Cedar Bridge Military Academy mentioned in child porn case

[Oscar]

N.J. man, ex-director of a youth camp in York County, pleads guilty to child porn charges, York Daily Record, January 13, 2011:

York, PA - A New Jersey man who used to run a boot-camp-style training camp for youths in Franklin Township pleaded guilty Thursday to transportation of child pornography over the Internet, officials said.

In federal court in Trenton, Steven T. Baryla, 29, of Toms River, N.J., admitted to possessing and transporting child pornography in June 2009 while serving as head of a private, faith-based military camp called Cedar Bridge Military Academy, according to federal prosecutors.

Baryla also admitted that the images included some depictions of violence to children, prosecutors said.

Baryla had rented space at the Boy Scout camp Tuckahoe in Franklin Township for its summer program for several years before his arrest in June. David Schlendorf, Baryla's attorney, said last summer the criminal charges were not connected to the military academy or its campers. Schlendorf could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Baryla faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is set for May 10, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Trenton.

A federal grand jury handed up a five-count indictment against Baryla in April, charging him with three counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of transporting it.

On its website, Cedar Bridge described itself as a private, faith-based military camp for children ages 11 to 17 in summer and after-school programs.

Baryla and Cedar Bridge are also defendants in a civil lawsuit filed by a Connecticut couple who claim the academy staff terrorized their son when he participated in a Cedar Bridge camp at Tuckahoe in 2007.

The parents and camper, identified only by their initials in court records, allege that Cedar Bridge staff and counselors physically assaulted the plaintiff camper, verbally abused him, forced him to eat his own vomit and made him listen to sexually explicit stories told by camp employees and counselors, among other accusations made in U.S. Middle District Court in Harrisburg.

The plaintiffs say the camper returned home and suffered depression, anxiety, nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts, according to court documents. His parents want Cedar Bridge to pay for their son's past and future medical care.

The family initially also sued the York-Adams Area Council Inc. (now called the New Birth of Freedom Council), which rented part of the Tuckahoe camp to the academy, according to court records. Lawyers for the council said it had no legal duty to supervise or investigate the military academy's activities or its director, and, in November, a judge dismissed the council from the case.

A trial is scheduled for Dec. 5.

I have never heard of Cedar Bridge Military Academy before. Any webpage, newspaper articles so a datasheet can be created on the Wiki?

[Ursus]

I have never heard of Cedar Bridge Military Academy before. Any webpage, newspaper articles so a datasheet can be created on the Wiki?

Facebook group - Cedar Bridge Military Academy: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17042355996

Email: http://cma-usmcc.org

Office: 1358 Hooper Avenue
Location: Toms River, NJ

[Ursus]

Cedar Bridge Military Academy's website is, of course, no longer functional. They're outta binnis. Web Archive does, however, have a portal page for accessing a few years of their pages, ostensibly from March 2005 through July 2008.

Here's some material from their home page in June of 2008:

-------------- • -------------- • --------------

"The Mission of Cedar Bridge Military Academy is to foster a love of Corps, Country, and God by providing a vehicle for the application of leadership, strengthening character, teaching responsibility, improving self-discipline, developing an understanding of the role of our military in today's society, and building informed and productive citizens."[/list]

Cedar Bridge Military Academy
Headquarters & Admissions Office
1358 Hooper Avenue, PMB 300
Toms River, New Jersey 08753

E -mail: [email protected]

Phone: 732.288.9030
            732.288.9040

Emergency: 609.548.9131


Cedar Bridge Military Academy © 2008

[Ursus]

And here's some material from their "About Us" page, also from June 2008:

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Cedar Bridge Military Academy (CMA) is a private, faith-based youth-serving organization dedicated to providing young adults with an intense, rewarding experience through military and high adventure training. We conduct year round after school activities for youth ages 11-17 in the New Jersey - Tri-State area, as well as summer leadership camps for teens from around the world. We are looking for people like you to join our ranks and become members of the finest cadet corps in the nation!

The primary purpose of CMA is to instill self-discipline, respect, compassion for others, and a sense of intellectual curiosity in young people. This is accomplished through the promotion of the military arts and sciences, character and physical development, service to community, and education in, and allegiance to, the Constitution of the United States.

Cedar Bridge Military Academy is headquartered in Ocean County, New Jersey. Our cadets meet one night each week in addition to one weekend each month. However, our activities are not limited to those meetings. Whether it's leadership classes, academic tutoring for school, singing in the cadet choir, community service, or just "hanging out", our cadets have something to do every day.

All CMA cadets attend a two to five week training program during the summer, beginning with basic training, and then progressing to more advanced training each year. Other activities include trips to military installations, community service projects, parades, Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) seminars, and response to emergencies, just to name a few. Our classes include military drill and ceremonies, uniform wear, fiscal responsibility, US military traditions and history, team building, time management, study skills, land navigation, water survival, effective communication, and other skills and knowledge bases that enable the cadets to perform better in school and life. Through our program, cadets learn to respect their superiors, peers, subordinates, and themselves, as well as make their beds, clean a bathroom, and do their own laundry. The end goal is not only to prepare those who want to join the military for service in our armed forces, but also to give every cadet a sense of self worth, accomplishment, compassion for others, and to prepare them for one of the most challenging events... life.

Although our program gives future Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines a jump start on the skills and knowledge they will need in the armed forces, joining does not obligate the child to join the military. The most valuable aspects of our program the self discipline, respect, integrity, attention to detail, and dedication to excellence will help every child, from the "slacker" to the honors student, regardless of their future career goals.


Cedar Bridge Military Academy © 2008

[Ursus]

And... here's some stuff from their "Curriculum" page, also from June, 2008:

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During the summer months Cadets participate in our summer programs.  Each unique in itself, the common ground between the courses being the daily grind of military activities.  A sample schedule is provided below:

0550 - reveille
0600-0730 - physical training
0730-0800 - personal hygiene
0800-0900 - morning formation & breakfast
0900-1000 - barracks arrangement
1015-1215 - academic instruction   
1215-1300 - noon formation & lunch
1300-1600 - military instruction
1615-1700 - physical training
1730-1830 - evening formation & dinner
1845-1930 - personal hygiene
1930-2100 - letter writing & bible study
1930-2100 - canteen privileges
2100 - lights out

Cadets at Cedar Bridge are constantly being challenged as leaders.

From their first day in the corps, the meaning of teamwork and followership are stressed. Before someone can be an effective leader, they must first be an effective follower. Our Cadets learn the traits needed to be successful in school, at home, and as a member of their community. We make it our job to get the students of today ready to be the leaders of tomorrow. Are you doing everything you can to ensure the success of your student?

Cadets begin as recruits and work their way through the ranks taking on more responsibility - and privilege - with each promotion. By their second summer in CMA, the Cadet is ready to take on the challenge of a staff position within the corps. By the time the Cadet is a junior in high school, they could be the ranking Cadet officer and be supervising over 150 Cadets! Everyday is a learning experience for the new leaders - seasoned CMA adults and veteran Cadets are there every step of the way to help redirect and counsel them back to success.


Cedar Bridge Military Academy © 2008