FLORIDA YOUTH RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors Sexually Abused in Florida Juvenile Residential Facilities

For over a decade youth in Florida have suffered in the custody of residential facilities, both state run and privately operated. These youth have been sexually abused in places that were specifically designed to help them and improve their lives. But instead have contributed to the harm and suffering of those youth.

It’s been a long time coming, but survivors are finally coming forward to talk about what they experienced and to let these residential facilities, in Florida and throughout the country, know that what they went through is not acceptable. And the perpetrators and the system will be brought to justice in some way.

If you or someone you love was an inmate or resident in a Florida juvenile detention or residential facility and experienced sexual abuse, Levy Konigsberg can help you in your fight for justice. We can help you find out what your compensation options are, and get you everything you deserve. 

Sexual Abuse at Florida Juvenile Residential Facilities (Privately Operated)

Privately operated juvenile residential facilities within Florida are run by companies such as TrueCore, Rite of Passage, and Youth Opportunities Investments, each of which are for-profit companies. 

When it comes to sexual abuse in these facilities it can be more difficult to find the information, because not everything is reported to the authorities the way it should be. But what we know is that there has been a great deal of sexual abuse happening at privately operated juvenile residential facilities in Florida for many years. 

In June 2024, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released a sweeping report detailing abuse at residential treatment facilities operated by major healthcare companies, including Universal Health Services, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, and Vivant Behavioral Healthcare (formerly Sequel Youth and Family Services), all of which operate or operated such facilities in Florida. The report revealed systemic sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, unsafe conditions, inhumane confinement practices, and neglect throughout these facilities.

A December 2019 report from the US Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics reported increases in sexual victimization rates of over 20% at three juvenile residential facilities including Liberty Juvenile Unit for Specialized Treatment at 26%, Hastings Comprehensive Mental Health Treatment Program at 22%, and Gulf Academy at 21%. 

Facilities operated by TrueCore also saw increases nearly across the board, including Highlands Youth Academy at 9.5%, Lake Academy in Tampa at 13.8%, Palmetto Youth Academy at 9.1%, and Tampa Residential Facility at 3.8%.

Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:

Highlands (Avon Park) Youth Academy

Highlands Youth Academy was a non-secure residential commitment program that closed in 2021. The facility was run by Trucore, which holds approximately $350 million of state contracts between its nine private juvenile facilities in Florida.

• March 2015: Norma Jean Wynn of Highlands (Avon Park) Youth Academy, was arrested for evidence tampering and child neglect for allegedly covering up abuse at the mental health treatment program.

• March 12, 2015: Deidre Baucom is alleged to have had sex with two youth from Highlands (Avon Park) Youth Academy including a 16-year-old patient. Others stated they also had sex with Baucom during her time at Highlands Youth Academy. 

• July 2015: A grand jury recommended the closure of Highlands Youth Academy.

• November 2015: Detectives received a tip regarding alleged criminal activity, including sexual activity between staff and residents, at Highland Youth Academy. 

• 2016: A former employee (Baucom) pled guilty to sexual misconduct with a juvenile. 

• August 2017: Three former Highland Youth Academy staff members, Norma Wynn, Jose Sanchez, and Johnny Hart, were arrested following a multi-year investigation. The investigation found that the staff were engaged in criminal misconduct and abuse toward juveniles in their custody. 

• October 2019: Highlands (Avon Park) Youth Academy closed after private operator contract expired. 

• December 2019: A report from the US Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics reported drastic increased sexual victimization rates at TrueCore residential facilities over a 6 year period, including Highlands Youth Academy at 9.1%.

Palmetto Youth Academy

Palmetto Youth Academy works with high-risk juveniles with substance abuse and mental health disorders. Prior to its closing, the facility was run by a for-profit company (Trucore).

• February 2017: Leroy Bostic Jr., formerly a contract with Palmetto Youth Academy, pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation, and introduction of harmful material to a minor. He was sentenced to 110 months in prison and sexual offender probation.

• December 2019: A report from the US Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics reported drastic increased sexual victimization rates at TrueCore residential facilities over a 6 year period, including Palmetto Youth Academy at 9.1%.

Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility

The Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility was closed on December 24, 2012 following years of abuse allegations against the school and its staff. The facility was operated by a private contractor.

• August 2012: A 15-year-old resident was slammed against a wall and pinned to the ground for approximately 20 minutes by guard Shannon Abbott.

• December 2012: The Department of Juvenile Justice released the footage of the 15-year-old resident being abused. 

• December 24, 2012: Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility was closed following the release of the resident abuse video. 

• February 2013: A former guard at Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility was arrested after reports from six girls that they had been sexually abused by him. 

Central Pasco Girls Academy

Central Pasco Girls Academy is a for-profit juvenile corrections facility that provides intensive mental health treatment services for girls of moderate-risk. This residential program is operated by TruCore. 

• In January 2015, during a pre-audit and on-site audit the DJJ found that nine standards were not met. 

• In August 2018, Willie Malik Jackson allegedly forced a 16-year-old girl to perform oral sex. Video footage showed her entering a bathroom with him after midnight. 

• In November 2018, the same 16-year-old girl reported that she was raped twice by the same caretaker at Central Pasco Girls Academy. Video footage again showed her entering a bathroom with him after midnight. 

• In November 2018, a sexual assault forensic exam confirmed that the 16-year-old girl had recently had intercourse.

St. John’s Youth Academy

St. John’s Youth Academy was a boys facility run by Sequel Youth and Family Services. The Department of Juvenile Justice ended their contract in 2022. Sequel has had other issues with abuse and ‘failure to ensure a safe environment’ at its other facilities and has had other facilities closed down. In fact, the company ‘sold, transferred, or otherwise closed all of its former 40 operating facilities.’

• February 2013: Dwayne Ross asked for assistance from a teen and then showed the youth illicit photos then forced the youth to perform oral sex on him before raping him and then performing oral sex on the youth. 

• October 2022: An 18-year-old inmate allegedly attacked a staff member who they alleged was having a sexual relationship with other youth inmates. 

• 2022: St. John’s Youth Academy closed after the Department of Juvenile Justice ended the contract with owner Sequel Youth and Family Services.

Charles Britt Academy

Charles Britt Academy was a non-secure residential treatment center for teen boys with high-risk behavioral problems run by Sequel TSI. It provided substance abuse treatment, social and life skills, vocational training, and on-site educational classes.

• June 4, 2022: A 17-year-old boy was allegedly involved in an argument with staff members at Charles Britt Academy. Andra Walters then, allegedly, assaulted him by punching him in the face, striking him, and elbowing him multiple times while he was held down by Pete Adolphus Battle. Other staff members are said to have watched and not intervened. 

• June 2022: Charles Britt Academy closed following the arrest of two employees (Pete Aldolphus Battle and Andra Walters) on child abuse charges. The report does not indicate whether there was sexual abuse. However, sexual abuse is very likely to occur in facilities where other physical abuse is known to have occurred.

Okeechobee Youth Development Center

Okeechobee Youth Development Center was originally a second campus of the Florida School for Boys in Marianna, a facility rife with abuse reports, though it changed names and owners several times after that. As of 2009 it was purchased by G4S Youth Services, which changed its name to TrueCore in 2017. It operated for 60 years before the Department of Juvenile Justice chose not to renew the contract.

• May 2015: The Youth Facility’s program administrator and regional director were told that two of the female workers had engaged in sex with the confined youth. One had been seen in a supply closet with a youth and another allegedly kissed and also had sex with a youth in the showers. 

• November 2022: The Department of Juvenile Justice found that youth who attempted to report their mistreatment at the Center were barred from doing so. 

• December 2020: Okeechobee Youth Development Center closed after the Department of Juvenile Justice announced that upon expiration of their contract it would not be renewed.

Florida Challenge Academy (Camp Blanding)

Florida Challenge Academy is an alternative program for at-risk youth that works with the National Guard to aid those involved with or at-risk for involvement with substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, and criminal activity.

• March 2022: Libby Chrome, a supervisor at Camp Blanding, allegedly began a relationship with a 16-year-old youth at the facility where she worked.

