Disturbing Allegations Surface from Youth Correctional Facility
A lawsuit filed by six former residents of the Wyoming Boys’ School in Worland, Wyoming, details a pattern of alleged physical abuse against vulnerable teenagers. The legal action, initially filed in February 2024 against the school and the Wyoming Department of Families, has intensified with the submission of new evidence, including video footage and photographs, by three plaintiffs: Blaise Chivers-King, Charles “Rees” Karn, and Dylan Tola.
Graphic Evidence of Mistreatment
Among the submitted materials is a photograph reportedly depicting Charles “Rees” Karn, shirtless, secured to a chair with restraints on his wrists and ankles, his head covered by a hood. Another image shows a young boy appearing distressed in the corner of a solitary confinement cell. According to the legal filings, some staff members allegedly derived pleasure from using restraint chairs, with one staff member quoted as saying, “The best part of the chair is watching the kids cry and scream like a f**king child … that’s what makes it worth it.”
The plaintiffs describe a harsh environment within the facility for individuals who ran afoul of the law after 2018. They claim that boys were subjected to restraints for extended periods, sometimes “up to eight hours a day,” and were left to weep. The lawsuit outlines a series of alleged abuses, including the use of excessive force through prolonged restraint chair usage and physical altercations with staff, even when the boys were not resisting.
Claims of Medical Neglect and Cover-Up
Beyond physical abuse, the group also alleges a systemic failure in providing adequate medical care. They assert that their healthcare needs were disregarded, and in some instances, teens were placed in solitary confinement immediately following self-harm incidents. Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses the school of actively concealing the alleged mistreatment, citing “large gaps in documentation, inaccurate entries, uncertain authorship and no verification mechanism” in staff logbooks.
In a specific testimony, Karn claims a staff member pushed his head into broken glass before restraining him, an accusation that the accused staff member denies. The defendants, which include current and former employees, have strongly refuted all allegations and have filed a motion to dismiss the case.
State’s Response and Counterarguments
Officials representing the state have challenged the plaintiffs’ accounts. They highlighted that Charles “Rees” Karn is currently serving a life sentence for a 2023 murder and was reportedly a disruptive presence at the school, with alleged incidents including an attack on a peer and bomb threats made online. Regarding another plaintiff, identified only as “DH,” the state contends that his isolation was a consequence of disobeying orders.
However, DH’s legal response argues that the behaviors leading to his punishment were clear manifestations of his disabilities. The state maintains that its staff acted solely in response to dangerous conduct and that there is no evidence of discrimination based on disability. Instead, they assert that staff actions were a direct result of the plaintiffs’ behavior.
A judge will now review the presented evidence to determine whether the case will proceed to a full trial or be dismissed.
