TNC
03-24-2005, 10:03 AM
Public safety: Teacher at Nampa group home with no criminal record accused by teen of providing drugs, cigarettes
By Ben Fletcher - Idaho Press-Tribune
NAMPA -- A counselor suspended from work at a Nampa home for juvenile offenders denies allegations by a teenage resident that she provided drugs and cigarettes to them.
The woman, who is a state licensed teacher with no local criminal history, contends she's innocent. She has been placed on administrative leave with pay from Discovery House while authorities look into the teenager's claim.
Canyon County Sheriff Lt. Kelly Montoya said the investigation is based on complaints from the teen. But no physical evidence has been found to substantiate the allegation.
Mike Jones, CEO of the Idaho Youth Ranch, which runs the home, said the charges are hard to believe for a teacher who has seven years of experience working with at-risk children.
He said she passed a background check and drug test before she was hired in December.
"When she was suspended, she said 'I'm being set up,'" Jones said.
The Canyon County Sheriff's Office has been conducting an investigation into the allegations made by the 17-year-old resident. On Sunday, the teenager accused the woman of giving methamphetamine and cigarettes to juveniles staying at the home.
At least one the five teenage occupants, who range from 13 to 17, told officials he saw the woman drop a pipe used to smoke drugs, officials said. "They told her, either she share or they're going to tell on her," Jones said.
However, drug tests were performed on all nine staff members at the home after the boy's complaint.
Please see Counselor, Page 4Continued from Page 1one of the staff -- including the counselor in question -- tested positive for any drug use. "She passed clean," Jones said.
But four of the five boys staying at the home tested positive for amphetamine -- chemical stimulants that affect the central nervous system.
Officials suspended the counselor with pay immediately, pending an inquiry.
"We're trying to get to the bottom of this," Jones said. "We're appalled at the possibility this is true."
The juvenile sent an e-mail to Treasure Valley media outlets with the accusations against the counselor.
"I have been using since I got here. ... Only one kid in the house wasn't using," he said in the e-mail. "I decide last night, that myself being eighteen next month couldn't have this hanging over my head so I told the supervisors here ..."
The woman, whom authorities refused to identify, was cleared through a background check and drug test when she was hired in December. She has a bachelor's degree and a secondary teaching credential as well as extensive experience with at-risk children, Jones said.
Her court record is limited to a few traffic infractions.
The woman has refused to speak with investigators on the advice of her attorney, Jones said. Montoya said that makes it more difficult to clear her completely, even though no evidence so far supports the teenager's claim.
"It's kind of a one-sided deal," Montoya said. "We're going to submit what we have and let the prosecutors do their thing."
The counselor, who runs the group home's online classroom, was placed on administrative leave Monday and will remain suspended during the investigation, Jones said.
Discovery House, established by the Idaho Youth Ranch in 1976, is a group home on four acres west of Nampa. It can hold up to 12 nonviolent male juvenile offenders, who are not allowed to leave the facility.
It is a "staff secure" facility that houses offenders from the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections. The doors are not locked, but are equipped with alarms. Staff monitor the home 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Other personnel would have been on the premises when the woman interacted with the teens, officials said. She supervised a program that allowed the teens to earn junior high and high school credits over the Internet.
"If this is true it's an incredibly serious violation of trust," Jones said. "It's completely opposite of what the Youth Ranch is about."
Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections Director Brent Reinke said corrections officials contacted parents of the teens. Officials declined to identify the boy who contacted officials Sunday night.
By Ben Fletcher - Idaho Press-Tribune
NAMPA -- A counselor suspended from work at a Nampa home for juvenile offenders denies allegations by a teenage resident that she provided drugs and cigarettes to them.
The woman, who is a state licensed teacher with no local criminal history, contends she's innocent. She has been placed on administrative leave with pay from Discovery House while authorities look into the teenager's claim.
Canyon County Sheriff Lt. Kelly Montoya said the investigation is based on complaints from the teen. But no physical evidence has been found to substantiate the allegation.
Mike Jones, CEO of the Idaho Youth Ranch, which runs the home, said the charges are hard to believe for a teacher who has seven years of experience working with at-risk children.
He said she passed a background check and drug test before she was hired in December.
"When she was suspended, she said 'I'm being set up,'" Jones said.
The Canyon County Sheriff's Office has been conducting an investigation into the allegations made by the 17-year-old resident. On Sunday, the teenager accused the woman of giving methamphetamine and cigarettes to juveniles staying at the home.
At least one the five teenage occupants, who range from 13 to 17, told officials he saw the woman drop a pipe used to smoke drugs, officials said. "They told her, either she share or they're going to tell on her," Jones said.
However, drug tests were performed on all nine staff members at the home after the boy's complaint.
Please see Counselor, Page 4Continued from Page 1one of the staff -- including the counselor in question -- tested positive for any drug use. "She passed clean," Jones said.
But four of the five boys staying at the home tested positive for amphetamine -- chemical stimulants that affect the central nervous system.
Officials suspended the counselor with pay immediately, pending an inquiry.
"We're trying to get to the bottom of this," Jones said. "We're appalled at the possibility this is true."
The juvenile sent an e-mail to Treasure Valley media outlets with the accusations against the counselor.
"I have been using since I got here. ... Only one kid in the house wasn't using," he said in the e-mail. "I decide last night, that myself being eighteen next month couldn't have this hanging over my head so I told the supervisors here ..."
The woman, whom authorities refused to identify, was cleared through a background check and drug test when she was hired in December. She has a bachelor's degree and a secondary teaching credential as well as extensive experience with at-risk children, Jones said.
Her court record is limited to a few traffic infractions.
The woman has refused to speak with investigators on the advice of her attorney, Jones said. Montoya said that makes it more difficult to clear her completely, even though no evidence so far supports the teenager's claim.
"It's kind of a one-sided deal," Montoya said. "We're going to submit what we have and let the prosecutors do their thing."
The counselor, who runs the group home's online classroom, was placed on administrative leave Monday and will remain suspended during the investigation, Jones said.
Discovery House, established by the Idaho Youth Ranch in 1976, is a group home on four acres west of Nampa. It can hold up to 12 nonviolent male juvenile offenders, who are not allowed to leave the facility.
It is a "staff secure" facility that houses offenders from the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections. The doors are not locked, but are equipped with alarms. Staff monitor the home 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Other personnel would have been on the premises when the woman interacted with the teens, officials said. She supervised a program that allowed the teens to earn junior high and high school credits over the Internet.
"If this is true it's an incredibly serious violation of trust," Jones said. "It's completely opposite of what the Youth Ranch is about."
Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections Director Brent Reinke said corrections officials contacted parents of the teens. Officials declined to identify the boy who contacted officials Sunday night.