Though he is 16, he is a freshman; Agaps curriculum is often not compatible with local requirements. And he said, No, theyre not. He cuffed me up and dropped me back off at Agap. Earlier this year, Smock, the schools longtime physician, was charged with 12 felony sexual-molestation crimes against those in his care. He smacked me in the face with his elbow for saying the f-word. Once they were done, staff members took away Schrags clothes and bedding, he said, and made him wear only a bathrobe and his boxers for two months. The industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that claims to help or fix troubled teenagers . We are faced with the horrifying truth that a network of immoral individuals have engaged in what amounts to organized crime against children, Rob Vescovo, the Republican speaker of the Missouri House, wrote in a letter to U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore, urging her to employ the FBI to investigate. Despite the concerns former students have raised recently, no state agency has the ability under Missouri law to regularly inspect how children at Agap are treated. One day after the FBI announced the arrest of a former Agape Boarding School dean, a civil right's . The Agap case is just the latest scandal to emerge from the billion-dollar troubled-teen industry, a loosely regulated network of therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, religious academies, and wilderness camps set up to help teenagers with drug addiction and behavioral problems. The stories of abuse told through reports by NBC News, the Kansas City Star and others prompted Missouri lawmakers to hold hearings and propose legislation last month to ramp up state oversight. The charges come after the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated allegations of abuse at the boarding school. The school still faces a wave of lawsuits accusing administrators of abuse. 24, 2021 at 10:23 AM PDT | Updated: Mar. We are the best rehab . It also taught creationism and that women should be subservient to their husbands, while weaving biblical references into the materials. The most surprising thing is that nothing has been done so far to change anything, Ingle said. Since then, former students testified at legislative hearings that they tried to report the abuse at Agape and the now-closed Circle of Hope Girls Ranch for years, but that Cedar County authorities and other officials did not respond to the . He is pleased to hear the Missouri attorney generals office is now investigating Agape Boarding School. Riley Olson and His crew-help the students start and progress colts raised on the ranch, and each year they have a public auction and the young men that are a part of the program show the horse and ride him through the sale. Since Circle of Hope opened in 2006, at least 15 people said they reported abuse at the ranch to at least six local, state and federal agencies in Missouri, an NBC News investigation found, based . These courses are core requirements for Florida . The next home at The Ranch is for youth aging-out of foster care and the need is urgent. MANY OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST Agap staffers are easily found on podcasts and interviews on YouTube. Jan. 23, 2023. One student said staffers had branded him with a cross. He says he and others suffered frequent physical abuse, at the hands of at least a dozen staff members, and others didnt stop it. It now has 12. A decent life.. An investigation into the school began after The Star reported on the abuse allegations last year. He is living in California with his mother, Jennifer, and attending a public high school. Seven former students said staff members had assaulted them. Jacob smelled foul and the . The school has been operating in Missouri where until 2021, privately owned schools were not required to report to the state. The result, experts said, is that in much of the country, no one from the government checks to ensure that these facilities, often in remote regions, meet basic standards before children are enrolled. 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. He cut it 1x and never would respond to my calls. Cedar . "If you have children who are fearful that they're going to be sent back to these facilities, you see a lot of instances where children might recant their stories," said Caitlin Whaley, director of legislation for the department. They claim Clemensen was on a power trip and seemed to enjoy brutalizing the kids in his charge. Stockton is located 130 miles south of Kansas City, a lazy drive down sunbaked roads lined with oak forests and rolling fields. KANSAS CITY (AP) Maggie Drew's dad sent her to Circle . You can start to heal., For his part, Breshears is grateful to be free. Staff members would jump on you, said Schrag. (Both have pleaded not guilty.) One killed in officer-involved shooting in Branson, Mo. Agape Boys Ranch Entrance. They were marched downstairs, where things escalated, until, Breshears alleges, he was lying facedown with a staffer sitting on his legs and two others digging their kneecaps into his pressure points. . The Missouri House Committee on Children and Families issued a report in November concluding that there are numerous facilities in the state that have abused vulnerable children in their care, with no state oversight, for many years. Still, it was only a partial picture, based on interviews with former students and information from state officials, because Missouri doesnt keep track of how many religious boarding schools exist in the state. After abuse allegations at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, a religious boarding school near Agap, began spreading on TikTok last spring, the Cedar County Sheriffs Department opened an investigation, which the state attorney general joined and is ongoing. Exposing Agape is about exactly what it's name says. She thought heavy metal was like witchcraft, he says. The Republican-sponsored measure requires religious boarding schools to register with the state, pass a health department inspection and ensure that staff meet minimum standards. The schools are unrelated and are not affiliated with any particular Christian denomination. 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. Robert Bucklin, 28, who is identified in the motion and lawsuit as R.B. 