Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania Youth Facilities

Pennsylvania Juvenile Facility Sexual Abuse

GGH is uncovering stories that paint a grim picture of systemic failure at Pennsylvania youth facilities, including:

• Abraxas Juvenile Center
• Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center (DCJDC)
• Cresson Secure Treatment Unit
• Fairmount Behavioral Health
• George Junior Republic
• Glen Mills Schools
• Horsham Clinic
• Lancaster County Juvenile Detention Center
• Loysville Youth Development Center
• Northwestern Academy
• Summit Academy

Imagine being a child—trusting and unaware of what abuse even looks like. You enter a system that promises safety and guidance, only to find yourself at the mercy of those who should be your protectors. The brain, still developing, becomes wrongly wired, associating authority with fear and safety with danger. The cycle of trauma begins, shaping a future clouded by mistrust, anxiety, and pain.

These are not just results of neglect or oversight; they are accounts of deliberate harm inflicted on the most vulnerable.

Here below are more details of abuse at different Pennsylvania facilities:

• In April 2023, Elizabeth Ann Bohler, a former Abraxas Juvenile Center employee, was charged with sex crimes for having a sexual relationship with a minor at the facility, involving encounters, explicit messages, and contraband.

In March 2022, a class-action lawsuit accused the GEO Group and others of allowing physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the facility.

• In December 2022, systemic failures and lack of oversight at Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center (DCJDC) were exposed, including allegations of unchecked sexual misconduct by male staff.

In March 2021, two former inmates sued Delaware County and others, alleging sexual abuse by staff, including claims of rape, threats, and being taken to parties with drugs and alcohol.

In the same month, a judge ordered the facility to be vacated after a report revealed staff abuse, including violence, harassment, and hazing, enabled by a culture of secrecy and intimidation.

• In January 2010, a DOJ report revealed that Cresson Secure Treatment Unit had one of the highest youth sexual victimization rates, with one in three inmates reporting abuse—three times the national average.
• In April 2021, a former Fairmount Behavioral Health staff member pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a patient in 2020. Between 2015 and 2019, police were previously called nearly 100 times for similar incidents.
• In May 2015, Sarah Trumphour, a former George Junior Republic employee, pleaded guilty to felony sexual misconduct for sexually abusing a boy at the facility and a motel.

In January 2004, Amy Anderson, a former employee, pleaded guilty to sex crimes for maintaining a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy and helping him escape the facility in 2002.

• In 2020, former Glen Mills Schools students sued over abuse by staff, following Pennsylvania’s 2019 license revocation due to documented cases and investigations of widespread abuse.
• In January 2022, a Horsham Clinic staff member was arrested for grooming a 16-year-old girl, sending explicit images, arranging sexual encounters, and facing over 80 charges.
• In February 2020, Lancaster County settled for $400,000 with a survivor of sexual assault by David Stevenson, a former juvenile detention employee of the Lancaster County Juvenile Detention Center sentenced to 10–25 years for abusing five girls.
• In 2010, a DOJ report revealed 12% of youth at Loysville Youth Development Center reported sexual abuse by staff

In December 2010, an employee was charged with sexually assaulting a resident.

• In January 2015, Aimee Bailey, a former Northwestern Academy food service worker, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a youth detainee in 2013.
• In December 2017, a Summit Academy special education teacher was fired and charged with sexual assault for having sexual relations with a student.

In April 2013, Dr. David Evanko, a former Summit Academy physician and serial abuser, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two students and had a history of abusing children as a Boy Scout leader.

Contact Us

The legal journey in sexual abuse cases requires more than just expertise—it requires empathy, sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. At GGH, we understand the profound impact that sexual abuse has on survivors and their families. We stand firm in our belief that survivors of sexual abuse have the right to seek justice, hold perpetrators accountable, and begin the process of healing.

The GGH team is dedicated to ensuring that survivors' voices are heard and their stories respected. We are here to help you navigate the legal process with care and confidence, advocating for the justice and closure you deserve.

Contact GGH Today for a free consultation at (312) 728-7444 or contact us online.