They have law-enforcement ties, too. I am proof that money doesnt protect against abuse, Hilton told state legislators, speaking in support of a bill that would better protect children in troubled-youth treatment programs. More than a decade later, legislators are finally making headway. (KY3) - Missouris attorney general is investigating a second Cedar County boarding school. Children as young as four-years-old may have had up to five foster . In Missouri, at least, this could be changing. Agape Ranch is a thriving faith-based non-profit offering a forward-thinking and compassionate community-based solution to the foster care crisis facing America today. 24 homes where foster children can receive the support they need in order to mature in all aspects of their lives. 90% of young adults aging-out of the foster care system will become homeless, incarcerated, in prostitution, sex trafficked, or dead within three years. When I first got there, I just stayed on the low, trying to do my best, hoping to get out, he says. After being charged with more than 100 felonies last year linked to allegations of child sex abuse, physical abuse, endangerment and neglect, the owners of a now-defunct Missouri girls ranch . Trump White House Pressured Disney to Censor Jimmy Kimmel Former students of Agape from Alabama, Texas, and Michigan have filed two civil lawsuits against the Boarding School for multiple charges that include physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Child welfare officials in Washington cited Agap for overcrowding and poor sanitation, according to a 1995 newspaper article. They insisted everyone call them Brother Jim and Maam, and their son Brother Bryan.. Stockton is located 130 miles south of Kansas City, a lazy drive down sunbaked roads lined with oak forests and rolling fields. IN THE MONTHS AFTER HIS ARRIVAL, Breshears feelings about Agap changed. Jan. 23, 2023. Former students wonder if its because of this that authorities failed to act sooner. Agape Boarding school has had its share of abuse allegations over the years. The school has been operating in Missouri where until 2021, privately owned schools were not required to report to the state. The Thrive program will provide housing and mentorship for young adults during their college or trade school career. Alumni from Agap and Circle of Hope feel the momentum is swinging in their direction. Youre going to be dead or in prison three months after you turn 18.. (They do so much good for this town and you cannot believe the difference they have made in these young men, says Jackie Cargell, who has lived in the town for 57 years.) They called the school Agap, meaning Gods love for man. KANSAS CITY (AP) Maggie Drew's dad sent her to Circle . By JIM SALTER. Since last year, 19 former students have filed lawsuits against the school, alleging physical and emotional abuse, and in . Agaps handbook states it has a strict hands-off policy regarding the students, and does not use corporal punishment. Among other things, the new state law allows state or local authorities to petition the court for closure of a facility if children's safety or health are believed to be in immediate danger. 2022 maintained by Gibler Shaw Enterprises. Thanks to the generous support of The Frazier Family Foundation, Gala sponsors, Gala attendees, and the community, $369,402 was raised in support of the next two homes at The Ranch during the 2021 Legacy Gala: A Matter of Time! He says one told local police that he had escaped from a Nazi camp.. James Clemensen was a California State Highway patrolman with a death wish so extreme the wives of his fellow troopers forbade their husbands from hanging out with him. Published: Mar. According to AG Schmitts office, the Cedar County Sheriffs Department employs at least three people who used to work at Agap. The founders of Circle of Hope face around 100 charges, some alleging sexual abuse. Upon completion, our self sustaining community will care for up to 132 foster children and young adults at a time. At least three Cedar County Sheriff's Department employees currently or previously work at Agape, including two full-time deputies, one of whom is married to the daughter of Agape's founder, the petition read. And I did get saved.. Agape Ranch will establish a safe environment of 24 homes where foster children can receive the support they need in order to mature in all aspects of their lives. The next home at The Ranch is for youth aging-out of foster care and the need is urgent. The site, designed as a Christian camp, had cabins, a shower facility, a mess hall, and a small chapel. It appeared to be a vast improvement over his previous digs. For a time, Breshears stayed out of trouble. Editors picks COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The picture flashed on the big screen, and Brenda Gordon immediately . ", "Today, the many victims who have come forth can rest assured that no more children will be hurt at Agape Boarding School," Bucklin said in a text. The video was posted Sunday by Robert Bucklin, who says he survived physical and sexual abuse at Agape Boarding School near Stockton. The desire of 51:10 Youth Ranch is to provide a safe place for children, horses and families. Recently, individuals associated with Agap have been accused of a growing list of crimes. Former students and their attorneys allege that for years Clemensen has been a toxic presence at the school, encouraging his staff to use violence to maintain order. Francis said that Robert Graves, a Cedar County sheriffs deputy who had worked at Agap, sat in on a meeting Francis had with a social worker who was looking into abuse allegations at the school. Jim and Kathy appeared at the hospital a few weeks later. Related: More than a dozen people reported abuse at a religious boarding school in rural Missouri before the owners' daughter launched a campaign that got action. Whatever the case, Clemensen has many allies where it perhaps counts the most: in the community. Weve had 6,000 students and only a small percent are making these