The Utah attorney general's office (see official press release) says that Wayne E. Winder, headmaster of Majestic Ranch, a private boarding school in Rich County, is charged with sexually abusing a girl and assaulting one boy and threatening to kill another. (read more)
 

Boarding school faces allegations of abuse
KSL-TV, from AP wire service

A northern Utah boarding school is facing allegations of abuse. The Majestic Ranch, just north of Randolph, is being investigated after complaints of unsanitary conditions and abusive restraint practices. (read more)

Licensing for 'therapeutic' schools?
Salt Lake Tribune

A Senate committee endorsed a bill on Friday ( Senate Bill 176) that would create a new licensing category of troubled-teen programs dubbed "therapeutic schools."  There are currently no state licensing requirements for such schools, said sponsoring Sen. Chris Buttars.  The director of Majestic Ranch testified at Friday's hearing in opposition to Buttars' bill. The school has been investigated three separate times for alleged abuse, resulting in one criminal charge and conviction. (read more)
 

Licensing bill killed after lobbying by major political donor
Salt Lake Tribune

A bill permitting state regulation of boarding schools for troubled teens was quietly smothered in the Utah Capitol this year after the founder of a chain of controversial schools lobbied key lawmakers. Robert Lichfield, his family members and business associates have poured more than a million dollars into political campaigns during the 2002 election and so far this year.  Republican nominee for Governor, Jon Huntsman, received $60,000 from Lichfield and associates and another $5,000 from Majestic Ranch. (read more)
 

Troubled schools may be buying influence with lawmakers
Daily Herald

A family that runs a chain of troubled boarding schools has dumped bundles of money into Utah political campaigns over the past two years -- and may have been peddling influence with lawmakers to avoid regulation, a newspaper reports. The Salt Lake Tribune reports in Sunday editions that lawmakers quietly killed a bill this year that would have allowed the state to regulate boarding schools. Since then, checks have flown into political coffers, and complaints surrounding the schools have swirled. (read more)
 

Problems plaguing programs for youth
Desert News

Allegations of sexual abuse and assault continue to plague a Utah-based program for troubled children. The trouble linked to programs or services associated with the Worldwide Association of Speciality Programs and Schools (WWASPS) also has a California congressman demanding a federal investigation by the Department of Justice. Meanwhile, Utah licensing officials say there is little they can do about complaints that come in for programs like WWASPS, which remain unlicensed because they are "boarding schools."  "Unless they are licensed, we do not have the right to go in unannounced, talk to anyone or interview the kids to see what is happening," said Ken Stettler, director of the state Department of Human Services Office of Licensing. (read more)
 

Director of troubled youth facility resolves remaining charges
Salt Lake Tribune

The director of a Rich County facility for troubled youth on Wednesday resolved the last charges in a criminal case that has fallen apart over the past year. On Wednesday, one count was dismissed and the other diverted. The diversion means Wayne E. Winder, 36, admits no guilt and the count will probably be dismissed in 12 months. (read more)