Academy at Dundee Ranch

Incidents on record

1. August 2002 Sexual abuse

   In August 2002 two employees were reportedly fired after a male staffer allegedly raped and assaulted a female staff member, who was treated for a brain hemorrhage; the director said no charges were filed.source

2. May 2003 Abuse

   A 17-year-old boy said a teacher beat him with a stick after he refused to sign a statement saying he was well treated.source

3. May 2003 Closure order

   In May 2003 Costa Rican authorities raided and shut down the Academy at Dundee Ranch after an investigation into reports of physical and emotional abuse.source

4. May 2003 Restraint

   A 14-year-old girl who fled after the raid reported staff beat and physically restrained children who tried to leave.source

5. 2003 Criminal charge

   Three other Jamaican employees were wanted in connection with the abuse case but fled Costa Rica after the closure.source

6. May 2003 Investigation

   Costa Rican authorities alleged abuse, isolation and restraints, an inadequate plant, untrained personnel, 100 of 193 children with expired tourist visas, and overcrowding.source

7. May 2003 Runaway

   After the raid, children reported that between 30 and 50 students revolted and some fled on foot.source

8. January 2003 Lawsuit

   In January 2003 a Louisiana judge ruled two boys pulled out by their mother would not be ordered back to Dundee Ranch; the case drew the attention of Costa Rica's child welfare minister, who opened an investigation.source

9. 2003 Arrest

   Narvin Lichfield was arrested following the 2003 closure of Dundee Ranch by Costa Rican authorities.source

Staff

Administration

• Joe Atkin

  Director (2002, r/troubledteens wiki)source

• Amberly Knight

  Director (2002, r/troubledteens wiki)source

• Fernando Bustos

  Former Director (before 2004, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Pillars of Hope Owner, 2004

• Randall Hinton

  Director (2001, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Brightway Adolescent Hospital (1992) [joined 1992 Technician, Tech
  • joined 1992]
  • Cross Creek Manor Staff, 1995
  • Cross Creek Academy Staff, 1995
  • Spring Creek Lodge Academy (1996) [joined 1996 Assistant Director
  • joined 1996]
  • Tranquility Bay (1997-1998) [joined 1997 Assistant Director, Staff
  • joined 1997
  • left 1998]
  • Carolina Springs Academy (1998) [joined 1998 Assistant Director
  • joined 1998]
  • White River Academy (2005-2025) [founded 2005 Founder, Co-founder and Director, Director
  • founded 2005
  • founded 2025]
  • Royal Gorge Academy (before 2005) [joined 2006 Director, Co-director, Manager and cofounder
  • joined 2006
  • left 2007
  • left 2025
  • founded 2026]
  • Royal Peak Academy Director, 2006
  • Teen Help Staff, before 2019
  • Academy of Dundee Ranch Staff, before 2019
  • Royal Gorge Academy Co-director (2007)

• Harold Ovett Dabel

  Director (2003, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Pillars of Hope (2004-2025) [owns 2004 Owner, Co-Owner
  • owns 2025]
  • Eagle Point Christian Academy School Administrator, 2007
  • Seneca Ranch (2011-2019) [joined 2011 Staff
  • owns 2019]
  • Carolina Springs Academy Academic Director, before 2019

• Narvin Lichfield

  Owner (2001-2026, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Teen Help Managing Director, 1997
  • Adolescent Services International (1997-2025) [founded 1997 CEO, Registered agent
  • founded 2025]
  • Carolina Springs Academy (1998-2026) [founded 1998 Owner and Administrator, Director, Owner, Founder
  • founded 1998
  • owns 2025
  • owns 2026]
  • Pillars of Hope (2004-2026) [founded 2004 Supervisor and campus lessor, Owner
  • founded 2026]
  • Eagle Point Christian Academy (2007) [founded 2007 Founder, Operator
  • joined 2007
  • owns 2007]
  • Wake Up Call for Teens (2025-2026) [owns 2025 Operator
  • Magnolia Hills Christian Academy Staff, 2025
  • Seneca Ranch Owner, Admissions Director, 2025-2026
  • Southern Oaks Center Staff, 2025
  • Palmetto Therapeutic Boarding School Admissions Director, 2025
  • Palmetto Admissions Director, 2026
  • Brightway Adolescent Hospital enrollment director
  • Carolina Springs Academy founder, director
  • Gulf Coast Academy acquired by

Notable staff

• Hughton Bailey

  Operations Supervisor (2002, r/troubledteens wiki)source

Incidents on record

1. February 2007 Criminal charge

   Narvin Lichfield was detained on charges of child abuse and false imprisonment and found innocent of torture, deprivation of liberty and coercion in February 2007; the judge said abuse had occurred but there was insufficient evidence he ordered it.source

2. Reported December 2025 Abuse

   A survivor testimony says an operations staff member, Mr. Bailey, grabbed a girl by the hair and slammed her into a cement wall during the riot.source

3. Reported December 2025 Abuse

   Survivors report being deprived of food and sleep, restrained, beaten and placed in solitary confinement, with punishment called Observation Placement.source

4. Reported December 2025 Abuse

   Students who habitually broke rules were held in the High Impact walled compound until they walked 100 miles around a gravel track.source