Last month, a grand jury heard evidence against accused former TYC employees Ray Brookins and John Paul Hernandez, who were accused of sexual assault against minor inmates at the Pyote facility, but did not take any action against them. Today they did.
Ray Brookins and John Paul Hernandez, both 41, were indicted by a grand jury in Monahans on a total of 13 counts of sex abuse charges involving six students, ages 16 to 19. Neither defendant be reached for comment.Brookins and Hernandez were colleagues at the West Texas State School in Pyote until they were allowed to resign under a cloud of suspicion in 2005.
Brookins was the the school's assistant superintendent and Hernandez was principal. A Texas Ranger investigation concluded that the men, acting independently, sexually abused as many as 10 male juveniles in their care between 2003 and 2005, using their authority to summon victims out of dorm beds and classrooms.
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Today was the second time the panel convened to hear details about the case.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott appeared in person at the grand jury proceeding.
"With today's indictments, the victims of sexual abuse at West Texas State School are a step closer to the justice they deserve," he said, adding that his office will continue investigating possible wrongdoing at TYC facilities.
In other news, Grits looks at TYC-related legislation that will be heard by the Corrections Committee today.
Posted by Charles Kuffner on April 10, 2007 to Scandalized!Its great these guys have been indicted, but now what? Texas may be tough on crime but its down right cruel to kids. TYC isnt
the only problem, juveniles are also housed in detention centers while awaiting a judge to see them or until they go to trial.They have kids as young as 10 who end up harrassed, degraded, and often locked up in their "room" for hours at a time with no electricity or water. In Lubbock, there's been 2 alleged rapes and a suicide. Do these kids just not matter?
Dionne