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. 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. I for sure think it would be harder to bring charges, because then your standard of proof is going to be higher, said Daniel Pollack, a social work professor at Yeshiva University. But then, Breshears made friends and began to reconsider his allegiances particularly, he says, after he witnessed classmates getting restrained. Agape bills itself as a 30-year-old Christian outfit that "has helped thousands of troubled teens" in part "by showing God's love daily to these boys." But those who identify as abuse survivors . 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. Circle of Hope Girls' Ranch was a reformatory boarding school located in Humansville, Missouri.The school opened in July 2006 and was closed in 2020 amid reports and lawsuits filed by former students alleging child abuse, as well as due to an investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.. Before the school's closure, parents, former students, and staff filed multiple reports to . That meant calling out and even disciplining classmates for infractions like cursing, talking in line, refusing to pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, or talking about their pasts. On Dec. 21, a judge issued a preliminary injunction that will keep him off the list until he receives a full trial (with testimony and subpoenaed witnesses) or until further Order of this Court. In the meantime, Clemensen is prevented from having physical contact with students, but can continue working at the school. The site was littered with old barrels, wood piles, abandoned cars, and insulation containing asbestos. The staff often singled out members of Brown Town for abuse, depositions filed by former Agap students suggest. 25, 2021 at 2:05 PM PDT. The Montana Family Foundation, an anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage advocacy organization, lobbied against the proposals, as well, and Smith said their opposition scared lawmakers who didnt want a negative mark on the conservative groups legislative scorecard. Right away, staff shaved his head, handed him an orange shirt and a pair of Wranglers, moved him into a dorm that looked like Marine barracks, and introduced him to a dizzying litany of rules. At least two other states Montana and Arkansas carve out licensing exemptions for religious facilities. So far Clemensen has kept his name out of the registry; he lost an appeal on Nov. 17, and filed for a judicial review in circuit court, which granted him a temporary restraining order keeping him off the list. Schmitt last year asked a Cedar County judge to close Agape, but the judge had not yet issued a decision. Circle of Hope was opened in 2006 by Boyd Householder, a former Agap employee, as a school for rebellious teenage girls. The school closed in 2020 amid investigations. If I can save one kid, its worth it to me.. Andrew Breshears in his Agap uniform. In 1995, county officials shut them down after health inspectors found the school which by then had 140 students and 25 staffers had rotting food, holes in the walls large enough to allow rodents to enter, and exposed wiring. Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate last year and sworn in this month. Thats where someone went too far. Call us today and find long-term recovery. Some former students have made the allegations against Agape Boarding School and Legacy Boys Academy in Stockton, Masters Ranch in far southern Missouri, and Circle of Hope Girls Ranch near . We felt they needed God in their lives. The state, he says, had no clue how to get to a kids heart.. Though the area is largely Baptist, Cedar County has a tradition of religious tolerance. (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.) The posts went viral even receiving a thumbs-up from Paris Hilton. The three were convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Still, administrators at many of these schools insist they are a force for good. In 1996, Agap moved to a 200-acre ranch in Cedar County, Missouri. Allegations of physical and sexual abuse at Agape and Circle of Hope Girls' Ranch prompted a state law in 2021 requiring stricter oversight of such facilities. ON SEPT. 7, 2022, ATTORNEY GENERAL SCHMITT and the State Department of Social Services (DSS) filed to close Agap. Im trying to aim for a decent life, you know what Im saying? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The state attorney generals office claims that Agap staff threw students into walls, pushed them to the ground, ordered them to perform 1,000 pushups, intentionally starved them, and forced them to sleep in handcuffs and wear them for as long as eight days. Amanda Householder is suing her parents, Boyd and Stephanie Householder, owners of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School. Wednesday afternoon, a House committee questions Missouri Department of Social Services leaders about their investigations into boarding schools. They say theyre still haunted by nightmares, hypervigilance, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Agape Ranch-courtesy photo. Lack of oversight is not limited to Missouri. 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. That was the last straw; they had him committed. Schrag says the verbal abuse was constant. Mow Grass and Maintain Landscaping. Tuesday, The Independent reported that DSS substantiated 10 preponderance of evidence claims of physical abuse at Agape. 24 homes where foster children can receive the support they need in order to mature in all aspects of their lives. Agape Boarding School, a Christian reform school in Cedar County, is under investigation by local authorities and the Missouri Attorney Generals office. For so long, nobody cared.. Lucas Francis, 19, said he regularly witnessed staff members slam boys into walls and onto the ground when he attended Agap from 2017 to 2020. I can at least try to show others that you dont have to keep it inside. It has not come up for a vote yet, but key Republicans in the Legislature have already signaled support. The group claims a wide range of abuse, from starvation to physical and emotional abuse. 