Has Founder Of Troubled Teen Program Admitted Responsibility For Teens Death

Feb. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- Documents Now Show L. J Mitchell Admitted Negligence In Ryan Lewis’s Suicide

“Alldredge Academy Inc, Ayne Institute and L. Jay Mitchell hereby acknowledge that they were personally responsible for the safety and well being of Ryan Lewis while he was in their care and custody and that they were personally responsible for returning Ryan Lewis safely to his parents. They hereby acknowledge that they failed in that responsibility….” Signed personally by L. Jay Mitchell and notarized on April 17, 2006.

Since at least, February 13, 2001, Lionel Jay Mitchell has publicly denied that he ever was personally responsible for the death of 14 year old Ryan Lewis (pictured to the left) who was attending Mitchells Tucker County WV Wilderness Facility for troubled teens.

Recently, an April 17, 2006 notarized legal document surfaced that Mitchell signed admitting his own personal negligence in Ryan's death. And, this document was also signed by his wife, Teri A. Mitchell. The documents were notarized in the state of Utah by Terra A. Naffziger in Salt Lake City.

On page 3 of 7, of this legal document…“Alldredge Academy, Inc., Ayne Institute and L. Jay Mitchell hereby acknowledge that they were personally responsible for the safety and well being of Ryan Lewis while he was in their care and custody and that they were personally responsible for returning Ryan Lewis safely to his parents. They hereby acknowledge that they failed in that responsibility….”

In Ryan’s case, Mitchell personally avoided criminal charges in 2002 for negligence in Tucker County WV because prosecutor “Mont Miller” dropped the felony indictment in return for a $5,000 fine and conviction against Mitchells Corporation, Alldredge Wilderness Academy. Circuit Judge Frye dismissed the indictment “with prejudice” which forever bars Mitchell from the same criminal charges again. And now, the statute of limitations has expired for any lesser charges relating to the child negligence.

In 1981, Mitchell began the School of Urban and Wilderness Survival (SUWS) program that allegedly specialized in helping troubled and defiant teens to overcome their behavioral and emotional problems. But, at least four teens have died, and countless kids injured. Civil suites have been filed against him and the numerous programs he has participated in.

The entire “troubled teen” industry has come under fire over the past 4-5 years after members of the US Senate & Congress began investigating these programs after learning of the deaths and injuries that are occurring. There is a lack of state and or federal guidelines to govern this industry.

To read this entire story, and gain a better understanding of this entire industry, click on the below links. You can also obtain a copy of the Mitchell documents by e-mailing your request to: WestVirginiaNews@Gmail.com

http://westvirginianews.blogspot.com/2011/01/document-sho...

http://westvirginianews.blogspot.com/2011/01/did-county-j...