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'via Blog this'EricNorwood
Joined 5 months ago
December 26, 2011
Please, if you love your child, look elsewhere for help.. I was at West Ridge Academy for the better part of three years. During that time, I witnessed and endured horrific physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Boys were forced to read religious doctrine, wear "dresses" instead of pants, tied to ropes and led around like dogs on a leash, and that's just the beginning. In the last few years, West Ridge Academy has been the named defendant in at least three sexual abuse related lawsuits (two of which are currently ongoing.) I urge you to google "West Ridge Academy abuse" or "Utah Boys Ranch abuse" for more information about this facility.
Leadership and governance
The board of directors is composed of prominent Utah residents including Shawn Bradley,[7] BYU religion instructor Sally Wyne, and LaVar Christensen.[8] Past board members included Utah Senator Delpha Baird, West Jordan city Judge Ronald Kunz, and police chief Ken McGuire.[9] Stan and Mary Ellen Smoot, and Richard and Linda J. Eyre serve on an advisory board.[7] The current executive director is Kenneth R. Allen, who is also director of Proficio Management, a management company owned by the academy.[10][11][12] Since their founding, they state they have helped over 25,000 teens.[13] West Ridge is licensed by the Utah Department of Human Services.[14] The license of West Ridge Academy is reviewed annually and the organization receives periodic visits from a licensing specialist to monitor and provide technical assistance and to insure compliance with Core and Categorical Rules of Treatment.[15]
History, Litigation and controversy
West Ridge has been the subject of several lawsuits. On May 15, 2008, Tyler Elsey, a former student, filed a lawsuit against the school in Utah District court alleging negligence and sexual abuse. As of June 2009, the case was inactive (the status in the Utah court system is given as "notice of removal").[25]
On April 9, 2010 a lawsuit was filed against West Ridge Academy, its board of directors, and several employees alleging medical malpractice, lack of informed consent, negligence, negligent placement, breach of fiduciary duty, outrageous conduct inflicting emotional distress, fraud, negligent hiring/retention, and breach of warranty. That case is still ongoing.[26]
On January 2, 2009, Eric Norwood, a past student of the academy, published an article alleging abuses and controversial practices at the ranch.[27] On January 9, 2009, Salt Lake City radio station KRCL invited Buttars, current West Ridge staff, and Eric Norwood to the talk show RadioActive! to discuss the article, but Buttars and West Ridge staff declined the invitation.[28] On October 21, 2010 Norwood sued West Ridge Academy in California District court, alleging negligence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. That case is still ongoing.[29]
The Academy professes to be nondenominational[3][5][30] and open to all regardless of religious affiliation. However, former students and staff at the academy say that there is a connection with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church).[31] The Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church, H. David Burton, said that the LDS Church "has been and continues to be a long-time supporter" of West Ridge Academy.[32]
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