Parent company profile

World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools

Also known as WWASPS

Defunct 34 programs

World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools is a parent company (defunct) based in St. George, UT. Kids Over Profits has records of 34 programs it has run in 11 states and 6 countries.

History

Year by year

From the records: deals and takeovers, the programs it ran, and the deaths, lawsuits, inspection findings and news stories from the years it ran them. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

1995199820002002200320042005200620072008200920112012201620182019202319952023

  1. 1995

    1. Closed

      Closed Sunrise Beach

  2. 1998

    1. Closed

      Closed 2 programs

  3. 2000

    1. Closed

      Closed 2 programs

  4. 2002

    1. Closed

      Closed High Impact

  5. 2003

    1. Closed

      Closed Bell(e) Academy

    2. ClosedMay 22, 2003

      Costa Rica raided Dundee Ranch Academy

      Costa Rica raided Dundee Ranch Academy May 22, 2003

      Costa Rica's child welfare agency (PANI) told Dundee Ranch Academy on May 19, 2003, to correct 15 violations; riots broke out when authorities visited on May 20 and again two days later. Owner Narvin Lichfield, brother of WWASPS founder Robert Lichfield, was detained for 30 hours on child abuse charges, which a judge dismissed. The agency said the ranch operated without a license and that 100 of 193 American youths there were in the country illegally.

      source 1, source 2

  6. 2004

    1. Closed

      Closed Casa by the Sea

    2. ClosedSeptember 10, 2004

      Mexico closed Casa by the Sea and two other Baja schools

      Mexico closed Casa by the Sea and two other Baja schools September 10, 2004

      Mexican authorities raided and ordered closed three Ensenada-area schools for American teens in September 2004, citing immigration violations and reports of abuse: Casa by the Sea (about 530 students), Casa la Esperanza and Genesis by the Sea. WWASPS president Ken Kay said the association counted the schools among its members. The LA Times noted earlier closures in Mexico and the Czech Republic and the Costa Rica raid.

      source 1, source 2

  7. 2005

    1. Closed

      Closed Bethel Girls Academy

  8. 2006

    1. Lawsuit

      Newman v. Lichfield, et al.

      About Spring Creek Lodge Academy.

      Newman v. Lichfield, et al.

      Judith Newman sued over the death of her daughter Karlye, who was found hanged at Spring Creek Lodge Academy in Thompson Falls, Montana on October 7, 2004 and died at age 16. She filed suit on October 23, 2006 against Spring Creek and its directors, later adding WWASP founder Robert Lichfield, WWASP, Teen Help, National Contract and Peacox, and alleged negligent care, wrongful death and deceptive marketing to...

      Outcome: Newman settled with Spring Creek, Teen Help and National Contract in early 2010. A jury returned a defense verdict for Lichfield and WWASP on October 27, 2010.

      Court
      Supreme Court of Montana (appeal from the Twentieth Judicial District Court, Sanders County)
      Case number
      DA 10-0548
      Status
      Ruling issued

      All lawsuits on record

    2. Lawsuit

      Dungan, et al. v. The Academy at Ivy Ridge, et al.

      About Academy at Ivy Ridge.

      Dungan, et al. v. The Academy at Ivy Ridge, et al.

      Families of former students filed a class action complaint on July 25, 2006 in federal court in the Northern District of New York against The Academy at Ivy Ridge in Ogdensburg, its owners, WWASP and Robert Lichfield, an accrediting body, and several referral companies.

