Workers at a state-contracted facility entrusted with the care of child sex-trafficking victims have been accused of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Nine employees at The Refuge Ranch, a residential treatment center in Bastrop County, have been accused of sexual abuse, exploitation, and medical neglect of seven minors aged 11 to 17.
A current employee first reported the abuse on January 24 to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), which contracts with The Refuge. The children remained at The Refuge for more than one month after the report was received.
Several more reports of abuse were received between January 24 and March 4, alleging neglectful supervision, physical and sexual abuse, and medical neglect.
At an emergency court hearing on March 10, Judge Janis Jacks expressed outrage that the children had not been immediately removed from the facility, calling it another failure of the system.
In response, DFPS Associate Commissioner for Child Protective Investigation Rich Richman said, “The children weren’t immediately removed from the facility because investigators thought the person responsible had been fired.”
DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters commented, “There is no excuse for why I didn’t know, which is why several people are losing their jobs.”
According to the accusations, one former employee had allegedly sold nude photographs of two facility residents, then used the money to purchase alcohol and illegal drugs to give to the children. Three other employees also reportedly helped two girls run away from the facility.
The Refuge confirmed that one employee was terminated after it was discovered they had “allegedly coerced the residents into creating commercially sexual exploitation material.”
Founder and CEO of The Refuge Brooke Crowder stated, “We fired the obvious perpetrator on that immediately. There were concerns that other family members may have been involved in that as well. But the sheriff’s office cleared all three of them; they remained on staff at that time.”
One person has so far been arrested as a suspect in the investigation.
In a statement, The Refuge said, “We are fully cooperating with authorities and we hope the alleged perpetrator will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and we will assist the Sheriff and the Bastrop County District Attorney’s office in their prosecution.”
However, according to a DFPS investigation, there are more employees involved.
“Several additional staff members still employed at the operation appeared to be involved and that many of them were related to one another by blood or marriage and/or were cohabiting,” a DFPS report revealed.
While the investigation is ongoing, all children have been removed and are at an alternate care facility.
Crowder said, “As every girl left, none wanted to leave, they were all weeping. We stopped them and looked them in the eye and said ‘We love you and we will never stop fighting for you, and our goal is to get you back.’”
Crowder said that all employees undergo a background check and training before being hired.
The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation, which may result in further arrests as it continues. Specific details, including the suspects’ names and the exact allegations, cannot be shared because the investigation is ongoing.
Governor Greg Abbott commented, “Child abuse of any kind won’t be tolerated in the state of Texas, and we are committed to ensuring these despicable perpetrators are brought to justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law. No child should ever suffer the atrocities of trafficking.”