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Were you abused in a West Virginia youth facility?

WEST VIRGINIA YOUTH FACILITY SEXUAL ABUSE LAWYERS

GGH Law represents survivors of sexual abuse in youth residential treatment facilities across West Virginia. Our attorneys are ready to listen and help you understand your options. SEE IF YOUR CASE QUALIFIES

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Introduction

In the US, a shocking one out of every five girls and one out of every 20 boys report that they have been sexually abused. Some of these abuses occur in youth residential facilities, places where some of our most vulnerable youths, with behavioral health problems, are supposed to find care, help, and humane treatment. This raises all sorts of other problems and issues.

This article examines, through specific single cases, policies of residential treatment centers and agencies in extended care in West Virginia. The point, in each case, is much less to detail a trauma than to grasp, from what seems to be credible and serious evidence of systemic abuse.

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Board of Child Care 

Around the time she turned 12, Nahomi Bennett became a ward of the state. In 2018, she was placed in the Board of Child Care, a residential treatment center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, that specializes in dealing with the kinds of emotional and behavioral problems that kids like Bennett have. One day, Bennett and some of the other kids at the center ran away. While this wasn’t an uncommon occurrence at the facility, the kids who ran away usually got pretty far before the staff found them and brought them back. That day, however, a search party wasn’t going to find Bennett and the boy she was with quickly because they had made their way into the woods. And when the two got as far from the facility as they could, he assaulted her.  Bennett claimed that when she brought the incident to the attention of Board of Child Care employees, they dismissed the alleged assault and returned her to the same facility as the juvenile who she claimed had preyed on her.

Academy Programs 

Cassandra Noss is a former staff member of Academy Programs, a youth residential treatment center that had charges brought against her in 2016 for sexual abuse of a minor. The case found that there had been enough evidence to suggest inappropriate behavior with one of the clients on her caseload, indicating that she had stepped out of bounds. This is clearly a problem, as staff members are entrusted with vulnerable youth, to work in their best interest.

River Park Hospital 

In 2014, a sexual assault lawsuit was filed against River Park Hospital. The suit alleged that a minor was sexually assaulted by an adult male patient. The lawsuit claimed that the assault occurred due to indifference and negligence on the part of the hospital in not properly supervising the adult male.

Pressley Ridge 

A man named Ronnie Fazzini was arrested in 2017 for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl—prosecutors discovered provocative letters he’d written to the girl.

Potomac Center 

These allegations came to public light back in 2014. Outlined in the report are things such as (and not limited to) young people complaining of being physically assaulted, providing details of sexual relations between a staff member and one of the youth. Staff members were sharing inappropriate images, too. It got to the point where several children had to be removed—and one can only hope that these investigations invoked that. Lastly, many more employees had misdemeanor charges for failing to report an incident of child abuse or neglect.

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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.

ACCOUNTABLITY FOR SURVIVORS:
THE GGH ADVANDAGE
Gould Grieco & Hensley (GGH) is a prestigious, boutique national personal injury firm that serves as a relentless advocate for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries. Recognized as "Innovators of Law," the firm combines world-class legal expertise with state-of-the-art technology—including agile project management and cutting-edge trial techniques—to secure unprecedented results against the world’s largest institutional defendants. With a proven track record that includes global settlements exceeding $2 billion and individual verdicts surpassing $550 million, their award-winning attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis to ensure justice is accessible without upfront costs. From the courtroom to features in The New York Times and Forbes, Gould Grieco and Hensley remains dedicated to turning strategic precision and aggressive litigation into life-changing outcomes for their clients.