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February 18,
2005
Bethel Girls
Academy Temporarily Closed:
State Takes Custody of 44 Students following Abuse Claims; Director
Says Facility Will Reopen
By Jenny Hunsperger
PETAL — A school
for troubled teenagers was temporarily closed Thursday and its 44
students were released into state custody.
"For right now
we're going to close the doors," said Bethel Girls Academy director
Herman Fountain Jr. "We are planning on opening back up, but we've
got to get everything taken care of first."
The closure came
a day after 11 students fled from the facility.
Some girls said
they had been physically and verbally abused by staff members, and
one of the girls' mothers said she plans to press charges against
Fountain for assaulting a minor.
"The contract
was broken when he broke my daughter's wrist," said Miami resident
Angela Roberts, whose daughter, Angenika McNeil, 16, was injured
while at Bethel. "I want him prosecuted for what he did to my child.
He hides behind the word 'restrain,' but that word means 'abuse' to
him."
Fountain said
McNeil's injury occurred when she punched a wall at the academy.
Wednesday's
incident spawned an investigation by the state Department of Human
Services, Department of Health, the attorney general's office and
local law enforcement. But how the state agencies coordinate an
investigation is unclear.
"We have
statutory authority to inspect residential homes for children," said
Liz Sharlot, spokeswoman for the Department of Health. "In addition,
we respond to all complaints with regard to all facilities that we
inspect."
Current state
law mandates that residential facilities such as Bethel must receive
a certificate from the Health Department.
But Fountain
said further legislation is needed to protect everyone involved.
"A lot of people
don't know what type of kids we're dealing with here. We're talking
about drug addicts, alcoholics, runaways and some violent girls.
They'll say anything and do anything to get out," Fountain said.
In May, 38 girls
academy students were removed after several of them alleged abuse
and the facility was briefly closed. Investigating agencies worked
with Fountain to agree on a set of conditions that would allow the
school to re-open. No charges were filed in connection with the May
incident.
None of the
agencies will release details of the decree, but former employee
Nikki Rich, who quit her job as an academy drill instructor after
Wednesday's incident, said the school took measures to thwart abuse.
"There are
cameras there in the hallway, the dining facility, the kitchen and
in Mr. Fountain's office," she said. "And DHS people came twice this
month, but I wasn't working when they came."
Fountain said he
is able to endure the allegations because he knows the truth.
"I mean, I've
got four girls of my own and I treat the girls at the home as if
they were my own," he said. "I wouldn't abuse my kids and I wouldn't
abuse anyone else's kids."
jhunsperger@hattiesb.gannett.com
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