Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry

Boot camp director arrested

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Ursus:

--- Quote from: "John Huntsman" ---I think this is a real shame. It's obvious this man's goal was only to help this child. This is the thanks we get when we try to help.
--- End quote ---
Curiously, Naomi Estolas chimes in right in line with John Huntsman's sentiments! :D

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A comment left for the above article, "Monrovia man, local boot camp leader known as 'Sarge,' arrested on suspicion of kidnapping minor" (06/07/2011, Pasadena Star-News):


Naomi Estolas · Monterey High · Thursday at 11:12am
Sgt Mac. Is a great individual and is being wrongly accused. His Organization Fm1st has done many community events. Last year they fed over 4000 thousand people at a pasadena park. He has also helped many families with their kids.

Copyright ©2008 Los Angeles Newspaper group

heretik:

--- Quote from: "Inculcated" ---After  “false imprisonment, extortion, child abuse, unlawful use of a badge and kidnapping a 14-year-old girl”, Kelvin "Sarge" McFarland took her to her parents where he insisted she be enrolled in his boot camp, "(The family) paid him for the boot camp." "They thought they didn't have a choice."
He secured a hundred dollar fee from the parents who were under the impression he was a truancy officer. "(The father) went to the school to ask whether the schools were involved, believing it to be a truancy issue,". "The district determined that the parents should contact the Pasadena police."
The quotes from the article cited and linked in the 2nd post of this thread indicate Sarge was not acting at the behest of the caregivers. Sadly, there may have been others taken by this sham. “Police believe McFarland, who remains in custody on $285,000 bail, may have run the scam on other families in the city”
--- End quote ---

Thanks a bunch Inculcated. I had read this (I should have stated this in my previous post) but I still felt that it was a bit incredulous for me to believe the parents were this ignorant (I don't mean this as a insult either). I also entertained the possibility that the story was reported erroneously. My god this man packs a pair.

Oscar:
Why is two of such program in the same town?

It makes me wonder how many of these local boot camps with "Sarge's in charge" there is.

Oscar:
I noticed that the court is working in this case. I find that they are somewhat condemning towards the victim because she speak servant.

Victim fails to identify her alleged kidnapper (by Brian Charles, Pasadena Star News, June 13, 2011)


--- Quote ---PASADENA - Two key witnesses in the Kelvin "Sgt. Mac" McFarland kidnapping case being failed to identify him during testimony at a preliminary hearing Monday in Pasadena Superior Court.
Both the 14-year-old victim - dubbed "Lady M" in court - and her aunt, Nelly Maldonado, could not pick McFarland out during their respective examination by the prosecution.

McFarland, who operates the Family First Growth Boot Camp, was seated less than 30 feet from both witnesses at the time.

In addition to kidnapping charges for the alleged abduction of Lady M, McFarland faces charges of false imprisonment, extortion, child abuse and unlawful use of a badge.

The charges stem from a May 16 incident where he allegedly handcuffed Lady M and took her to Maldonado's home; there he allegedly extorted $100 from the girl's father by insisting that she was truant from school and must be enrolled in McFarland's Family First Growth Camp to avoid being sent to a juvenile detention center.

McFarland's attorney, former Pasadena Councilman Bill Paparian, characterized both Lady M's and Maldonado's inability to identify McFarland in the courtroom as "bizarre."

"I think it's very unusual that both (witnesses) have come forward and say the person they are talking about is not in the courtroom," Paparian said.

L.A. County Deputy District Attorney Carolina Lugo introduced evidence showing that Lady M was able to pick McFarland out of a photographic lineup in May.
Lugo declined to comment on the case outside of court Monday.

Lady M testified that her memory of McFarland was much more vivid shortly after the May 16 incident.

Paparian pounced on the discrepancies in the testimony given by Lady M and Maldonado.

"You told her you were suspended from school," Paparian said, referring to the excuse Lady M gave to a friend's parent when she ditched school and showed up at the house on the day of the incident.

During Paparian's cross examination, the girl acknowledged that she lied to her friend's parent.

Paparian questioned Maldonado's claim that she held an extensive conversation with McFarland at her home on the day of the incident.

He asked how she was capable of speaking to McFarland in English and translating into Spanish for Lady M's father that day, but needed the help of a translator in court Monday.

"You were translating from Spanish into English," Paparian said. "Yet today you don't feel comfortable answering our questions without an interpreter."

In Spanish, Maldonado explained her need for a translator.

"I don't feel at ease because Spanish is my first language," she said through the translator.

However, much of Maldonado's and Lady M's testimony Monday corroborated information released by the Pasadena Police Department.

Both testified that McFarland extorted money from Lady M's father and both witnesses gave the same story of what he said would happen if her father did not fork up $100.

"He said he was going to take me to `juvie,"' Lady M said.

