Two Valley detention centers named in lawsuit alleging violent sexual acts by staff toward teens
May 22—SUNBURY — One Valley detention center and one that closed in 2016, are named in a lawsuit claiming dozens of children were physically and sexually abused.
The suit claims 66 individuals, who are now adults, were sexually assaulted, raped and physically abused by staff at the former Northwestern Academy, which is now the Northumberland County Jail, in Coal Township, and North Secure treatment Unit, in Danville, according to the suit filed by New York attorney Jerome Block.
Other facilities include Loysville Youth Development Center and the South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit, both under the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
In one of the claims, a then 14-year-old girl alleges she was forced into sexual acts by two Northwestern Academy employees.
The Daily Item is in the process of reaching out to both Valley facilities, including Merakey USA, which operated Northwestern Academy before it was shuttered.
"Our clients were sentenced to these juvenile facilities when they were children in need of help, support, and understanding," Block, of Levy Konigsberg LLP, of New York, N.Y., told The Daily Item Wednesday.
"Instead, they were sexually violated by the very adult staff members whose job it was to keep them safe. When juvenile facilities enable the sexual abuse of children, they must be held to account along with the predatory abusers. These lawsuits brought by courageous survivors seek full accountability and justice for the many years of rampant and systematic sexual abuse enabled by government and private companies that operated these facilities. Unfortunately, many survivors who suffered childhood sexual abuse at these same facilities are unfairly barred from bringing suit because Pennsylvania has not yet passed a Child Victims Act which would revive claims in which the statute of limitations previously expired."
Montour County District Attorney Angela Mattis said law enforcement will investigate any alleged criminal activity reported to have occurred within Montour County, including at North Central Secure Treatment Unit.
Northumberland County District Attorney Michael O'Donnell said he agreed with Mattis and would investigate any claims.
"We take these allegations very seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation."