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. Lawmakers held hearings and introduced a bill that would give the state some oversight. Agape Boarding School was moving away from the "nonbelievers" in Washington and California and heading east. Youre dirtbags, youre hoodlums. To keep order, Agap instituted a military-like hierarchy, indicated by colored shirts that denoted ranks. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Clemensen said that the abuse allegations are lies, and suggests they are inspired by the political ambitions of State Attorney General Eric Schmitt who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November and a small group of disgruntled former students hoping for a big payday. What they are claiming would never be OK, he says. Circle of Hope closed in 2020, and its owners, Boyd and Stephanie Householder, face 101 felony charges, including statutory rape, abuse and neglect of a child. More than 90% of young adults aging out of the foster system will become homeless, incarcerated, in prostitution, sex trafficked, or dead within three years. They said that they were bringing me to my parents, he says. One morning, he overheard one of the Clemensen daughters asking for help with a math problem, to which Bindley shot back a smartass remark. Trump White House Pressured Disney to Censor Jimmy Kimmel Operators declined to comment about the investigation. Children said pastors and staff members at both facilities choked and punched them, kept them in solitary confinement, handcuffed them to beds and forced them to box each other. The Clemenson family, who currently runs Agape, has been shut down in two states due to abuse allegations but no charges were ever made. Though Ms. Allred's office has spent months soliciting a cash settlement, we were unaware that a suit would be filed. (361) 742-6330. Updated: Dec 13, 2022 / 12:48 PM CST. 2022 maintained by Gibler Shaw Enterprises. Clemensen has said the move was necessary because negative publicity has caused enrollment to plummet, and it was not financially feasible to stay open. but has gone public in the past year with his . At first glance, the facility for at-risk and unmotivated boys a Baptist institution in Stockton, Missouri wasnt so terrible. For secular youth facilities regulated by Missouris social services department, as well as those that have contracts with the state, social welfare agents conduct inspections at least twice a year to review staff training, check compliance with fire and health codes, and make sure employees have background checks and that children get proper medical attention. Boyd and Stephanie Householders daughter says they worked at Agape for four years. LAST MARCH, BRESHEARS SAYS, he was on kitchen duty when a staffer said some chocolate milk was missing from the fridge, and accused Breshears and several other students of stealing it. That shouldn't be happening., If not, he added, kids are going to wind up losing their lives.. In May, his daughter Amanda and women who attended Circle of Hope began posting videos on TikTok describing violent restraints, starvation and emotional abuse at the ranch. Five months later, authorities raided Circle of Hope, seizing evidence and removing 25 girls from the ranch. They also look at records from any incidents in which a child is injured or restrained. Agap did not respond to repeated requests for comment and interviews via phone, email and a letter left at the schools reception desk. (The recommendations are not public, so the implicated staff members are unknown.) Agape Boarding School is located on a 200-acre ranch in Stockton, Missouri. Since last year, 19 former students have filed lawsuits against the school, alleging physical and emotional abuse, and in . vs. Agape Baptist Church Inc., et al: In the complaint filed on August 7, 2021, Alabama plaintiff shared his allegations of abuse while being under the custody of Agape Boarding School from approximately March 2012 to March 2013. Francis lied, he said, because Robert Graves a Cedar County sheriffs deputy who is on the board of Agaps church and has worked at the school was present for the interview. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time That's no secret, as news stories in The Christian. Lawmakers proposed legislation to provide oversight for faith-based boarding schools in Missouri. Full Gala Taping. The only thing it would have done, Smith said of her bill, is require these adolescent facilities to have oversight by our Department of Public Health and Human Services, just like a senior citizen home or a barbershop.. Interested in learning more about the 2023 Legacy Gala? In November, a man who is reportedly a former Agap employee was charged with 215 counts of possession of child pornography. For many survivors of Agap, that would be tough to accept. 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! The video was posted Sunday by Robert Bucklin, who says he survived physical and sexual abuse at Agape Boarding School near Stockton. The next home at The Ranch is for youth aging-out of foster care and the need is urgent. Posted Apr 03, 2022 11:00 AM. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The picture flashed on the big screen, and Brenda Gordon immediately . It would be helpful for them to come in early on this one as opposed to come in at a later date, said Gaither. Clemensen picked the state specifically because of its lack of regulation, he told a reporter in 2002, and said the school would leave Missouri if required to get a license. On cue, at least two others started beating up an unsuspecting student to create a distraction. Editors picks Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Tyler Kingkade and Liz Brown and Keith Morrison and Rachel White and Andrew Williams and Javier Rodriguez. He says he was once ordered to perform 4,500 pushups for cussing and told if I didnt get it done, I couldnt eat my next meal. (Though Breshears says he couldnt do it, Agap denies ever denying a student a meal.) Ellie Hill Smith, a state lawmaker from Missoula, was concerned that this meant the state had no way of ensuring children were safe in these programs. So they constructed wooden bunks on the second floor of their modest home, set up cubicles in the garage, and obtained work booklets produced by Accelerated Christian Education. 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