The police suspect sexual activity between boys detained at a group home and the police also suspect that the employees working there knew about the activities among the boys.
Police investigating allegations of unreported abuse at boys ranch
By Pat Reavy, Deseret News, March 16 2016
MT. PLEASANT, Sanpete County — The Sanpete County Sheriff's Office is investigating allegations of sexual abuse and obstruction of justice at a southern Utah residential treatment center, a newly unsealed search warrant reveals.
Sheriff's deputies went to the Mount Pleasant Academy, 70 W. 1100 South in Mt. Pleasant, and seized multiple computer hard drives and at least one computer tower, according to a search warrant affidavit that was executed on Feb. 23. The warrant was unsealed in 6th District Court Tuesday.
Investigators were looking for documents, data, emails, photographs, filings and other evidence of multiple sex crimes as well as evidence of attempts to conceal the crimes, the affidavit states.
The investigation began in January when the Division of Child and Family Services received information "that juveniles at a youth group home (Mt. Pleasant Academy) were engaged in unlawful sexual activity and that the staff members of the home were aware of the activity and not reporting to the proper authorities," according to the warrant.
A staff member from the academy who wished to remain anonymous filed the complaint, the warrant states.
"The intake report also stated that staff members do not supervise the children appropriately to prevent sexual incidences between the children. In the intake report, the complainant also makes allegations that the director of the youth home is sharing video surveillance with other staff members," the affidavit states.
Six days after the division contacted the sheriff's office, interviews were conducted with three boys at the ranch.
"Interviews indicated that there had been sexual activity between some of the boys in the home and that the staff was aware of the sexual activity," according to the warrant.
Sanpete County Sheriff Brian Nielson confirmed Tuesday there is an active investigation, but he said it will likely take some time to complete. Until then, he said he was unable to comment.
On its website, the Mount Pleasant Academy advertises itself as "a small, 16-bed, residential treatment center for boys ages 12-18 struggling with compulsive sexual behaviors, sensitive sexual issues, pornography addiction, and/or digital addictions."
The director of the academy on Wednesday referred all calls to the executive director. A call left at the executive director's St. George office was not returned Wednesday.
