Facility profile Utah

Red Rock Canyon School

Closed St. George, Utah

Red Rock Canyon School was a specialty boarding school in St. George, Utah, operated by Sequel TSI. It operated from 1999 to 2019.

About Red Rock Canyon School

It opened in 1999. It was run by Centers for Adolescent Recovery and Education (CARE).source Red Rock Canyon School was founded in 1999 by Frank and Melanie Habibian and was one of their CARE Schools until August 16, 2016, when Sequel Youth and Family Services bought its operating assets; Sequel announced its closure on July 16, 2019.source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4

It now accepts applications from international students.source Its address was 747 E. St. George Blvd., St. George, UT.source It was associated with Falcon Ridge Ranch in Virgin, UT and Centers for Adolescent Recovery and Education (C.A.R.E.)source

Also drawn on: Global Partner Acquisition Corp., merger proxy for Sequel (PREM14A), program table.

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.

  1. 1999

    1. Opened

      Opened in St. George, Utah

  2. 2001

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      A 2001 lawsuit alleged rape (by other clients), fraud, deceit and negligence at Red Rock Canyon School.

      Lawsuit

      source

  3. 2003

    1. DeathMarch 1, 2003

      Autumn Sunbear, 15, died here

      Medical neglect

      Autumn Sunbear, 15, died here March 1, 2003

      source

  4. 2005

  5. 2007

    1. DeathDecember 1, 2007

      (Unnamed boy) died here

      Died by suicide

  6. 2008

    1. Incident2008-2013

      Incident

      Police complaints from 2008 to 2013 included reports of sexual offenses, rape, pornography, child abuse and assault.

      Incident 2008-2013

      source

  7. 2012

    1. IncidentAugust 2012

      Sexual abuse

      A staff member was charged in August 2012 with felony sodomy on a child and forcible sexual abuse involving three male students.

      Sexual abuse August 2012

      source

  8. 2014

    1. IncidentMarch 2014

      Criminal charge

      The former staff member pleaded guilty in March 2014 to three counts of forcible sex abuse under a plea agreement that reduced the felony charges.

      Criminal charge March 2014

      source

    2. IncidentJune 2014

      Criminal charge

      The former staff member was sentenced in June 2014 to 210 days in jail and 36 months of probation for inappropriately touching teens at the school.

      Criminal charge June 2014

      source

    3. IncidentDecember 2014

      License action

      State reports cited the facility for failing to properly report the 2012 sexual abuse incident (Medill Watchdog, 2014).

      License action December 2014

      source

  9. 2015

    1. IncidentDecember 2015

      Criminal charge

      A former staff member was charged in December 2015 with providing marijuana to a teen at the facility.

      Criminal charge December 2015

      source

  10. 2016

    1. Ownership

      Sequel Youth and Family Services began running it

      It ran the program until 2019.

  11. 2017

    1. OwnershipSeptember 1, 2017

      Sequel TSI: Sold a majority stake to Altamont Capital Partners

      Sequel Youth and Family Services ran Red Rock Canyon School at the time.

      Sequel TSI: Sold a majority stake to Altamont Capital Partners September 1, 2017

      Altamont Capital Partners announced a majority equity investment in Sequel through a holding company, SYFS Parent; terms were not disclosed. At the time Sequel ran 44 programs in 19 states, and APM Reports counted 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. CEO John Stupak stayed on and co-founder Jay Ripley remained board chairman. Altamont's portfolio page lists the investment as active and says SYFS Parent later acquired Rebecca & Aaron Schools (2017) and Pine Cone Therapies (2020).

      source 1, source 2, source 3

  12. 2018

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      A second former student sued in 2018 alleging the same former staff member abused him at age 13; the suit also alleges student-on-student molestation.

      Lawsuit

      source

    2. IncidentJanuary 2018

      Lawsuit

      In January 2018 a former student sued the school, alleging it failed to protect him from sexual abuse by a staff member in 2012; an earlier similar suit from...

      Lawsuit January 2018

      In January 2018 a former student sued the school, alleging it failed to protect him from sexual abuse by a staff member in 2012; an earlier similar suit from 2015 was dismissed without prejudice.

      source

  13. 2019

    1. Incident

      Abuse

      An Oregon foster child sent to Red Rock was physically assaulted by program staff on two separate days, according to an Oregon child welfare official and state senator.

      Abuse

      source

    2. IncidentApril 2019

      Injury

      A large fight at the facility on April 28, 2019 resulted in multiple injuries and five juveniles detained on suspicion of assault, criminal mischief and inciting a riot.

      Injury April 2019

      source

    3. IncidentJuly 2019

      Investigation

      After the riot and a state investigation, the school was reported in July 2019 to be closing.

      Investigation July 2019

      source

    4. IncidentNovember 2019

      Lawsuit

      A foster boy sued Oregon officials in November 2019 over his placement at Red Rock Canyon School.

