COALITION AGAINST INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD ABUSE
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Web posted Monday, July 23, 2001
3:56 a.m. CT

American teens out of center for troubled youths
 

The Associated Press

APIA, Samoa (AP) - Allegations of sexual, physical and mental abuse reported to the U.S. Embassy led to the removal of 23 American and Canadian teen-agers from a center for troubled youths here.

The allegations from the teens at the Pacific Coast Academy over the past three weeks "were very serious and were coherent, credible and consistent," said James A. Derrick, the charge d'affaires at the embassy.

"We were able to verify many to our satisfaction," Derrick said. "We are interviewing the students, and if we receive credible information of specific crimes we will pass it on to the appropriate authorities of the Samoan government."

The attorney general's office said the complaints are being investigated by police.

Specific allegations weren't disclosed by officials investigating the program, which has an unlisted telephone number.

According to promotional material, troubled youngsters attend the academy's private school, receive therapy from counselors and work in the community.

Pam Elliott, of Palm Desert, Calif., said her 16-year-old son, Chase, never received counseling, was beaten and forced to carry rocks for hours without being fed. He also became seriously ill with a mosquito-borne infection, and she was never notified.

"It was represented to be this beautiful camp with excellent academics and therapy," she said. "These kids received very inhumane treatment."

Elliott's son, who had been at the center since April and was planning to stay a year, came home two weeks ago after a nurse called Elliott to tell her about conditions at the camp, Elliott said.

The 22 Americans and one Canadian were housed in a motel after being removed Thursday.

Embassy officials, along with officials from the High Commissioner of Australia, representing Canada, visited the Pacific Coast Academy on Friday along with police, Health Department staff and a lawyer from the attorney general's office.

Lonnie Fuller and Tom Oliver, listed in incorporation documents as directors of the nonprofit organization that runs the academy, have unlisted phone numbers and could not immediately be reached for comment. David Weston, whose signature appeared in the organization's June newsletter, didn't immediately return a message left by The Associated Press on Sunday


 
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