• An adolescent who attended Whetstone Academy between 2018 and 2020 was “continuously sexually assaulted” by an worker of the South Carolina college.
• The abuse started when the teenager was solely 14 years outdated.
• A lawsuit filed by the teenager’s dad and mom claims that Whetstone Academy wants extra oversight to keep away from related conditions.

An adolescent with particular wants was repeatedly sexually assaulted by an worker at a small non-public boarding college in South Carolina, his dad and mom mentioned in a lawsuit as they advocate for extra oversight of comparable therapeutic services.

The teenager, who attended Whetstone Academy between October 2018 and January 2020, was “continuously sexually assaulted” and raped starting when he was 14, the lawsuit mentioned.

The lawsuit accuses Singleton Funding Properties, the varsity’s mother or father firm, of negligence and failure to moderately shield {the teenager}. The corporate denies the allegations.

The dad and mom are recognized anonymously within the lawsuit filed in April as Mom Doe and Father Doe and their son as John Doe. The Related Press usually doesn’t establish individuals who say they’ve been sexually abused and isn’t naming the dad and mom to keep away from revealing their son’s id.

The dad and mom beforehand sued the varsity and in January reached a confidential settlement. However they mentioned they hope to result in broad change and accountability by going after the company construction on this subsequent swimsuit.

The choose earlier this month indicated a trial would seemingly be held subsequent spring, however has ordered the 2 sides to take part in mediation to see if a settlement might be reached earlier than then.

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“We’re actually hoping there’s some systematic change, some laws enacted and actual accountability right here,” the Does’ lawyer, Tyler Bailey, instructed the AP.

Therapeutic boarding colleges like Whetstone needs to be regulated equally to state-licensed daycare facilities, with complaints tracked and publicly accessible, to the extent doable, Baily mentioned.

“Cash is one factor however change so dad and mom and kids don’t undergo what they’ve gone by means of, that’s what they’re in search of to get completed by this case,” Bailey mentioned.

John Singleton Jr., who owns Singleton Funding Properties and Whetstone Academy, mentioned in an e mail, “We particularly deny the allegations.” The corporate additionally denied the allegations in a courtroom submitting earlier this month.

As soon as the varsity realized of the allegations from the South Carolina Division of Social Providers, the worker was instantly suspended and the varsity absolutely cooperated with an investigation by the state company. Because the company took no motion and no prison investigation was undertaken or fees filed, the worker was reinstated and has returned to work on the college, Singleton mentioned.

The worker isn’t named within the lawsuit.

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“Whetstone Academy’s focus was, is, and at all times will probably be on making certain that each pupil is cared for in a protected and nurturing surroundings with shut supervision and stringent employees oversight,” Singleton wrote. “College students obtain particular person and household remedy by our licensed clinicians. We offer evidence-based coaching for our employees who’re guided by our insurance policies and procedures.”

The Does, who stay in Alabama, mentioned their son was recognized with autism spectrum dysfunction when he was younger. By age 14, he was having a number of outbursts a day, breaking issues and emotionally troubled, the daddy mentioned in a telephone interview. An academic advisor urged sending him to a therapeutic boarding college for additional care and remedy.

Whetstone Academy, within the distant Mountain Relaxation group within the northwest nook of South Carolina, takes college students in grades 5 by means of 9 and was one of many colleges urged by the advisor.

The teenager initially gave the impression to be making progress on the college, however after about 10 months his conduct was so tough that the dad and mom have been suggested to ship him to a distinct facility for extra intensive remedy, the daddy mentioned. After a summer season in that facility, he returned to Whetstone.

“He stayed there for a short time, however he realized that if he acted out, he would get kicked out and he did,” the mom mentioned. “Thank God he did.”

The Does then despatched their son to a college in Utah. After about six months there, his dad and mom flew him to a resort in Georgia for a trip. At dinner one evening, John Doe instructed his dad and mom he had been sexually assaulted quite a few instances and raped by an worker at Whetstone, his mom mentioned.

The Does known as their son’s therapist on the Utah college for recommendation. Sure by obligatory reporting necessities, the therapist contacted authorities, who interviewed {the teenager} and mentioned they notified South Carolina authorities to research, the daddy mentioned.

South Carolina’s social companies company does not license therapeutic boarding colleges, however spokesperson Connelly-Anne Ragley mentioned in an e mail that the company investigates upon receiving studies of sexual abuse involving minors. Any sexual abuse allegation despatched to the company’s consumption line could be reported to regulation enforcement inside 24 hours as required by state regulation, she mentioned.

The Division of Social Providers instructed the AP that details about baby abuse investigations is confidential and never releasable underneath the state’s open data regulation.

The sheriff’s workplace in Oconee County, the place Whetstone is positioned, solely conducts prison investigations when an official report is filed and, generally, sexual assault prosecutions require the sufferer’s cooperation, Grasp Deputy Jimmy Watt mentioned in an e mail.

He mentioned the company had no data associated to any allegations towards the worker accused of sexually abusing John Doe. A State Regulation Enforcement Division spokesperson mentioned that company has not been concerned.

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The Does wish to make sure that circumstances like their son’s are referred to regulation enforcement for thorough investigation and do not fall by means of the cracks. They have not filed a report with South Carolina regulation enforcement as a result of they do not belief authorities within the small, insular group to research, their lawyer mentioned.

John Doe, now 18, continues to be mistrustful at instances and it has taken years for his dad and mom to restore their relationship with him, they mentioned. They’ve talked to him about how pursuing this case may end in individuals discovering out what occurred to him, his mom mentioned.

“He’s the bravest child I’ve ever met as a result of he mentioned, ‘I don’t care. That is all about serving to others, Mother,’” she mentioned.