      Lawsuit November 2019

      source

    5. Closed

      Closed

  14. 2020

    1. In the newsOctober 6, 2020

      Provo Canyon School Closure

      6 articles in KUER 90.1, HuffPost Canada, The Salt Lake Tribune and 2 more, 2020 to 2022.

      Provo Canyon School Closure October 6, 2020

      The Disability Law Center has launched a formal investigation into Utah's youth residential treatment facilities following increased public scrutiny and an incident at Red Rock Canyon School.

Deaths on record

The memorial

Lawsuits

  • sued the school 2019 | Closed | United States District Court, Central District of California | 2:19-cv-05008-ODW-JPR Names this facility

    Outcome: The court granted the motion to transfer venue to the District of Utah and denied the motion to dismiss as moot, terminating the case in this district.

    Plaintiff Samantha Gerson filed a civil complaint against Logan River Academy and affiliated staff members alleging childhood sexual abuse, negligence, and related claims. The complaint details her involuntary transport from her high school in California to the residential facility in Utah in 2008, where she alleges she was subjected to abuse by a staff member. The document outlines multiple claims for relief including emotional distress, negligent supervision, and failure to warn or train.

  • Samantha Gerson v. Logan River Academy 2019 | Closed | UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA | 2:19-cv-05008-ODW-JPR Names this facility

    Outcome: The court granted the defendant's motion to transfer venue to the United States District Court for the District of Utah, and denied the motion to dismiss as moot.

    Plaintiff Samantha Gerson filed a civil complaint against Logan River Academy and associated staff members alleging childhood sexual abuse, negligence, and related torts. The complaint details allegations that Plaintiff was involuntarily removed from her high school in California and transported to the residential facility in Utah, where she experienced abuse by a staff member. The document outlines multiple claims for relief including failure to supervise, emotional distress, and requests for punitive damages.

  • 05-758 - Robertson et al v. Red Rock Canyon School LLC et al - Content Details - 2008 | Unknown | United States District Court for the District of Utah | 05-758 Names this facility

    Plaintiffs Alvin, Cynthia, and Alvin Chase Robertson filed a civil lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Utah against Red Rock Canyon School LLC and associated individual defendants, including Melanie Habibian, Sherman Habibian, and Todd Hockenbury. The case falls under the nature of suit category for other personal injury. The action involves allegations related to the operations and care provided at the Red Rock Canyon School facility.

  • Robertson et al v. Red Rock Canyon School LLC et al 2005 | Closed | Utah District Court | 2:05-cv-00758 Names this facility

    Outcome: The court's records say the case was terminated on 2009-11-16.

    Plaintiffs filed a personal injury and civil rights lawsuit against Red Rock Canyon School and related individuals in September 2005. The court later dismissed the federal civil rights claim and stayed the remaining state law claims. The case proceeded through various scheduling and expert witness motions before terminating in November 2009.

  • Court record - Red Rock Canyon School Unknown Names this facility
  • Falcon Ridge Ranch, Inc., et al. v. Sequel Youth Services of Red Rock Canyon, LLC, et al. Filed | Fifth Judicial District Court in and for Washington County, State of Utah | 200500204 Names this facility

    Outcome: In the underlying AAA arbitration (No. 01-17-0005-9666), the arbitrator issued an Interim Award on March 2, 2020, and a Final Award on May 1, 2020, denying the Sequel buyers' claims, granting the sellers' counterclaim (a contingent payment of at least $3,118,445), and awarding the sellers $1,300,000 in fees and costs. The sellers filed this amended petition on May 11, 2020, asking the court to confirm the awards; the documents do not show the court's ruling.

    Frank Habibian and the companies that sold Falcon Ridge Ranch, Red Rock Canyon School, Lava Heights Academy and Mount Pleasant Academy (the CARE Schools) to Sequel Youth Services in August 2016 asked a Utah state court in Washington County to confirm an arbitration award against the Sequel buyers; the amended petition is dated May 11, 2020. In the arbitration, Sequel sought indemnity for a June 2017 settlement of about $2.58 million it paid the United States and Nevada after self-reporting that the schools had paid referral fees for students covered by Nevada Medicaid. The arbitrator dismissed that claim because Sequel settled without notifying the sellers, found the sellers had been ignorant of the law rather than fraudulent, and ruled that Sequel breached the purchase agreement in how it ran the schools after the sale. This is a business dispute between a program's sellers and buyers, not an abuse case, but it documents the referral-fee practice and the Medicaid settlement. The documents do not show whether the court confirmed the award.

