Documents Now Show L. J Mitchell Admitted Negligence In Ryan Lewis’s Suicide.. by Jack Swint - Publisher
“Alldredge Academy Inc, Ayne Institute and L. Jay Mitchell hereby acknowledge that they were personally responsible for the safety and well being of Ryan Lewis while he was in their care and custody and that they were personally responsible for returning Ryan Lewis safely to his parents. They hereby acknowledge that they failed in that responsibility….” Signed personally by L. Jay Mitchell and notarized on April 17, 2006.
Part 3 of 3... Since at least, February 13, 2001, Lionel Jay Mitchell has publicly denied that he ever was personally responsible for the death of 14 year old Ryan Lewis, who was attending Mitchells Tucker County WV Wilderness Facility for troubled teens. In fact, in a recent e-mail to WV News, Mitchell went on the defense to our January 15, 2011 story that detailed court records, and other reported facts about Ryan’s death. And the abuse, negligence and death of other teens who participated in his programs across the US. Mitchell stated that he was not responsible, nor had he ever admitted that he was responsible for Ryan’s death.
In fact, he provided WV News a "rebuttal" prepared by an independent investigator that he claims dispelled the false information accusing him of any wrongdoing. When we last corresponded with L. Jay Mitchell by e-mail on Monday January 17, 2011, he stated that... “I hope you continue to find new info.”
Well, today we obtained an April 17, 2006 notarized legal document that Mitchell signed admitting his own personal negligence in Ryan's death. And, this document was also signed by his wife, Teri A. Mitchell. The documents were notarized in the state of Utah by Terra A. Naffziger in Salt Lake City.
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On page 3 of 7, of this legal document…“Alldredge Academy, Inc., Ayne Institute and L. Jay Mitchell hereby acknowledge that they were personally responsible for the safety and well being of Ryan Lewis while he was in their care and custody and that they were personally responsible for returning Ryan Lewis safely to his parents. They hereby acknowledge that they failed in that responsibility….”
Mitchell personally avoided criminal charges in 2002 for negligence in Tucker County WV because prosecutor“Mont Miller” dropped the felony indictment in return for a $5,000 fine and conviction against Mitchells Corporation, Alldredge Wilderness Academy. Judge Frye dismissed the indictment “with prejudice” which forever bars Mitchell from the same criminal charges again. And now, the statute of limitations has expired for any lesser charges relating to the child negligence.
As we reported in our first story, (link below) the DHHR office had tried to shut down the Alldredge Academy soon after Ryan had committed suicide. The state claimed that, “under West Virginia Code 49-2B-12, Alldredge Academy is hereby ordered to cease, desist and close operation in West Virginia of a residential child care facility on the basis that continued operation constitutes an immediate danger of serious harm to children served in said facility…”
Kanawha County Judge Duke Bloom overruled the states order to close Alldredge and even allowed L. Jay Mitchell to continue operation in WV under another business name. Mitchell’s has remained in business since he was never personally convicted of a crime, or had admitted he had ever caused the neglect or injury of a child in his care. By the letter of the law, he is free to continue operating these types of facilities in WV.
According to DHHR rules and regulations, no one with a criminal conviction can obtain a permit to operate a facility that falls under their jurisdictional responsibility. In fact, the DHHR states that they are “statutorily responsible for the health, safety and well-being of children in and out of the home setting.” And that their responsibility not only extends to children placed in a licensed setting, but also encompasses children placed in a facility that is not licensed.
In Closing...
Lionel Jay Mitchell managed to avoid the indicted felony charge of child neglect/death in Tucker County WV. Not because he was innocent, but because the County prosecutor agreed to drop that indictment for a guilty plea to the crime against the Alldredge corporation.
But, Mitchell freely admitted in a legal document that it was his own personal responsibility for the “well being of Ryan Lewis while he was in their care and custody” and that he was “personally responsible for returning Ryan Lewis safely to his parents.” But more so, Mitchell acknowledged that he “failed in that responsibility.” Even before signing that document admitting his negligence, L. Jay Mitchell and his wife Teri Mitchell, knew that he was negligent in the suicide death of 14 year old Ryan Lewis.
As a former lawyer himself, Mitchell knew that under WV law he could not continue to obtain permits from the DHHR and or operate/associate in these same types of facilities if he were convicted personally for Ryan’s death.
And, by continuing to deny any personal involvement in Ryan’s death, he could remain operating in other states as well. Until now, Mitchell has been able to successfully deny any personal admission or involvement in the neglect because the documents we obtained were never placed into the civil or criminal court records.
Is there any legal standing to now pursue revocation of the DHHR permits to operate in WV?
What about the current corporate business license through the Secretary of States Office for Mitchells continued operation of the Greenbrier Academy for Girls in Pence Springs WV?
What about the current corporate business license through the Secretary of States Office for Mitchells continued operation of the Greenbrier Academy for Girls in Pence Springs WV?
What about his "moral turpitude" in regards to an admission that he was indeed negligent in the death of 14 year old Ryan Lewis while in his care? The same type care that he is currently providing at Greenbrier and other facilities in the US?
Keep in mind; teens in other facilities operated by Mitchell have also been abused and died over the years. Mitchell denies any responsibility for any of those incidents also.
End Of Story…
Jack Swint-Publisher
West Virginia News
E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com
Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com
Twitter: @WVNewsOnline
LinkedIn: Jack Swint
Note: Anyone who wishes a copy of the sworn document of this April 17, 2006 document that Mitchell signed admitting his responsibility, please e-mail a request to: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Please include e-mail address, fax number and or mailing address.
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