      Court
      U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
      Status
      Filed

      All lawsuits on record

    3. Settlement

      Sued by former students in Utah federal court; case grew to 350-plus plaintiffs

      Sued by former students in Utah federal court; case grew to 350-plus plaintiffs

      A lawsuit brought in 2006, first on behalf of a Texas man, against WWASPS and principals Robert B. Lichfield and Brent M. Facer had more than 350 plaintiffs by 2011, mostly former students alleging abuse and their parents. Reason reported 133 plaintiffs in June 2007. A separate suit filed in June 2011 in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City concerned Casa by the Sea and High Impact, which that complaint said Mexico shut in 2002.

      source 1, source 2

  9. 2007

    1. Closed

      Closed Sky View Christian Academy

    2. ClosedJuly 16, 2007

      Network down to two schools from seven in 2005

      • Majestic Ranch

      Network down to two schools from seven in 2005 July 16, 2007

      WWASPS president Ken Kay told the Salt Lake Tribune that the network had seven schools in 2005 and two in July 2007, including Majestic Ranch in Randolph, Utah. Kay said he would be surprised if WWASPS lasted more than another year.

      source

  10. 2008

    1. Closed

      Closed 2 programs

  11. 2009

    1. Closed

      Closed 8 programs

      Closed 8 programs

  12. 2011

    1. Closed

      Closed 3 programs

    2. ClosedJune 2011

      Board member said WWASPS existed on paper only

      Board member said WWASPS existed on paper only June 2011

      In June 2011 former board member Brent Facer told AP that WWASPS existed only on paper and had shut down because its programs were no longer needed.

      source

  13. 2012

    1. SettlementMarch 2012

      Montana Supreme Court ordered a new trial in a Spring Creek Lodge suicide suit

      • Spring Creek Lodge

      Montana Supreme Court ordered a new trial in a Spring Creek Lodge suicide suit March 2012

      A 16-year-old girl died by suicide at Spring Creek Lodge near Thompson Falls, Montana, in October 2004. In 2010 a Sanders County jury found WWASPS and Robert Lichfield not negligent; in March 2012 the Montana Supreme Court ordered a new trial, ruling the trial court wrongly limited evidence about other suicide attempts and conditions at the school. WWASPS had supplied Spring Creek's policy and procedure manual.

      source

    2. Closed

      Closed Pillars of Hope

  14. 2016

    1. Closed

      Closed Midwest Academy

  15. 2018

    1. Closed

      Closed US Youth Services

  16. 2019

    1. Closed

      Closed Old West Academy

  17. 2023

    1. Closed

      Closed Never Give Up Youth Healing Services

Programs it has run

34 on record.

People

The people the network map ties to the company, with their other jobs in the industry.

  • Robert B. Lichfield

    founder, owner

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Karr Farnsworth

    president

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Ken Kay

    president

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Wwasp President and Public Voice, President, 1998-2025
    • World Wide Association of Specialty Schools and Programs (WWASPS) President, 2006
    • Pro-ED LLC Staff, 2006
    • Canyon View Park President of WWASPS, 2015
    • Camas Ranch President of WWASPS, 2019
    • Browning Academy Director/Superintendent, 2020
    • Browning Distance Learning Academy Superintendent
    • Cross Creek Programs Program Director
5 other people connected to the company
  • Brent Facer, trustee
  • David Gilcrease, seminar facilitator
  • J Ralph Atkin, trustee
  • Joe F Akins, prepared tax guides
  • Marie Peart, marketer

News coverage

  • Essential reporting

    The Missoulian mapped the owners and administrators who moved between Montana programs, several of them with past license revocations or criminal charges.

    Investigation Reveals Recurrent Ownership and Oversight Concerns Across Montana Youth Residential Programs Missoulian | Jan 26, 2019 | expose · About one of its programs

    An investigative report examines the network of owners and administrators operating private residential youth programs in Montana, highlighting instances where individuals with histories of regulatory violations, licensing revocations, or criminal charges established or worked at multiple facilities. The report details multiple civil lawsuits against facilities including Reflections Academy, alleging failures to protect students from staff misconduct and inadequate state regulatory oversight.

  • Essential reporting

    The Missoulian found 58 complaints in 12 years against Montana's private youth programs and no sanctions from a board made up mostly of industry representatives.

