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November 20, 2008

<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0>Former teen supervisor charged with statutory rape<font color="#ff0000"> w/ charges & probable cause affidavit</font>

By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

A former employee at a Joplin drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for teens has been charged with two counts of statutory rape, according to charges filed in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Jana E. Carter, 45, was employed as a residential supervisor at a home for young men at 818 W. Fourth St. operated by the Scott Greening Dependency Center.

According to a probable-cause statement filed with the court, Carter is accused of having consensual sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy at least twice from Oct. 10 to Oct. 19 during her work schedule.

Joplin police said they also are investigating similar allegations from three other male teenagers who resided at the center’s male-only dormitory. Two of those making the allegations are age 16, and the other is 14.

Police Cpl. Chuck Niess said it is possible that additional charges may be filed.

Niess said Carter was not in custody as of Thursday afternoon, but a warrant for her arrest has been issued. Attempts to reach Carter for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.

The Scott Greening Dependency Center is a privately owned center specializing in drug- and alcohol-abuse treatment for teens, according to the center’s director, Larry Black. The center receives a combination of state and private funding to operate, and deals with private clients, as well as referrals from area school districts and the Missouri Division of Youth Services.

In addition to the residential center for young men, the center also operates a central office, located at 1315 E. 20th St. in Joplin, and a separate dormitory for young women.

Black said Carter was hired about a month before the alleged incidents and is no longer with the company.

He said all employees undergo background screenings as required by law.

“There’s nothing there (in her background),” he said. “She came in very clean in terms of references and background checks.”

He said the home for young men typically has between 14 and 16 clients, and the teens sleep two to a room. There is no video surveillance at the residence, and Black said the center maintains a 1-to-4 ratio of chaperones to clients.

Black said an employee alerted him to the situation, and the center launched an investigation on Oct. 24.

The director of the Jasper County office of the Division of Youth Services said her agency will continue to refer teens to the Scott Greening Dependency Center for treatment.

“We have not had problems with that facility in the past,” said Dana Sanders, chief of the juvenile office. “When you deal in this kind of work, mistakes happen. As long as you correct those mistakes and hire qualified people, we’ll continue to use the facility.”

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