  • P.R. v. Red Rock Canyon School, et al. Filed Names this facility

    Civil lawsuit filed against the now-closed Red Rock Canyon School in St. George, Utah and its parent company Sequel Youth and Family Services by former student P.R., who alleges she was sexually abused and impregnated by staff member Atonio Kavea while a minor, with the knowledge and alleged facilitation of other personnel including Kavea's sister, Asiah Kavea. The suit claims the school attempted to conceal the abuse and remove P.R. rather than protect her, and seeks over $10 million in damages. Reported by KUTV (Liv Kelleher) on 06/10/2025.

Every case in the lawsuit directory

Incidents on record

  1. 2001 Lawsuit

    A 2001 lawsuit alleged rape (by other clients), fraud, deceit and negligence at Red Rock Canyon School.source

  2. 2008-2013 Incident

    Police complaints from 2008 to 2013 included reports of sexual offenses, rape, pornography, child abuse and assault.source

  3. August 2012 Sexual abuse

    A staff member was charged in August 2012 with felony sodomy on a child and forcible sexual abuse involving three male students.source

  4. March 2014 Criminal charge

    The former staff member pleaded guilty in March 2014 to three counts of forcible sex abuse under a plea agreement that reduced the felony charges.source

  5. June 2014 Criminal charge

    The former staff member was sentenced in June 2014 to 210 days in jail and 36 months of probation for inappropriately touching teens at the school.source

  6. December 2014 License action

    State reports cited the facility for failing to properly report the 2012 sexual abuse incident (Medill Watchdog, 2014).source

  7. December 2015 Criminal charge

    A former staff member was charged in December 2015 with providing marijuana to a teen at the facility.source

  8. 2018 Lawsuit

    A second former student sued in 2018 alleging the same former staff member abused him at age 13; the suit also alleges student-on-student molestation.source

  9. January 2018 Lawsuit

    In January 2018 a former student sued the school, alleging it failed to protect him from sexual abuse by a staff member in 2012; an earlier similar suit from 2015 was dismissed without prejudice.source

  10. 2019 Abuse

    An Oregon foster child sent to Red Rock was physically assaulted by program staff on two separate days, according to an Oregon child welfare official and state senator.source

  11. April 2019 Injury

    A large fight at the facility on April 28, 2019 resulted in multiple injuries and five juveniles detained on suspicion of assault, criminal mischief and inciting a riot.source

  12. July 2019 Investigation

    After the riot and a state investigation, the school was reported in July 2019 to be closing.source

  13. November 2019 Lawsuit

    A foster boy sued Oregon officials in November 2019 over his placement at Red Rock Canyon School.source

  14. Lawsuit

    HEAL said Red Rock Canyon School has been sued for wrongful death and for allowing sexual abuse of a minor.source

News coverage

  • The Imprint Jul 22, 2025 Closure

    ‘State-sponsored Abandonment’ No More: California Stops Paying for Adoptees Sent to Out-of-State Treatment Centers

    California has ceased funding residential treatment placements for adopted foster youth in other states, closing what advocates termed a dangerous loophole. The decision follows revelations that hundreds of children were sent to facilities with histories of violations, including several since-shuttered programs. At least 676 adoptees were placed in out-of-state centers since 2020, with many attending problematic facilities. Among them were Sequel Youth and Family Services programs like Iowa’s Clarinda Academy and Utah’s Red Rock Canyon School, both closed after abuse scandals. Other placements included Utah’s Havenwood Academy, disciplined for improper restraints, and Cinnamon Hills Youth Crisis Center, sanctioned for excessive punishments. Three Points Ranch ceased operations in 2025 following violations, while White River Academy continues accepting California-funded youth under existing contracts.

  • KUTV Jun 10, 2025 Lawsuit

    Lawsuit claims staff at former St. George youth center abused, impregnated teenage girls

    A civil lawsuit has been filed against the now-closed Red Rock Canyon School and its parent company, Sequel Youth and Family Services, by a former student identified as P.R. The lawsuit alleges that P.R. was sexually abused and impregnated by a staff member, Atonio Kavea, while a minor, with the knowledge and alleged facilitation of other school personnel, including Kavea's sister, Asiah Kavea. It further claims that the school attempted to conceal the abuse and remove P.R. to limit liability, rather than protect her. The case highlights broader concerns regarding oversight and accountability within the "troubled teen" industry in Utah, referencing previous closures, investigations, and new legislation aimed at increasing protections for youth in these facilities. The lawsuit seeks over $10 million in damages for the physical and emotional trauma suffered by P.R., while also aiming to hold the organizations financially responsible to prevent future harm.

  • The Salt Lake Tribune May 7, 2024 Expose

    An Historical Overview of Utah's Wilderness Therapy Industry and Regulatory Oversight

    This article examines the origins of the wilderness therapy industry in Utah, which traces back to practices influenced by Brigham Young University. The piece outlines how the sector expanded while facing ongoing reports of deaths, abuse allegations, and subsequent industry downsizing and increased state oversight.