    12 years, 58 complaints, no sanctions at Montana residential programs Missoulian | Jan 23, 2019 | expose · About one of its programs

    Over a 12-year period, private residential programs for youth in Montana accumulated 58 complaints without facing any significant sanctions from the state regulatory board. The oversight body, primarily composed of industry representatives, maintained closed records and dismissed complaints regarding uncertified staff, facility safety violations, and operational noncompliance.

  • Paris Hilton supports MI bill preventing use of restraints in 'troubled teen' transport My UP News | Mar 18, 2026 | event · About one of its programs

    A Michigan bill aims to prevent the use of restraints during the transportation of minors to residential treatment programs. The bill was supported by Paris Hilton, who shared her own experience of being taken from her home in the middle of the night and restrained. Other survivors also testified about their experiences, including Elizabeth Bennett-Faucett, who described being transported to a facility in Mexico against her will.

  • TEEN TORTURE: Sapulpa native advocates for boarding school regulation KJRH | Jan 6, 2026 | expose · About one of its programs

    A Sapulpa native, John Moody, shares his story of experiencing physical abuse and trauma at Bethel Boys Academy in Mississippi. Moody is now advocating for increased regulation of behavioral boarding schools. The academy has since shut down, but many states still lack oversight of these types of facilities.

  • I was abandoned 2.5k miles from home at ‘Lord of the Flies’ troubled teen school – I thought I’d die any day from abuse The US Sun | Jul 27, 2024 | lawsuit · About one of its programs

    Survivors Allen Knoll and Dave Bowsher made a documentary together called Teen Torture Inc., which is streaming now on HBO Max. Bethel Boys Academy in Lucedale, Mississippi was closed in 2008 Many pictures of students and campus life Founded in 1978 by Reverend Herman Fountain Students were repeatedly removed from campus in connection with credible allegations of child abuse beginning in 1980 yet the school was allowed to remain open for 10 more years When the state finally intervened, Herman Fountain assaulted a police officer and consequently served 9 months in prison After prison, Fountain reopened the facility under a modified name in 1994 A staff member who was known to be particularly abusive, William Knott, was never held accountable for his crimes at Bethel. However, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child abuse at his next workplace, Restoration Youth Academy, in 2017 Includes stories from Bethel survivors Allen Knoll, Daniel Edwards, Dave Bowsher, Ralph Nock, Steven Caccamo, Colin Buckley Buckley and Caccamo are also survivors of Academy at Ivy Ridge Buckley and Caccamo founded a non-profit called the Troubled Teen Advocate Group to help other survivors Bethel survivors filed a class action lawsuit that failed Herman Fountain’s son, John, took over as director in the final years of the academy Parents filed a lawsuit against Bethel that was settled out of court A lawsuit filed by a survivor’s father resulted in Bethel and Knott being ordered to pay out nearly $1m Bethel rebranded as Eagle Point Christian Academy in 2005

  • ‘I’d rather die than go back’: Jamaica’s school for troubled US boys The Times | Jul 13, 2024 | general · About one of its programs
  • Former Midwest Academy owner surrenders to Lee County Sheriff WGEM | Mar 6, 2023 | arrest · About one of its programs

    Former Midwest Academy owner Benjamin Trane surrendered to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to begin serving a nine-year prison sentence following his 2017 conviction on counts of sexual assault, sexual exploitation by a counselor, and child endangerment. His final appeal was rejected by the Iowa State Supreme Court in January 2023.

  • State Laws Aim to Regulate 'Troubled Teen Industry,' but Loopholes Remain KFF Health News | Jan 21, 2022 | general · About one of its programs

    This article examines state-level legislative efforts to regulate private residential youth programs and the ongoing regulatory loopholes that allow instances of seclusion, chemical sedation, and unaddressed safety violations to persist. Advocates and experts highlight that inconsistent state enforcement and exemptions for religious programs continue to present challenges for oversight within the industry.