claims, and I could give you the names of many who thank me. Rolling Stone contacted one of them, Matt Carlson, who says he spent the better part of a year at Agap in the early 2000s. In May 2021, the law requiring religious schools to register with the state passed. We felt they needed God in their lives. The state, he says, had no clue how to get to a kids heart.. One student, identified only by his initials, describes being forced to run outside while a staffer tailed him in a four-wheeler with a stick attached to the front, threatening to ram anyone who wasnt moving fast enough. Selena Gomez Taking a Break From Social Media After Hailey Bieber Drama: I'm 'Too Old for This The charges come after the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated allegations of abuse at the boarding school. Which means that even if Missouri does end up shutting down Agap, the school could open in another state just as the Clemensens did when they were driven out of Washington. He says he and others suffered frequent physical abuse, at the hands of at least a dozen staff members, and others didnt stop it. Facebook Page. The legislation would require the schools to register with the state, and create paths for the state to conduct safety inspections of the facilities and shut them down after abuse allegations. In recent months, Clemensen has become the face of the controversy a fearless leader doing Gods work to those fighting to save his school, a sadistic villain to those who aim to close it. Pinehaven did not respond to a request for comment. The Agape Boarding School was in Othello from 1992-96. When speaking with Rolling Stone, Clemensen denied the allegations against him and explained his approach to reform. I was sheltered, Breshears says. Operators declined to comment about the investigation. Staffers grabbed Breshears and, he claims, threw him onto the glass. The BBC was given access to their UK boot camp, where they learn how to teach Mormon beliefs and use social media to reach potential converts. It received initial passage in the house and needs one more vote before going on to the Senate. Agape Ranch is dedicated to making a difference within their community and building capacity within the team. January 11, 2023 / 6:04 PM They would say, Youre nothing. Located just outside Stockton, Agape is the second unlicensed Christian boarding school in the state to be investigated for allegations of abuse. More than 60% of the children in our county are being placed outside of our county due to the lack of foster homes in our community. . Its education and human services departments do not license religious schools, or any private boarding schools, and child protective services does not have the authority to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect at them; instead, they must refer those reports to law enforcement. Though Ms. Allred's office has spent months soliciting a cash settlement, we were unaware that a suit would be filed. In 1991, Todd Bindley, then 13, moved in. McCrary said his office has received complaints about Agap, and that theyve all been investigated as far as it could go. He called Graves a very good deputy. McCrary said that he ensures there is no conflict of interest when investigating Agap complaints by involving other agencies, like the social services department. He enjoyed watching movies, listening to Elvis, and playing soccer with his friends. By the time he ended up in the Padded Palace, he recalls, I was bleeding all over my head and hands. So he scrawled the words Fuck Agap on the wall using his own blood. In August, Sandoval was charged with arranging the kidnapping of an emancipated teen in Fresno, California, on behalf of the boys estranged mother, and then having him driven, handcuffed, 27 hours to Agap. He lost his red shirt and became familiar with the one place no student wanted to end up: Brown Town. That status, characterized by the brown shirt a student was forced to wear, according to lawsuits and depositions, came with extreme workouts, the loss of talking privileges, and a restricted meal plan that often consisted of a slice of bread and peanut butter, or a tortilla with a scoop of cold refried beans. They promoted me I was the youngest person to go red. None of these inspections are required at religious boarding schools. That was the last straw; they had him committed. He remembers verbal abuse, such as being told, the world didnt want you and says withholding food was a punishment., Staff members would slam you on the ground, slam you into walls, pick you up by the collar and just slam you around. More than 90% of young adults aging-out of the foster care system will become homeless, incarcerated, in prostitution, sex trafficked, or dead within three years. You can start to heal., For his part, Breshears is grateful to be free. Staff called it the intake room. Boyd and Stephanie Householder are facing more than 100 charges of sexual, physical and emotional abuse that allegedly took place at their faith-based boarding school in Missouri. They would put you down, says Breshears. South Carolina is a possibility; it still does not require religious schools to register with the state. The AG was on board. Bryan Clemensen was not among those charged. Graves did not respond to a request for comment. Regretfully, child abuse and neglect have continued to rise and the work of Agape Ranch is needed now more than ever. At first glance, the facility for at-risk and unmotivated boys a Baptist institution in Stockton, Missouri wasnt so terrible. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak, House select committee hearing paints China as a strategic antagonist, JetBlue flight forced to abort landing in close call at Logan Airport, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settles claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M, Agape Boarding School, Stockton, Cedar County, Missouri. Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate last year and sworn in this month. 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