Facility profile Utah

Eagle Ranch Academy

Open Saint George, Utah

Eagle Ranch Academy is a residential treatment center in Saint George, Utah. It has operated since 1995.

About Eagle Ranch Academy

DI Ranch LLC (a.k.a. Kayenta Homes & Properties), owner of the ranch property used by the program, is owned by Doug Caputo per HEAL.source It was founded by Paul Arslanian and David Arslanian.source 1, source 2, source 3 It was owned by David Arslanian (co-owner).source Hyrum W. Smith owns the property where it operates.source

Its address was 115 West 1470 South, St. George, UT 84770.source 1, source 2 It cost about $800 per day.source It was described as an eight-value level program with three-day seminars.source Stays lasted 6 to 10 months.source The minimum stay was 6 months under the 2009 enrollment agreement.source

HEAL says David Arslanian started the program after being fired from Utah State University in 1999.source It claims it does not take adjudicated youth or youth in foster care; HEAL says a 2008 article shows it does.source Education provided through Wilostar3D (3DLearn) online school.source Other high-ranking officers formerly worked for Aspen Education Group.source It suspected WWASP connection; ERA denies any association.source

Three co-ed Family Groups; seven-packet level system (Discovery through Respect).source It uses Positive Control Systems physical intervention techniques.source It uses Wilostar3D (3DLearn) online schooling as its education provider.source It uses the Positive Control Systems model, same as WWASPS programs.source

It was licensed by the State of Utah as a Residential Treatment Program.source Virtual High School accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.source It claims CARF International; earlier SAIS and SACSCOC claims were false.source Educational services (3DLearn) accredited by SACS.source

Not accredited by the state of Utah, NATSAP or the Joint Commission, per HEAL.source 1, source 2 Washington County Planning Commission recommended a conditional use permit for 20 youth or fewer; Commission approved it June 7, 2005.source It was licensed by the Utah State Department of Human Services (per its enrollment packet).source 1, source 2 HEAL says it has no licensed psychologists or licensed marriage and family therapists on staff.source

Survivor testimony

What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.

Reported on survivor forums

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

198319952005200620092020202519832025

  1. 1983

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      HEAL reported that psychiatrist Cantril Nielsen, now on the staff list, paid a wrongful-death malpractice settlement in the 1980s over the suicide of a...

      Lawsuit

      HEAL reported that psychiatrist Cantril Nielsen, now on the staff list, paid a wrongful-death malpractice settlement in the 1980s over the suicide of a 16-year-old patient (Ada County, Idaho, 1983).

      source

  2. 1995

    1. Opened

      Opened in Saint George, Utah

  3. 2005

    1. IncidentApril 2005

      License action

      On April 26, 2005 the Washington County Planning Commission tabled the conditional use permit request for Eagle Ranch Academy at the DI Ranch, saying the...

      License action April 2005

      On April 26, 2005 the Washington County Planning Commission tabled the conditional use permit request for Eagle Ranch Academy at the DI Ranch, saying the applicants were not prepared and needed to provide more information.

      source

    2. IncidentMay 2005

      License action

      In May 2005 the Beaver County Commission unanimously denied a conditional use permit for Eagle Ranch Academy in the "grove" area of Beaver County, per minutes quoted by HEAL.

      License action May 2005

      source

  4. 2006

    1. Incident

      Incident

      HEAL stated that complaints to police about Eagle Ranch Academy from 2006 to 2013 include reports of sexual offenses, child abuse, and children found unconscious.

      Incident

      source

  5. 2009

    1. IncidentDecember 2009

      Abuse

      A December 2009 recording of a conversation between parents and a child at Eagle Ranch Academy was said by HEAL to expose cult-like seminars, beatings...

      Abuse December 2009

      A December 2009 recording of a conversation between parents and a child at Eagle Ranch Academy was said by HEAL to expose cult-like seminars, beatings, undisclosed psychotropic drugs and humiliating punishments.

      source

  6. 2020

    1. Incident

      Restraint

      A parent reported in a January 2020 review that a daughter was assaulted on her first day and then restrained by an adult male in a neck hold and placed face...

      Restraint

      A parent reported in a January 2020 review that a daughter was assaulted on her first day and then restrained by an adult male in a neck hold and placed face down on the floor; police viewed video.

      source

  7. 2025

    1. Inspections

      State inspectors recorded a serious finding

      Physical abuse or assault.

      State inspectors recorded a serious finding

      Nov 17, 2025: During the unnecessary physical restraint, a staff member pulled the client downward, causing the client’s head to strike the staff member’s knee and subsequently hit the floor; the client incurred a concussion.

      Read the findings

Serious violations

What state inspectors found and confirmed here, in their own words. Each finding was picked out of the inspection reports and checked by our team before it was listed.

Physical abuse or assault Inspected Nov 17, 2025

During the unnecessary physical restraint, a staff member pulled the client downward, causing the client’s head to strike the staff member’s knee and subsequently hit the floor; the client incurred a concussion.

From the UT inspection report. Out of compliance, investigation inspection Also: Restraint or seclusion causing injury

Federal funding

Federal money this program received, as government records, congressional reports and news coverage show it.