• August 2022: It was first alleged publicly that Chrome had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a youth from her place of work. 

• October 2022: Libby Chrome was charged as an authority figure soliciting or engaging in lewd conduct with a minor.

Walton Academy for Growth and Change

Walton Academy is a residential treatment program offering mental health and substance abuse services for adjudicated boys in a secure setting. 

• July 2018: Antoine Davis, youth worker at Walton Academy, was alleged to have watched four residents sexually assault a fellow detainee using a shampoo bottle. It was alleged that he not only watched the event and celebrated it with the attackers afterward but actively instigated and then encouraged the attack.

Broward Girls Academy

Broward Girls Academy was a non-secure youth residential program operated by Youth Opportunity Investments, LLC. The facility is now closed. 

• 2012: Talisha Reddick was alleged to have made sexual advances toward a 14-year old youth and would become violent when the girl attempted to reject her advances. Reddick allegedly had a history of touching youth inmates and developing inappropriate relationships with them. 

• March 2013: Pamela Rollins reported to police that her daughter had been engaging in a sexual relationship with Talisha Reddick, a staff member from the Broward Girls Academy where she had formerly been a resident. 

• October 2017: A 15-year-old former resident alleged that she had sex with a counselor who had worked at the Broward Girls Academy. The Riviera Beach Police found that there was probably cause for charges to be brought against the counselor. 

Fort Myers Youth Academy

Fort Myers Youth Academy is a non-secure, residential treatment facility for girls run by TrueCore Behavioral Solutions, LLC. 

• In December 2015, JoEllen Marie Gardner was arrested for allegedly sending obscene text messages including sexual photos to a 16-year-old former resident at the Fort Myers Facility where she worked.   Gardner was charged with distributing obscene material to a 17-year-old.

Investigating Sexual Abuse at Florida Residential Treatment Facilities

Levy Konigsberg is currently examining reports from past and present youth inmates who experienced sexual abuse by staff at residential treatment facilities throughout Florida. This investigation covers facilities, whether still operating or closed, with a known history or allegations of sexual abuse and related complaints, including:

• Highlands (Avon Park) Youth Academy
• Palmetto Youth Academy
• Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility
• Central Pasco Girls Academy
• St. John’s Youth Academy
• Charles Britt Academy
• Okeechobee Youth Development Center
• Florida Challenge Academy (Camp Blanding)
• Walton Academy for Growth and Change
• Broward Girls Academy
• Fort Myers Youth Academy
• Hastings Youth Academy Juvenile Residential Facility
• Eckerd Youth Alternatives
• Gulf Academy & Lake Girls Academy
• Marion Youth Academy
• Riverside Academy
• SandyPines Residential Treatment Center
• Daytona Juvenile Residential Facility
• Palm Beach Youth Academy (formerly Palm Beach Juvenile Correctional Facility)
• Vision Quest Warrington

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other youth residential treatment or juvenile detention center staff member.
• The abuse occurred at any youth residential treatment or juvenile detention facility.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold youth residential treatment facilities,  juvenile detention centers, private healthcare companies, and other facility operators accountable for their failures to stop abusive staff members and protect young residents.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

Florida Sexual Abuse Attorneys

The amount of time that a victim of childhood sexual abuse in Florida has to file a lawsuit depends on the facts and circumstances of the particular case. We recommend that you reach out to us if you have questions about the statute of limitations in your case.  For those who were sexually abused in privately-operated Florida juvenile residential facilities when they were under age 16, and were born after July 1, 1988, there should be no statute of limitations that applies. So, in most cases, this means that a person who experienced sexual assault when under age 16 is permitted to file a civil lawsuit at any time so long as they were born after July 1, 1988 (i.e. the person did not turn age 22 as of July 1, 2010).

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at Florida youth residential treatment facilities.

We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and seeking justice for survivors of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers and youth residential treatment facilities. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing legal representation and support to survivors, and we are actively investigating allegations of abuse. We are working tirelessly to ensure that survivors have access to justice and that future generations of young people are safe from harm within these institutions.