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Facility Investigated for Abuse Charges
06/04/10 - 03:59 PM

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Accusations of abuse leads to an investigation into a facility for troubled teens.

According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Children and Families, the Heritage Boys Academy, located on Maynard Drive in Bay County, is being investigated for child abuse.

The investigation started Wednesday, when a juvenile left the facility and was reportedly beaten by several other students who were sent to find him.

According to Sheriff Frank McKeithen, allegations of abuse began coming into the Sheriff’s Department as far back as 2000 at the facility, which is not licensed by the State of Florida to house children.

All 17 students who were at the facility are now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families. The Sheriff’s Office has recovered nine sticks that allegedly were used to beat the students at the facility, which used “corporal correction” as a form of punishment.

Nor arrests have been made, but Sheriff McKeithen says some will likely be made.