Paycheck Protection Program loan

  • 2020: Received a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $350,000 to $1 million, approved April 5, 2020, reporting 52 jobs. source

Incidents on record

  1. 1983 Lawsuit

    HEAL reported that psychiatrist Cantril Nielsen, now on the staff list, paid a wrongful-death malpractice settlement in the 1980s over the suicide of a 16-year-old patient (Ada County, Idaho, 1983).source

  2. April 2005 License action

    On April 26, 2005 the Washington County Planning Commission tabled the conditional use permit request for Eagle Ranch Academy at the DI Ranch, saying the applicants were not prepared and needed to provide more information.source

  3. May 2005 License action

    In May 2005 the Beaver County Commission unanimously denied a conditional use permit for Eagle Ranch Academy in the "grove" area of Beaver County, per minutes quoted by HEAL.source

  4. 2006 Incident

    HEAL stated that complaints to police about Eagle Ranch Academy from 2006 to 2013 include reports of sexual offenses, child abuse, and children found unconscious.source

  5. December 2009 Abuse

    A December 2009 recording of a conversation between parents and a child at Eagle Ranch Academy was said by HEAL to expose cult-like seminars, beatings, undisclosed psychotropic drugs and humiliating punishments.source

  6. Abuse

    Survivors report violent restraints, solitary confinement as punishment, dehumanization and cult-like brainwashing techniques.source

  7. 2020 Restraint

    A parent reported in a January 2020 review that a daughter was assaulted on her first day and then restrained by an adult male in a neck hold and placed face down on the floor; police viewed video.source

Staff

Administration

  • Dave Arslanian

    Co-Founder, Director of Admissions & Placement (2013)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Utah State University football Football coach, 2000
    • Utah State Football coach, before 2005

  • Paul Arslanian

    Co-Founder, Executive Director (2013)source

  • Katherine Benson

    Asst. Program Dir., Assistant Program Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Millcreek Youth Center Psychologist Assistant
    • SunHawk Academy Assistant Program Director

Notable staff

Licensing and inspections

Licensed as
Eagle Ranch Academy, Inc
License category
Residential Treatment
Licensed capacity
57
License expires
04/30/2027
Licensing action
Licensed
Phone on file
4356528488
Licensed address
115 W 1470 S, Saint George, UT, 84770

30 inspection reports on file; the serious findings in them are listed above. Search all Utah reports

The newest 25 reports, by date: 3 findings in 2 reports
  1. Aug 20, 2026 2nd Unannounced
  2. May 13, 2026 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  3. Apr 30, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  4. Mar 26, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
  5. Mar 17, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  6. Nov 17, 2025 Investigation Inspection (2 findings)
    2 findings

    • Out of compliance, investigation inspection : R380-80-5(4) Provider shall protect clients from abuse, prevent abuse

      The provider was out of compliance with R380-80-5(4) by not protecting clients from harm or mistreatment and any action that may compromise the health and safety through acts or omissions and shall instruct and encourage others to do the same. During the investigation inspection, the evidence substantiated that on November 4, 2025, staff members harmed a client by forcibly removing a client from the top bunk of a bed. During the unnecessary physical restraint, a staff member pulled the client downward, causing the client’s head to strike the staff member’s knee and subsequently hit the floor; the client incurred a concussion.

    • Out of compliance, investigation inspection : R380-80-5(3) Provider shall comply with policies and safe practices

      The provider was out of compliance with R380-80-5(3) by not complying with applicable and safe practices that address the appropriate treatment of clients. During the investigation, the evidence substantiated that two staff members failed to comply with the provider’s behavior management policy and procedure by conducting a physical restraint on a client who was not a harm to themselves or others, for staff convenience.

  7. Oct 28, 2025 3rd Unannounced
  8. Oct 27, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  9. Aug 14, 2025 2nd Unannounced
  10. Jun 17, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  11. May 12, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  12. Mar 27, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
  13. Mar 6, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  14. Oct 21, 2024 Investigation Inspection
  15. Oct 3, 2024 3rd Unannounced
  16. Sep 9, 2024 Follow-Up Inspection, Non On-Site Inspection
  17. Aug 13, 2024 2nd Unannounced
  18. Jul 19, 2024 Follow-Up Inspection, Non On-Site Inspection
  19. Jun 4, 2024 Follow-Up Inspection
  20. May 23, 2024 Investigation Inspection
  21. May 21, 2024 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  22. May 14, 2024 Non On-Site Inspection
  23. May 7, 2024 Non On-Site Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, non on-site inspection : R380-600-7(16)(a)-(d) Critical incidents reporting requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by failing to report a critical incident by the next business day. During review of critical incidents it was identified that the incident occurred on 5/4/2024 and was not reported until 5/7/2024. This is a repeat noncompliance.

  24. Apr 25, 2024 Follow-Up Inspection
  25. Mar 28, 2024 Announced, Annual Inspection

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Documents

Documents on file (4)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (2)

From the Unsilenced archive

45 documents about Eagle Ranch Academy that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Eagle Ranch Academy.

Documents (45)

From SCIAD NET

15 documents about Eagle Ranch Academy that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps them on Google Drive, where they open.

DHS Records (1)
Program Documents (14)

Wiki entries

Materials and links

External links

A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.

Survivor posts and discussion

Reference and research

4 of these from SCIAD NET.

Other links

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction