Facility profile Utah

OASIS Ascent

Formerly Discovery Academy (1989 to 2022)

Open Millcreek, Utah

OASIS Ascent is a therapeutic boarding school in Millcreek, Utah, operated by Ascent Companies. It has operated since 2022.

About OASIS Ascent

It was part of the RedCliff Ascent family, along with Discovery Ranch and Oxbow.source It was founded by D. Eugene Thorne.source It was run by Ascent Company.source

It cost $95,000 for a ten-month stay (2005/2006).source It was described as uses Positive Control Systems methods like Eagle Ranch Academy and WWASPS.source Stays lasted 6 to 18 months.source It was associated by ownership with RedCliff Ascent, Discovery Ranch, Oxbow Academy and Medicine Wheel.source It believed to be a spin-off of Provo Canyon School.source It was a sister program to RedCliff Ascent, Discovery Ranch, Discovery Ranch For Girls, Discovery Connections and Oxbow Academy.source

It was accredited by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS).source It joined NATSAP in 1999.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.

2001200220062007202220012022

  1. 2001

    1. Incident2001-2012

      Investigation

      HEAL obtained Provo Police calls to Discovery Academy from 2001 through September 2012 including reports of child abuse, forcible sexual abuse of a child...

      Investigation 2001-2012

      HEAL obtained Provo Police calls to Discovery Academy from 2001 through September 2012 including reports of child abuse, forcible sexual abuse of a child, three missing children and rape with an instrument/object.

      source

  2. 2002

    1. IncidentJuly 2002

      Criminal charge

      In July 2002 employee Joseph J.

      Criminal charge July 2002

      In July 2002 employee Joseph J. Butler pleaded guilty to attempted rape and making a written false statement after a 16-year-old resident reported he raped her.

      source

    2. IncidentOctober 2002

      Arrest

      Employee Joseph J. Butler was sentenced in October 2002 to one year in jail and ordered to register as a sex offender.

      Arrest October 2002

      source

  3. 2006

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      A 2006 lawsuit alleges a boy enrolled in 2005 was sexually assaulted by two other residents while the supervising staff member was outside on the phone; the outcome is unknown.

      Lawsuit

      source

    2. IncidentAugust 2006

      Lawsuit

      A California mother sued Discovery Academy, a Provo boarding school for troubled youth, in August 2006 for at least $200,000 claiming her son was sexually...

      Lawsuit August 2006

      A California mother sued Discovery Academy, a Provo boarding school for troubled youth, in August 2006 for at least $200,000 claiming her son was sexually assaulted by other students.

      source

  4. 2007

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      In 2007 the Disability Law Center sued Discovery Academy in federal court for refusing to release records tied to an investigation into abusive practices; the...

      Lawsuit

      In 2007 the Disability Law Center sued Discovery Academy in federal court for refusing to release records tied to an investigation into abusive practices; the judge later dismissed the suit.

      source

    2. Lawsuit

      lawsuit

      lawsuit

      The Disability Law Center filed a complaint seeking injunctive and declaratory relief against Discovery Academy and its executive director, demanding full access to facility residents and records to investigate alleged abuse and restraint practices.

      Outcome: The case was terminated on November 21, 2007.

      Court
      United States District Court, District of Utah, Central Division
      Case number
      2:07-cv-755 CW
      Status
      Closed

      All lawsuits on record

  5. 2022

    1. Opened

      Opened in Millcreek, Utah

As Discovery Academy

1989 to 2022 | Ascent Companies

Lawsuits

  • lawsuit 2007 | Closed | United States District Court, District of Utah, Central Division | 2:07-cv-755 CW Names this facility

    Outcome: The case was terminated on November 21, 2007.

    The Disability Law Center filed a complaint seeking injunctive and declaratory relief against Discovery Academy and its executive director, demanding full access to facility residents and records to investigate alleged abuse and restraint practices. The court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment, finding that the claims regarding the initial resident were moot and that the plaintiff lacked probable cause to investigate other current residents under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act.

Incidents on record

  1. 2001-2012 Investigation

    HEAL obtained Provo Police calls to Discovery Academy from 2001 through September 2012 including reports of child abuse, forcible sexual abuse of a child, three missing children and rape with an instrument/object.source

  2. July 2002 Criminal charge

    In July 2002 employee Joseph J. Butler pleaded guilty to attempted rape and making a written false statement after a 16-year-old resident reported he raped her.source

  3. October 2002 Arrest

    Employee Joseph J. Butler was sentenced in October 2002 to one year in jail and ordered to register as a sex offender.source

  4. 2006 Lawsuit

    A 2006 lawsuit alleges a boy enrolled in 2005 was sexually assaulted by two other residents while the supervising staff member was outside on the phone; the outcome is unknown.source

  5. August 2006 Lawsuit

    A California mother sued Discovery Academy, a Provo boarding school for troubled youth, in August 2006 for at least $200,000 claiming her son was sexually assaulted by other students.source

  6. Lawsuit

    A mother sued Discovery Academy in 4th District Court claiming her son was sexually assaulted by other students, seeking at least $200,000.source

  7. 2007 Lawsuit

    In 2007 the Disability Law Center sued Discovery Academy in federal court for refusing to release records tied to an investigation into abusive practices; the judge later dismissed the suit.source

News coverage

  • Illinois Times Jan 16, 2020 Expose

    Far from home

    The article reports on Illinois students with special needs being placed in out‑of‑state private boarding schools, detailing allegations of abuse, inadequate oversight, and the financial mechanisms that facilitate such placements. It includes survivor accounts of physical and psychological mistreatment, staff misconduct, and systemic gaps in regulation. The piece highlights the need for stronger oversight and equitable funding for public special‑education services.

Staff

Administration

Notable staff

As OASIS Ascent

from 2022 | Ascent Companies

Nothing on record is dated to these years yet.

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 $913,900, approved April 7, 2020, reporting 148 jobs; $837,922 of it was forgiven. source

Incidents on record

  1. Abuse

    Survivors report emotional, physical and sexual abuse by employees, including being struck, beaten and kicked, and over-restrained by staff.source

  2. Abuse

    Survivors report solitary confinement (the 'hole in the wall') was used as punishment, sometimes for weeks or months.source

  3. Sexual abuse

    A survivor reports Dennis (Denny) Thorne, son of founder Dr. Thorne, was accused of raping a 16-year-old student.source

  4. Sexual abuse

    HEAL reported that a staff member reportedly sexually assaulted a resident in the kitchen and is believed to no longer be employed.source

  5. Sexual abuse

    Survivors report some residents were sexually abused by staff and other students.source

Staff

Administration

Notable staff

Licensing and inspections

Licensed as
OASIS Ascent (DT, RT, OT)
License category
Outpatient Treatment
License expires
12/31/2026
Licensing action
Licensed
Phone on file
8013742121
Licensed address
122 N 600 W, Provo, UT, 84601

60 inspection reports on file. Search all Utah reports

The newest 25 reports, by date: 4 findings in 4 reports
  1. Oct 1, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  2. Sep 14, 2026 3rd Unannounced
  3. Aug 25, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  4. Aug 21, 2026 Focus, Non On-Site (1 finding)
    1 finding

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

      The Licensee was out of compliance with R380-600-7(16)(a) by not reporting a critical incident to the Office within one business day. During review of critical incidents it was identified that the incident occurred on 8/10/2026 and was not reported until 8/12/2026. ● FOR REPEAT NONCOMPLIANCE

  5. Aug 6, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  6. Jul 28, 2026 Non On-Site Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

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

      The Provider was out of compliance with R380-600-7(16)(a) by not reporting a critical incident to the Office within one business day. During review of critical incidents it was identified that the incident occurred on 7/7/2026 and was not reported until 7/9/2026.

  7. Jun 10, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  8. Jun 4, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  9. Jun 1, 2026 2nd Unannounced
  10. Apr 30, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  11. Feb 3, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  12. Jan 14, 2026 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  13. Nov 26, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  14. Oct 30, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
  15. Oct 8, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  16. Aug 14, 2025 3rd Unannounced
  17. Aug 5, 2025 Investigation Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, investigation inspection : R501-19-3(3)(a)-(j) Supervision and ratio requirements

      The licensee is out of compliance with R501-19(3)(a) by failing to provide direct supervision that met supervision requirements. During the investigation the licensor identified that a client that was supposed to be supervised one-on-one and was not supervised one-on-one.

  18. Jul 15, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  19. Jun 4, 2025 Follow-Up Inspection, Non On-Site Inspection
  20. May 28, 2025 2nd Unannounced
  21. Mar 27, 2025 Follow-Up Inspection
  22. Feb 24, 2025 Focus, Non On-Site (1 finding)
    1 finding

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

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by not reporting a critical incident to the Office within one business day. During review of critical incidents it was identified that the incident occurred on 2/19/2025 and was not reported until 2/21/2025.

  23. Feb 13, 2025 Follow-Up Inspection
  24. Jan 30, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  25. Jan 16, 2025 Investigation 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 (14)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (14)

From the Unsilenced archive

114 documents about OASIS Ascent that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their folders: OASIS Ascent (DT, RT, OT), Discovery Academy.

Documents (113)
Legal / Penn vs Diamond Ranch Academy / Penn vs Diamond Ranch Academy (1)

From SCIAD NET

1 document about OASIS Ascent that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps it on Google Drive, where it opens.

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

Advertising and marketing listings

Reference and research

2 of these from SCIAD NET.

Other links

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