  • KJZZ Oct 12, 2023 Event

    Multiple injuries as riot breaks out at Red Rock Canyon School in St. George

    A riot at Red Rock Canyon School in St. George resulted in more than 20 students sustaining injuries. The incident involved students and staff, with several students requiring medical attention. Authorities responded to the disturbance and are investigating the circumstances.

  • ABC4 News Oct 4, 2023 Expose

    Former Red Rock Canyon School staffer comes forward with abuse and neglect allegations

    The former Red Rock Canyon School in St. George, Utah, has publicly acknowledged allegations of abuse and neglect. Reports detail staff misconduct, safety violations, and conditions that led to harm among residents. The facility’s owners have issued statements addressing the claims.

  • NBC News Jul 12, 2023 Event

    Warning signs missed before teen's fatal restraint

    The article reports that a teen named Cornelius Frederick died after being restrained in a facility. The report indicates that warning signs were missed and that the restraint may have contributed to the fatal outcome. The case highlights concerns about safety protocols in residential treatment settings.

  • The Daily Utah Chronicle Apr 13, 2022 Expose

    Cushman: Utah Needs to Address Isolation of Teens in Utah Teen Treatment Centers

    The article reports allegations of physical restraint, emotional abuse, solitary confinement, forced medication, and sexual abuse experienced by survivors at Utah teen treatment centers such as Provo Canyon School and Red Rock Canyon School. It highlights the role of isolation in limiting access to help and calls for stronger state regulation to protect youths in these facilities.

  • The Imprint Nov 2, 2021 Corporate

    Federal Watchdogs Find Abuse at For-Profit Youth Residential Programs in 18 States

    A report by the National Disability Rights Network documents widespread civil rights violations, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and inappropriate use of psychotropic medication across for-profit youth residential programs in 18 states. The findings highlight systemic issues driven by profit-seeking models, prompting calls for increased federal oversight and accountability.

  • The Salt Lake Tribune Feb 4, 2021 Expose

    State Records Detail Frequent Restraint and Sedation of a 14-Year-Old at Provo Canyon School

    Public records revealed that Provo Canyon School frequently subjected a 14-year-old girl in foster care to physical restraints, peer violence, seclusion, and chemical restraints via intramuscular injections over a three-month period in 2019. The case prompted Oregon officials to withdraw all foster children from out-of-state facilities and inspired proposed Utah legislation to restrict chemical and physical restraints at youth residential treatment centers.

  • The Salt Lake Tribune Feb 4, 2021 Expose

    Utah Troubled‑Teen Centers Use Sedatives, Raising Oversight Concerns

    A 14‑year‑old girl with an intellectual and developmental disability was subjected to repeated physical restraints, seclusion, and sedative injections while staying at Provo Canyon School in Utah. Oregon child‑welfare officials investigated the treatment, citing concerns about chemical restraints and physical abuse, and subsequently removed the girl from the facility. The case has prompted legislative proposals to limit restraints and increase oversight of Utah’s troubled‑teen centers.

  • HuffPost Canada Nov 22, 2020 Expose

    Allegations of Abuse at U.S. Troubled‑Teen Boarding Schools Involving Canadian Teens

    The article reports allegations of physical restraint, solitary confinement, and sexual misconduct at several U.S. troubled‑teen boarding schools that housed Canadian teenagers. Survivors describe harsh punishments, forced medication, and isolation, and the facilities have faced legal and regulatory scrutiny. The piece highlights gaps in oversight and the impact on the survivors’ mental health.

  • KUER 90.1 Oct 6, 2020 Event

    Disability Rights Organization To Investigate Utah’s Youth Residential Treatment Facilities | KUER

    The Disability Law Center has launched a formal investigation into Utah's youth residential treatment facilities following increased public scrutiny and an incident at Red Rock Canyon School. The inquiry aims to evaluate conditions and practices across approximately 100 private behavioral treatment programs operating in the state.

8 more articles

Videos

Red Rock Canyon School employee pleads not guilty to child abuse charge Watch on YouTube
Former Red Rock Canyon School staffer comes forward with abuse and neglect allegations Watch on YouTube
Red Rock Canyon School staffer charged for allegedly punching student in the face during April riot Watch on YouTube
Frank Habibian on 16 Years of Red Rock Canyon School Watch on YouTube
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Staff

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Notable staff

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

Ownership

  • Sequel Youth and Family Services operated 2016-2019

Documents

Research that mentions this program

The whole research library

From the Unsilenced archive

1,474 documents about Red Rock Canyon School that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Red Rock Canyon School.

Documents (1,424)
DHS Reports (45)
News (3)
Police Records (1)
Program Documents (1)

From SCIAD NET

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

Wiki entries

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External links

Government records

From SCIAD NET.

Survivor posts and discussion

Staff listing or directory

Reference and research

1 of these from SCIAD NET.

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