  • State laws aim to regulate 'troubled teen industry,' but loopholes remain USA TODAY / Kaiser Health News | Jan 19, 2022 | expose · About one of its programs

    The article examines state-level regulatory efforts and ongoing loopholes regarding residential youth treatment programs across the United States. It details accounts of restrictive practices and inadequate oversight in facilities across states such as Utah and Montana, while highlighting advocacy efforts for federal legislation.

  • An Examination of Allegations and Practices Within the Troubled Teen Industry Refinery29 | Jun 29, 2021 | expose · About one of its programs

    Multiple survivors have come forward with allegations of emotional, physical, and psychological abuse within various residential treatment facilities and behavioral modification programs. Former residents report practices including involuntary transport, isolation, forced labor, and peer-to-peer shaming sessions, prompting increased public scrutiny of the troubled teen industry.

  • Tranquility Bay to be reopened as police facility Jamaica Observer | Jun 7, 2020 | general · About one of its programs

    The former Tranquility Bay facility in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, which previously housed youth programs in the 1990s and early 2000s, is being refurbished to serve as a quarantine and training facility for police recruits. Local officials and residents have discussed the upcoming reopening alongside community infrastructure needs, such as local water supply improvements.

  • Former Montana Residential Program Students Report Isolation and Punitive Practices Missoulian | Jan 25, 2019 | expose · About one of its programs

    Former students of various private residential programs in Montana detailed institutional practices such as prolonged social isolation, physical exertion punishments, and behavioral restriction levels. Documentation and interviews also revealed instances of physical restraint, restrictive dietary measures, and allegations of forced peer physical contact overseen by facility staff.

  • Investigation into death at Elan School in Maine Secret Prisons for Teens | Mar 14, 2016 | expose · About one of its programs

    An investigative blog post examines the historical operations and lack of regulatory oversight at the closed Elan School in Maine. The article discusses allegations of systemic violence, fraudulent therapeutic practices, and the 1982 death of a resident, Philip Williams Jr., within the facility's peer-to-peer restraint and conflict structures.

  • An Examination of Systemic Abuse and Oversight Gaps in Residential Treatment Programs US Represented | Dec 1, 2014 | expose · About one of its programs

    This article examines documented instances of systemic abuse, neglect, and human rights violations across various residential treatment programs and youth facilities in the United States and internationally. It highlights findings from government investigations and congressional testimony demonstrating a lack of federal oversight, inadequate state regulations, and the persistence of harmful practices within the troubled teen industry.

  • Former Participant Files Lawsuit Against Operator of International Adolescent Programs Alleging Abuse The Spokesman-Review | Jun 3, 2011 | lawsuit · About one of its programs

    A 24-year-old survivor filed a federal lawsuit against the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, alleging physical and emotional abuse during his enrollment in the organization's programs in Mexico starting at age 13. The lawsuit seeks damages for alleged mistreatment, including physical restraint and deprivation, while representatives for the defunct organization denied knowledge of the allegations.

  • Unlicensed Teen Mentor Program Closed by Costa Rican Authorities Amid Mistreatment Allegations The Tico Times | Apr 1, 2011 | closure

    Costa Rican child welfare officials closed the Teen Mentor behavioral modification program, operated by the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), following reports of physical, psychological, and verbal mistreatment. Regulators and parents noted that the facility operated without proper licensing, prompting emergency repatriations of participating teenagers while former staff defended the program's methods.

  • Loophole in state law has allowed some in teen-help industry to go unlicensed The Salt Lake Tribune | Jul 16, 2007 | expose · About one of its programs

    The article reports that Majestic Ranch, a Utah boarding school for troubled teens, operated without a required license for 18 months due to a loophole in state law. Regulators eventually granted a probationary license after minor changes to the employee handbook, but the case highlights broader oversight gaps affecting other teen‑help programs. The piece also notes that an adoption agency, Focus on Children, operated unlicensed for 2½ years before receiving a license.

