WERE YOU SEXUALLY ABUSED IN A WYOMING YOUTH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT OR JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER?
You May Be Entitled To Substantial Compensation
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WYOMING YOUTH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS
Fighting for Survivors Sexually Abused in WY Youth Residential Treatment and Juvenile Detention Centers
Parents of children in private facilities paid large sums of money every month, trusting their kids would get the care they needed. For children in government-funded facilities, taxpayer dollars were allocated to provide safety and support. Instead, these children were subjected to abuse—something no one ever expected or agreed to.
In some youth facilities in Wyoming, victims who had never even met shared eerily similar stories of abuse, making their case even stronger and more disturbing. They were sent as children to these places because they needed help—not harm. Some of them had behavioral challenges, but that’s exactly why they were there in the first place.
It’s time to hold these facilities accountable and make sure no child ever suffers like this again. Speak up, demand change, and protect those who need it most. Contact Levy Konigsberg today.
Were you sexually abused?
History of Child Sexual Abuse in Wyoming Youth Residential Treatment and Juvenile Detention Centers
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 Sequel Youth and Family Services, which operated such facilities in Wyoming. The report revealed systemic sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, unsafe conditions, inhumane confinement practices, and neglect throughout these facilities.
Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:
Wyoming Regional Juvenile Detention Center (aka Natrona County Regional Juvenile Detention Center)
- In May 2018, former supervisor John Gallagher was accused of sexually assaulting a female youth resident.
Gallagher allegedly asked the victim to show him her breasts and then groped her.
He also allegedly unzipped his pants in front of the girl.
In November 2018, he pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual assault.
Normative Services Inc.
- In January 2021, it was reported that the facility was being shut down due to nearly two dozen licensing violations, including claims of violent abuse.
In June 2020, the Department of Family Services (DFS) found that an employee allegedly dragged a resident down the stairs by his feet.
In March 2020, a staff member was fired for allegedly pushing a child several times and grabbing the youth’s neck.
In 2016, a staff member was charged with felony child abuse for allegedly choking, punching, and kicking a youth resident.
- In 2009 and 2016, DFS intervened over concerns about staff using unsafe restraint methods.
Red Top Meadows
- In February 2015, former child care worker Emily Kathryn Yarbrough was accused of allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old boy.
She pled guilty to third-degree sexual assault and sexual battery.
Trinity Teen Solutions
- In September 2022, former youth residents alleged they were forced to do hard labor and endure humiliating punishments at the facility.
They alleged injuries like cuts, frostbite, and torn ligaments from tasks such as hauling heavy pipes and hay, building fences, dragging dead animals, and cleaning churches and recreation centers around the county.
Some girls were allegedly punished by being forced to run up and down a mountain while avoiding rattlesnakes, given only a can of olives and beans to eat, denied food or access to bathrooms, made to wear a shirt that said “Do Not Trust Me,” or forced to carry a backpack full of rocks. Staff also allegedly tied three girls to a goat for several days.
- In November 2023, a federal Court of Appeals reversed the lower court’s denial of class certification of the abuse and trafficking case against Trinity Teen Solutions.
Triangle Cross Ranch (aka Sunlight Mountain Boys Ranch)
- In September 2022, it was reported that boys at the facility were allegedly forced to do hard labor, including building barns, repairing vehicles, installing air conditioning units at a church, working construction, and bagging coffee grounds for a nearby monastery. They were also allegedly made to pull dead cows from ponds and siphon gasoline from vehicles using their mouths.
- In late 2020, records showed that the facility’s founder, Gerald Schneider, allegedly made boys at the facility provide labor for him at home.
He allegedly moved kids to Montana to evade inspections, lied about their whereabouts, and housed them in unapproved conditions. An adult was also allegedly found living in the children’s bunkhouse.
Staff were accused of allegedly interfering with government investigations.
- As punishment, boys were allegedly forced to box each other, had their mattresses taken away, and were made to physically restrain other boys.
- In March 2023, DFS noted several other violations between 2015 and 2022, including repeated health and safety violations at the ranch, including unsanitary conditions (feces, trash, broken facilities), neglect (kids left unsupervised, a boy denied medication), and dangerous practices (unattended weapons, a dead calf left for days).
In 2012, one staff member allegedly branded a boy’s arm with a cross.
- In September 2023, the facility changed its name and began running without a license.
Meadowlark Academy
- In September 2020, former employee Preston Thurin was charged with felony child abuse after a video showed him restraining an 11-year-old child for eight minutes.
Wyoming Behavioral Institute
- In March 2024, former psychiatrist Dr. David Martorano was sued for allegedly sexually harassing female staff and making inappropriate comments to patients.
Investigating Sexual Abuse in Wyoming Youth Residential Treatment and Juvenile Detention Centers
Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating abuse allegations at Wyoming youth residential treatment and juvenile detention centers, including:
- Wyoming Regional Juvenile Detention Center (aka Natrona County Regional Juvenile Detention Center)
- Normative Services Inc.
- Red Top Meadows
- Trinity Teen Solutions
- Triangle Cross Ranch (aka Sunlight Mountain Boys Ranch)
- Meadowlark Academy
- St. Joseph’s Children’s Home (aka St. Joseph’s Newell Center)
- Wyoming Behavioral Institute
If you or someone you know experienced abuse at these or similar facilities, contact our experienced attorneys today.
We specialize in sexual abuse lawsuits against powerful institutions. These include government entities (such as prisons, schools, and juvenile detention / juvenile treatment centers), technology companies, and clergy.
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We work on contingency, which means there’s no cost to hire and no fee unless we win.
Who Can You Sue in a Sex Abuse Civil Case?
In a sex abuse civil case, the parties you might sue can vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse and the relationships involved.
Some potential parties that could be sued in a sex abuse civil case include:
- Individual Perpetrator: The alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit. This is often the person who directly committed the abusive acts.
- Institutions and Organizations: If the abuse occurred within an institution or organization, such as a school, church, sports club, or workplace, and they failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the abuse, they might also be held liable.
- Employers: If the perpetrator was an employee of an organization or institution, the employer might be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employee if the abuse occurred within the scope of their employment.
- Property Owners: If the abuse occurred on a property owned by someone else, and the property owner failed to provide adequate security or take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse, they might be considered liable.
- Government Entities: In some cases, government entities might be involved, especially if the abuse occurred within a state institution or facility. Suing a government entity might involve specific procedures and limitations.
Sex abuse cases can be legally complex, so it's highly advisable to consult with experienced legal professionals who specialize in this area to understand your options and pursue the appropriate legal action. Levy Konigsberg, along with our team of sexual abuse lawyers, is available to provide assistance for your sexual abuse case.
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
Wyoming Sexual Abuse Attorneys
The statute of limitations is a law that limits the amount of time you have to start a legal case after something wrong or illegal has happened. Under current Wyoming law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse typically have until age 26 to file civil lawsuits.
This limitation highlights the urgency for survivors and families to act promptly in seeking justice.
Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at any Wyoming youth residential treatment and juvenile detention centers.
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.
Trust Levy Konigsberg's Legal Team for Proven Results in Sexual Abuse and Negligence Cases
Levy Konigsberg LLP, a nationally recognized law firm, has built a legacy over three decades, recovering over $3 billion in sexual abuse compensation for clients. Led by award-winning sexual abuse lawyers, we specialize in representing survivors in sexual abuse across the country, taking on powerful institutions. Our top-rated trial practice handles all types of sexual abuse or negligence cases, showcasing numerous testimonials and successful case results.