(Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.
KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — Public records show five allegations of sexual offenses were reported by former students, students or staffers at Midwest Academy in Keokuk over the past three years.
In addition, Lee County Sheriff Jim Sholl says the state Department of Human Services had identified 19 “founded” abuse cases at the school, meaning evidence suggested some type of abuse had occurred.
The boarding school for troubled teenagers was raided Jan. 28 by officers to investigate allegations that a staff member sexually assaulted a student.
Five former students made claims of widespread sex abuse and misconduct as part of a federal lawsuit filed seven years ago. The newspaper reports that the lawsuit was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds, and its merits were never decided.
