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11 Boys Removed at Faith-Based Reclamation Ranch (AL)

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hurrikayne:
11 Boys Removed at Faith-Based Reclamation Ranch
Beating, Torture Allegations Probed

Birmingham News
November 25, 2008

http://http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/statebriefs.ssf?/base/news/1227604555195750.xml&coll=2

A faith-based program plans a protest this morning near the Blount County Courthouse where a hearing is to be held on what will be done with a group of boys removed Saturday from one of its facilities by law enforcement officers investigating allegations of severe abuse, beating and torture.

The faith-based program is calling the accusations false and misleading on its Web site. About 11 boys were removed from a Reclamation Ranch facility in Empire on Saturday and, based on court orders, placed into the custody of the Blount County Department of Human Resources, said Blount County District Attorney Tommy Rountree. The pastor and founder of the facility put the number at 17 boys.

Based on a complaint of "severe abuse, beating and torture of a minor child" at the ranch, a search warrant was executed by the Blount County Sheriff's Office, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and the district attorney's office, Rountree said in a press release.

"The search by law enforcement and the questioning of involved minors yielded corroboration of the original allegations and evidence of other instances of mistreatment. The investigation is ongoing," Rountree said in his statement.

No arrests or charges had been filed as of Monday, Rountree said. He declined to give details of the allegations, although he said there had been no allegation of any sexual abuse.

A court hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Blount County, which Reclamation Ranch's Web site says will determine whether the boys will be returned to their parents or remain in state custody. The ministry plans to rally near the courthouse.

On www.reclamationranch.com, the facility called the allegations false and misleading and said it doesn't condone abuse. "We don't use any corporal punishment," said Pastor Jack Patterson, director and founder of Reclamation Ranch.

Beating, Torture Allegations Probed

Birmingham News
November 25, 2008

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/s ... xml&coll=2

A faith-based program plans a protest this morning near the Blount County Courthouse where a hearing is to be held on what will be done with a group of boys removed Saturday from one of its facilities by law enforcement officers investigating allegations of severe abuse, beating and torture.

The faith-based program is calling the accusations false and misleading on its Web site. About 11 boys were removed from a Reclamation Ranch facility in Empire on Saturday and, based on court orders, placed into the custody of the Blount County Department of Human Resources, said Blount County District Attorney Tommy Rountree. The pastor and founder of the facility put the number at 17 boys.

Based on a complaint of "severe abuse, beating and torture of a minor child" at the ranch, a search warrant was executed by the Blount County Sheriff's Office, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and the district attorney's office, Rountree said in a press release.

"The search by law enforcement and the questioning of involved minors yielded corroboration of the original allegations and evidence of other instances of mistreatment. The investigation is ongoing," Rountree said in his statement.

No arrests or charges had been filed as of Monday, Rountree said. He declined to give details of the allegations, although he said there had been no allegation of any sexual abuse.

A court hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Blount County, which Reclamation Ranch's Web site says will determine whether the boys will be returned to their parents or remain in state custody. The ministry plans to rally near the courthouse.

On www.reclamationranch.com, the facility called the allegations false and misleading and said it doesn't condone abuse. "We don't use any corporal punishment," said Pastor Jack Patterson, director and founder of Reclamation Ranch.

According to its Web site, Reclamation Ranch operates two facilities in the Empire area for boys and girls ages 12-17 and one program for men ages 18-35. The girls facility called Rachel Academy is in Walker County about a mile and a half from the boys campus in Blount County.

Girls at Reclamation Ranch were questioned at the Sumiton police station on Saturday but were later released. Patterson said the girls facility was still in operation on Monday and he planned to continue operation of the boys facility.

The Web site describes the program as working with boys and girls who have had problems in different areas that resulted in a family member placing them with the program.

"The Lighthouse for Boys is a minimum one-year program that incorporates Bible teaching, character training and respect for family," according to the Reclamation Ranch Web site. "The boys learn how to obey authority, how to complete chores in a 'Christian' fashion with a good attitude and to complete all they do to the best of their abilities. They are given individual counseling sessions with the superintendents where they are taught how to deal with bitterness, anger and rebellion with the Word of God as our foundation. We keep the boys busy with exercise, school, chores and lots of fun!"

http://http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/11_12/2008_11_25_BirminghamNews_11Boys.htm

Anonymous:
These motherfuckers staged a protest after they systematically abused a child and the authorities finally caught up to them?

What the fuck?

hurrikayne:
Posted by Tom Gordon --- Birmingham News November 25, 2008 10:15 PM
Categories: Breaking News

ONEONTA -- Eleven juveniles who had been at a faith-based home for troubled boys were returned to their parents and guardians today while a probe continued into charges of abuse at the facility.
 

The boys, who had lived at Reclamation Ranch Ministries' Lighthouse Academy in western Blount County, were the subject of a hearing before Circuit Judge Steve King to determine if they should stay in the custody of the Department of Human Resources. The boys, who hailed from places including California, Kentucky and an Amish community in Ohio, were released by the court throughout the day to parents, relatives or other adults.

Some of the boys said their time at the academy had changed them for the better. But some foster parents, with whom DHR had placed some of the boys after removing them from Lighthouse Academy on Saturday, said the facility seemed unduly harsh.

According to Reclamation Ranch's Web site, Lighthouse "is a minimum one-year program that incorporates Bible teaching, character training and respect for family." The site also calls the abuse allegations "false and misleading."

The 11 boys, all younger than 18, as well as some 18-year-olds living at the academy, had been placed by DHR in other residential settings after authorities removed them from the academy early Saturday morning. Sheriff's deputies and Alabama Bureau of Investigation agents were acting on a complaint of "severe abuse, beating and torture" of a 17-year-old at the facility, according to the Blount County District Attorney's Office.

The day began with a crowd of 150 to 200 gathering in front of the courthouse, a number of whom waved and blew kisses at Pastor Jack Patterson, the founder/director of Reclamation Ranch who was watching from a second-floor window. The Rev. Charlie Andrews, a pastor from West Jefferson, said the gathering was to support Lighthouse, and those who had had children there. After Andrews said a short prayer, most of those on hand left.

Other than saying "God bless you," Patterson would not comment.

Some former academy residents interviewed after the hearing had good things to say about their time at Lighthouse.

"They changed my life," said 18-year-old Roman Lupekah, who said he had spent a year there. "They restored my relationship with my family, with my sister, got me saved, you know."

But Kenneth and Jean Johnson, area foster parents who had housed three academy boys at DHR's request, said they were troubled by what the youths had told them, which included eating outdated cereal and not receiving contributions that churches and other groups had provided for them.

"They had to have permission to go to the bathroom, had to have permission to get a glass a water," Kenneth Johnson said. "They had to have permission to go to bed -- you name it. And they would let them call home one time a month¤.¤.¤. and talk for four minutes, and that was it."

http://http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/11_boys_returned_to_families_a.html#more

Anonymous:
Religious programs do always have their support. When a poor girl was dragged after a car on a private boot camp in Texas hundred of people marched in the town in support for such a treatment.

When english children are sent to Ghana in private boarding schools and being beaten up, both parents and others step up in support on BBC.

They are mislead to think that the Bible OK's abuse.

Anonymous:
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