KINGSTON, Tenn. — A Putnam County, Tenn., mom alleges a worker at the now-closed Kingston Academy in Roane County repeatedly raped and assaulted her son while he was being treated there.
The mother is seeking compensatory damages of $3.5 million on behalf of her son in Roane County Circuit Court against Sequel Schools LLC, doing business as Kingston Academy. Lawyer T. Scott Jones filed the lawsuit.
Sequel Schools issued a statement Wednesday: "At Sequel Youth & Family Services, we take our responsibility to the adolescents we serve very seriously. While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we remain committed to ensuring the safety, well-being, and positive outcomes for all those we are privileged to serve.”
Roane County Sheriff's Office authorities referred questions about any criminal investigation regarding the allegations to the state Department of Children's Services.
DCS spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals said the department opened an investigation into alleged abuse at Kingston Academy, "but due to child privacy protection laws, I am unable to make any further comments or confirm any additional details."
Roane County authorities say they were called dozens of times to the former psychiatric residential treatment facility in 2018 and 2019 about complaints such as escapes, vandalism and the fire alarm being repeatedly pulled. The center eventually closed.
The mother's lawsuit blames school operators for allowing the abuse to go on. The child is identified as "T.D."
In March or April 2019, he disclosed to his mother he'd been abused by the employee and a resident identified as "Nicholas." He was raped orally and anally multiple times at the academy, the lawsuit states.
Assaults occurred in his room and in the bathroom, the lawsuit states.
As a result, he suffered mental trauma, according to the document. He's also suffered physical problems, like incontinence, as a result.
Sequel Schools should have done a better job of protecting her son, the mother alleges.
10News reported extensively on problems at Kingston Academy before it closed.
In February 2019, DCS removed 18 young residents from it. A company official said at the time that Sequel was working to improve the academy facility.
Donnals said DCS had unspecified "environmental concerns" at the academy after a team made an unannounced visit.
"The unannounced visit was prompted by concerns expressed by a previous resident of the facility," Donnals said.