late February. An investigation by NBC News and Dateline found that multiple states have similar gaps in the oversight of religious boarding schools, leaving children vulnerable to abuse. ), Such alleged retribution was not necessarily confined to Brown Town. Trump Melts Down Over Murdoch Admitting Fox Lied About Election Fraud. I can't find any scriptures in the Bible that would say that it's OK to physically or sexually abuse children, to starve them as means of punishment, to withhold medication, to deprive them of sleep, to force them into manual labor, Ingle said. If there is a question about a policy or rule, do not ask your son.. They have law-enforcement ties, too. And he said, No, theyre not. He cuffed me up and dropped me back off at Agap. In other words, Grandmother can spank the children as can Agap.. A scandal-plagued fundamentalist boarding school in Missouri is facing renewed criticism after video surfaced allegedly showing "clear abuse" by a leader at the school. Francis lied, he said, because Robert Graves a Cedar County sheriffs deputy who is on the board of Agaps church and has worked at the school was present for the interview. Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Tyler Kingkade and Liz Brown and Keith Morrison and Rachel White and Andrew Williams and Javier Rodriguez. He enjoyed watching movies, listening to Elvis, and playing soccer with his friends. We are gathered here, former students,. He says he was once ordered to perform 4,500 pushups for cussing and told if I didnt get it done, I couldnt eat my next meal. (Though Breshears says he couldnt do it, Agap denies ever denying a student a meal.) Our rehabilitation center in Fort Lauderdale for substance abuse embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends, that serves regardless of circumstances. Circle of Hope Girls' Ranch was a reformatory boarding school located in Humansville, Missouri.The school opened in July 2006 and was closed in 2020 amid reports and lawsuits filed by former students alleging child abuse, as well as due to an investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.. Before the school's closure, parents, former students, and staff filed multiple reports to . In 2021, Paris Hilton, who has also been lobbying in Washington D.C., testified at a Utah Senate committee hearing about her own experience in a troubled-teen facility there, alleging that she was verbally, mentally, and physically abused, involuntarily drugged, and locked in isolation. Several lawsuits filed on behalf of former students also have named Agape and Circle of Hope. STOCKTON, Mo. Yet Agaps neighbors insist they never had any idea. RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE. The state has been fighting to close Agap ever since. On Dec. 21, a judge issued a preliminary injunction that will keep him off the list until he receives a full trial (with testimony and subpoenaed witnesses) or until further Order of this Court. In the meantime, Clemensen is prevented from having physical contact with students, but can continue working at the school. It has not come up for a vote yet, but key Republicans in the Legislature have already signaled support. Mrs. Vicki Loeffler & Mrs. Rodney Johnson, DDS, Faithful Witness Photography, Photographer. They denied it. But in some states that have tried to close this oversight gap in recent years, like Montana, lawmakers have met with resistance. Several former staffers opened up similar schools nearby: There was the Legacy Academy Adventures, on a property owned by David Smock, Agaps longtime doctor who would later be accused of molesting students; there was the Masters Ranch Christian Academy, which later opened two more campuses. Staff members would jump on you, said Schrag. That shouldn't be happening., If not, he added, kids are going to wind up losing their lives.. It is one of the 2 times he saw his family between 2006 and 2010. Roloff was perhaps best known for starting boarding homes in the 1960s to reform youth he described as parent-hating, Satan-worshipping, dope-taking immoral boys and girls, utilizing corporal punishment and isolation for children who disobeyed. State regulates church boarding schools after abuse allegations. Agap did not respond to repeated requests for comment and interviews via phone, email and a letter left at the schools reception desk. An investigation into the school began after The Star reported on the abuse allegations last year. Jim and Kathy Clemensen a married couple whom people call Brother Clemensen and Maam started Agap in the early 1990s. A Tri-City Herald story from 1996 said that Franklin County officials ordered the facility to close for code violations over removing and . The 100 Best Albums of 2022. Soon theyd be in a place where they were untouchable. Share. Christian Reform School Accused of Abuse Shuts Down After Rolling Stone Expos. Boyd and Stephanie Householders daughter says they worked at Agape for four years. He remembers verbal abuse, such as being told, the world didnt want you and says withholding food was a punishment., Staff members would slam you on the ground, slam you into walls, pick you up by the collar and just slam you around. One former student reportedly mentioned Agap in a suicide note. Editors Note: This story, which appears in the January 2023 issue of Rolling Stone, has been updated to include additional details on court cases that had not been decided until after the print deadline. Regretfully, child abuse and neglect have continued to rise and the work of Agape Ranch is needed now more than ever. NBC News reported on the allegations earlier this . It now has 12. The most surprising thing is that nothing has been done so far to change anything, Ingle said. People had reported Circle of Hope at least 19 times since it opened to three sheriffs departments, state child welfare and education officials, the highway patrol, and the state attorney generals office, according to interviews and records obtained by NBC News. They allowed it to happen.. He has been a trainer for 10 years specializing in substance abuse. They said that they were bringing me to my parents, he says. He smacked me in the face with his elbow for saying the f-word. Allegations of physical and sexual abuse at Agape and Circle of Hope Girls' Ranch prompted a state law in 2021 requiring stricter oversight of such facilities. The next home at The Ranch is for youth aging-out of foster care and the need is urgent. Agape Boarding School is located on a 200-acre ranch in Stockton, Missouri. "Pinehaven has had challenges over the years, but so has everyone," Montana Family Foundation President Jeff Laszloffy said at a 2019 hearing. (NBC News presented a copy of Clidences nondisparagement agreement to Agap to confirm or dispute its authenticity, but the school did not respond.). Woody Harrelson Spreads Anti-Vax Conspiracies During SNL Monologue Agape Ranch is dedicated to making a difference within their community and building capacity within the team. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. There was a small room down a dark staircase with blue padded floors and holes punched in the wall. None of these raised eyebrows until former Agap staffers Boyd and Stephanie Householder opened Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. but has gone public in the past year with his . That is blasphemous.. I tried to find a record of it, but there was none. (The Cedar County Sheriffs Department did not return calls seeking comment.). Lawmakers held hearings and introduced a bill that would give the state some oversight. Still, administrators at many of these schools insist they are a force for good. The next morning, Breshears made a plan with the other students to start a riot. That evening, as Agaps 150 students and staffers were finishing up dinner, Breshears spotted a fellow conspirator flash a thumbs-up. Students called it the Padded Palace., Punishments allegedly ranged from calisthenics to wall time, where kids stood with their foreheads and noses touching the wall, except when sleeping, doing schoolwork, or eating. Seven boys tested positive for tuberculosis. When I first got there, I just stayed on the low, trying to do my best, hoping to get out, he says. Colton Shrag, age 16 on a home visit from Agap in 2008. Yet the delays have frustrated state lawmakers. But instead of the therapeutic environment the schools leaders promised, Schrag and 11 others who were sent to Agap as children from the late 1990s up to last year, as well as four former staff members, told NBC News they saw Agap workers hold boys down and hit them. Cedar County, Missouri, where Agap is located, is in the heart of the Bible Belt and Clemensen, his stepfather, Jim, who died in October 2021, and his mother, Kathy, long ago convinced the locals they answer to a higher authority. Every year, Agape Ranch hosts our Adoption Connection event to help children in foster care find their forever home. Advocates are watching the Agap case, and suggest it illustrates why federal legislation is needed. Paris Hilton's fellow PCS alums said they were stunned to see the heiress, who has amassed 12.6 million followers on Instagram alone, used the hashtag #BreakingCodeSilence in a social media post. (Householder has denied that any abuse occurred at the ranch.). Which means that even if Missouri does end up shutting down Agap, the school could open in another state just as the Clemensens did when they were driven out of Washington. Robert Larsson, 89, a preacher and the founder of Pinehaven, gave folksy presentations about how his school improved the lives of children, who spent their days at the ranch wrangling calves, shoveling manure and learning Bible verses. These punishments, former students say, were often administered in a small room down a dark staircase, in the basement of the church, with blue padded floors and holes punched in the wall. When 19-year-old Rebekah Cooper started her mission, she had to give up her first name . Bindley, who Clemensen calls one of Agaps top success stories, says the experience left him with lasting trauma, and left a stain on my childhood growing up., Colton Schrag says he decided to speak after PTSD drove him into counseling. We are the best rehab . Earlier this year, Smock, the schools longtime physician, was charged with 12 felony sexual-molestation crimes against those in his care. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Clidence said Agap fired him in March 2015 when the school asked employees to sign a nondisparagement agreement, and he refused. The next home at The Ranch is for youth aging-out of foster care and the need is urgent. It could last for days on end. On the wooded roads near Agap, Amish men drive horse-drawn buggies; hundreds of members of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints live on a nearby compound called the Ranch., I got picked up by the Cedar County Sheriffs Department, and I tried to tell the guy, Theyre beating us,, says one former student. Meanwhile, Agap was growing. If you're using the Bible or God to justify any of these things, that is sacrilegious. But in Missouri, only the local prosecutor can file charges, and Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither has said no additional employees would be charged. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Officials . Some who attended and worked at the school said otherwise. Officials also said even if child protective services found that someone at a religious youth facility abused a child, there were no rules to prevent the person from continuing to work there. NWS confirms EF-1 tornado near Goodman, Mo. Plaintiff was allegedly physically, sexually, and emotionally abused while under the care and supervision of . 24, 2021 at 10:23 AM PDT | Updated: Mar. It also lays out a set of childrens rights, banning corporal punishment and verbal and emotional abuse, and giving youth the ability to call their parents whenever they want. To close for code violations Over removing and being possessed itself as a Christian school that turns around rebellious.! Work of Agape Ranch is for youth aging-out of foster care and the need is.. Ranch hosts our Adoption Connection event to help children in foster care find their forever home staffers Boyd Stephanie... 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