Maldonado also said McFarland threatened to take the girl to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar.

"He told (me) it was like when you take the car away ... someone needed to get the car," Maldonado said through a translator. "If (the girl's father) could pay him right there, like $100, then he could take her" home.

McFarland also allegedly drove around with Lady M handcuffed in his car for more than an hour, something both the she and her aunt testified to in court.

McFarland picked up the girl at about 12:30 p.m. and didn't arrive at Maldonado's home until after 2 p.m., according to both witnesses.

The girl's testimony is set to resume at 8:30 a.m. at Pasadena Superior Court.
--- End quote ---

Of course they have the ordinary mob hanging around the court house. Get tough on kids seem to be the word in this strange town.

Alleged Victim Testifies in Youth Boot Camp Instructor Kidnapping Case (By Dan Abendschein, AltaDena Patch, June 13, 2011)


--- Quote ---A local 14-year-old girl testified in court Monday that she as frightened as she was handcuffed and hauled away by a local youth boot camp instructor who was charged with kidnapping her and extorting money from her parents.

The youth instructor, Kelvin McFarland, 41, of Monrovia, was arrested on May 27 on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, child abuse, extortion and unlawful use of a badge.

McFarland, who also goes by the nickname "Sgt. Mac,"runs the Family 1st Growth Camp, which has an Altadena address for its office, according to several online directories.

McFarland's lawyer, former Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian, was quick to contest the alleged victim's testimony, and accused her of lying both during the hearing and afterwards to reporters.

"She has not been truthful with her parents or with police officers," Paparian said.

Monday was the first day of the preliminary hearing, and witnesses were ordered to return on Tuesday, when the hearing will likely be completed.  Assuming the charges are not dismissed by the judge in the case, then the next step will be a new arraignment and setting a date for a full trial.

Testimony

The alleged victim testified Monday that she skipped school on May 16, the day that the events went down.  She testified that a man who identified himself as "Sgt. Mac" found her on Orange Grove Boulevard while driving by, and pulled over, asking her which school she went to and how to contact her parents.

The girl admitted in court to not telling Sgt. Mac which school she attended, and Paparian suggested the girl deliberately misled him about how to contact her parents and attempted to stop him from getting in touch with them on the phone.

Paparian also denied the contention of both the girl and her aunt, who also testified, that McFarland told them he represented the Pasadena Police Department.  The alleged victim told the court she went with him because she believed he worked for the department.

One of the key contested issues was the $100 that the girl's parents paid to McFarland.  The girl's aunt, Nelly Maldonado, testified that McFarland had suggested the money would be necessary as a kind of bail, and likened the process to getting a car out of an impound lot.

Paparian, on the other hand, said that the victim's parents had paid out the money as a down payment for enrolling in McFarland's youth program and did so voluntarily.

Oddly, neither the girl nor her aunt was able to identify McFarland in court as the person who introduced himself as Sgt. Mac on May 16.  However, Paparian did not indicate that he intended to deny that McFarland was the one who picked her up, and referred to the events of May 16 while using his client's name.

The girl's last name was withheld at court, and Altadena Patch will also withhold her first name out of an abundance of caution.

Supporters

Supporters and detractors of McFarland also had strong words to say about him at Monday's hearing.

At least 25 parents, students, and other supporters in McFarland's program showed up to protest his arrest, chanting "Free Sgt. Mac" outside the court room (for video and more from his supporters, check out our article here).

The court room was also packed with program members dressed in dark red and yellow sweatshirts.  When McFarland was brought into the court room after spending more than two weeks in county jail, he immediately broke out a huge smile after seeing the room full of his program members.

But McFarland supporters were not the only ones to show up to the courthouse on Monday.

New Claim

An Eagle Rock resident, Ray Travis, told reporters following the court hearing that his daughter was physically abused by McFarland after Travis's wife called him to her home in January.  Travis, who is separated from his wife and shared custody at the time, was not present when it happened.

He said that his daughter told him that McFarland came to their home and pulled her off her bed by force and threatened to slam her head into a wall.  He said McFarland then drove her to the Rose Bowl and forced her to do intense levels of exercise.  He said his daughter had to be hospitalized the next day.

When asked why he has not filed a police claim over such serious allegations, Travis said that he is now in the process of doing so, and has spoken with Pasadena detectives about the complaint.

His daughter Carolyn also spoke to reporters about the incident, and said she was "happy" that McFarland was on trial and said she "hopes he goes to jail."

Sgt. Mac's Approach

Travis and the 14-year-old girl both talked about his methods, highlighting similar habits of yelling at minors and confronting them about their choices.  Travis's daughter Carolyn also talked about exercising to exhaustion and feeling unable to stop for fear of being yelled at.

Supporters of McFarland also described a similar approach though in a much more positive way.  Brent Ramos, spoke with Altadena Patch on video, about having to do high numbers of push-ups, jumping jacks, and other hard physical exercise after making a mistake of some sort.

The alleged victim testified that the issues went beyond intimidation- she said that even after McFarland had handcuffed her, brought her home, and gotten $100 from parents, he then took her to a friend's home and told her to end their friendship, suggesting she was a bad influence on the girl. She also testified that he threatened to put her in a juvenile facility in Sylmar.

Paparian, while talking to reporters, dismissed any concerns about his approach and claimed that judges at the Pasadena Superior Court have referred juvenile suspects to McFarland's program.

He described McFarland as a veteran of the Gulf War and said that until four years ago he was a homeless veteran on the streets, who then got his life together and now just wants to help others.

And he said he is confident he will be able to demonstrate Tuesday why McFarland's actions were not criminal.
--- End quote ---

Oscar:
The judge ordered him to stand trial.

Pasadena judge orders 'Sgt. Mac' to stand trial on kidnapping charge, by Brian Charles, Pasadena Star News, June 14, 2011


--- Quote ---PASADENA - After listening to explosive testimony, a judge Tuesday ruled that the operator of a tough-love bootcamp for at-risk teens must stand trial on kidnapping, child abuse and other charges.

Pasadena Court Judge Stan Blumenfeld dismissed a motion by Kelvin "Sergeant Mac" McFarland's attorney, former Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian, to dismiss the charges, which along with kidnapping and child abuse include false imprisonment, extortion and unlawful use of a badge.

On May 16, McFarland allegedly handcuffed a 14-year-old girl, identified in court as "Lady M" because she is a minor. He then allegedly took Lady M to a relative's home.

He also is accused of extorting $100 from the girl's father, insisting his daughter was truant from school and must be enrolled in McFarland's Family First Growth Camp to avoid juvenile hall.

Before ordering McFarland to trial, Blumenfeld heard evidence from prosecutors that McFarland has a previous misdemeanor conviction for prostitution.

In addition, two witnesses testified that McFarland regularly used handcuffs as a disciplinary tactic.

Blumenfeld said it appeared the defendant ignored the law and any social boundaries.

"Mr. McFarland acted as an interloper, one that was not invited by (the victim's father)," the judge said. "However, he became aware of Lady M...he acted to set her straight. He decided to cuff her and transport her like a law-enforcement officer."

McFarland is due back in court June 29 for an arraignment.

It was the second day of testimony in the McFarland preliminary hearing. The courtroom was not nearly as packed as it was Monday, when supporters of McFarland converged there.

But the hearing disclosed McFarland's past offences.

Arguing against reducing McFarland's bail, Deputy District Attorney Carolina Lugo disclosed a 2005 misdemeanor conviction for prostitution.

She also pointed out other blemishes on McFarland's criminal record, including a 2000 arrest and plea of no contest to misdemeanor battery; a 2005 conviction for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license; a 2009 arrest and plea of no contest to driving with a suspended license; and a June 3 plea of no contest for driving with a suspended license.

Paparian said he has no plans to seek a plea agreement.

"This is not a case that is going to be negotiated," Paparian said.

He described McFarland as an example of a comeback story, a Desert Storm veteran who was homeless but in four years had built a successful community organization.

On the day of incident, McFarland was just protecting a child, Parparian argued, after spotting an adult in a black pickup truck approach the 14-year-old victim.

McFarland, according to Paparian, swooped in to protect the girl.

But a former cadet in McFarland's boot camp testified that he often used handcuffs as a punitive measure in his training.

The witness, whose name is being withheld because she is a minor, said McFarland took her from her bed by force, handcuffed her and pressed her into strenuous physical activity during one of his Saturday boot camp training sessions.

Another alleged victim came forward Tuesday. Outside the courthouse, Eagle Rock parent Ray Travis, who was watched the hearing, said his 16-year-old daughter also was handcuffed and dragged out of bed by McFarland in January 2010.

The girl was later hospitalized for exhaustion, according to Travis, who said the episode rattled his daughter.

"My daughter is still traumatized," Travis said. "The way he runs the boot camp, he has no regard for children."

Pasadena Police have contacted Travis and will begin an investigation, according to Lt. Tracey Ibarra of the Pasadena Police Department.

--- End quote ---

I hope that this trial could be the end of all these small private boot camps in this city. What kind of parents do allow another person into the room of their children to drag them out to exercise only to complain about that the exercise was too much? Once thing is to order them to participate in a program. Another is allowing the staff members into your home. As a parent you should be able to wake your child, feed your child and take your child to a boot camp and wait at the boot camp until it is over as any other parent would do if it was a soccer game. I think that CPS should pay all the families participating in these programs in Pasadena a visit and start talking to them about parental responsibility,

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