  • Mitt Romney's Campaign Connections to Abusive Adolescent Treatment Programs Reason | Jun 27, 2007 | expose

    The article examines the connections between presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign fundraisers and residential treatment programs facing widespread allegations of abuse. Founders Robert Lichfield of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) and Mel Sembler of Straight Inc. faced numerous lawsuits and investigations regarding allegations of physical restraint, food and sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse.

  • Allegations of Abuse in Residential Treatment Programs for Teens Dissident Voice | Apr 20, 2006 | expose · About one of its programs

    The article reports allegations that several privately operated residential treatment programs for adolescents employ coercive discipline, physical and chemical restraints, and isolation, resulting in reported trauma among former participants. It also describes corporate ties, political contributions, and legal actions related to these facilities.

  • Mexico Shutters U.S.-Run Rehab Centers for Teens WUWF / NPR | Jan 2, 2005 | closure · About one of its programs

    Mexican authorities closed and sealed the U.S.-run Casa by the Sea youth rehabilitation facility near Ensenada, Mexico. The facility, which previously housed up to 500 teenagers, was shut down by regulatory action.

  • Bell Academy shuts down Porterville Recorder | Sep 26, 2003 | closure · About one of its programs

    Bell Academy, a boarding school in Terra Bella, California, closed following a legal dispute with the California Department of Social Services over operating without a group home license. A superior court judge denied the school's appeal of the state's determination, resulting in daily fines that prompted the closure.

  • Key to His Schools’ Success? It’s God, Founder Says Los Angeles Times | Jul 13, 2003 | corporate · About one of its programs

    This 2003 article examines Robert Browning Lichfield and his involvement in the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) network. It details allegations of severe disciplinary practices, regulatory investigations, and lawsuits while highlighting Lichfield's financial and political influence.

  • Overview of World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools Amid Costa Rica Facility Closure archived copy The Salt Lake Tribune | May 25, 2003 | corporate · About one of its programs

    Following the arrest of director Narvin Lichfield and an exodus of students prompted by Costa Rican officials, the Academy at Dundee Ranch faced closure. The facility was part of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools network, which faced various allegations including false imprisonment, misrepresentation, and physical restraint.

  • Bell Academy has 15 days to comply Porterville Recorder | Apr 24, 2003 | event · About one of its programs

    State officials from the California Department of Social Services notified Bell Academy that it must obtain the appropriate license to operate as a group educational facility within 15 days, or face daily fines and possible closure. The academy's director acknowledged the oversight and indicated steps to address licensing requirements.

  • Seen 'n Heard - Jan, 2000 Issue (page 3) Seen 'n Heard | Jan 1, 2000 | general · About one of its programs

    The issue provides brief news items about several residential programs, noting a lawsuit by former employees of Cross Creek Manor, the announced closure of Royal Haven, and various program activities such as presentations, graduations, and service expansions. It reports on updates from multiple facilities without detailing individual incidents.

  • An Examination of Behavior Modification Programs for Adolescents CBS News | Oct 15, 1998 | expose · About one of its programs

    An investigative report examines behavior modification programs operating in remote locations under the umbrella organization Worldwide Association of Specialty Programs. Former students detailed allegations of physical restraints, confinement, and inadequate medical care, while program directors defended the operations and cited positive outcomes reported by some participants and parents.

  • Seen 'n Heard, 4/1992 Woodbury Reports | Apr 1, 1992 | general · About one of its programs

    This newsletter issue provides brief industry updates regarding various residential schools and emotional growth programs, including staff appointments, insurance funding strategies, and upcoming program activities. Mentioned facilities include Elan School, Cascade School, Glenholme School, Cross Creek Manor, Amity School, and Mt. Bachelor Academy.

  • CONVICTED KEOKUK SCHOOL OWNER A NO-SHOW TO PRISON WTAD | arrest · About one of its programs

    Ben Trane, former owner of the Midwest Academy boarding school in Keokuk, Iowa, was convicted in 2017 on charges of sexual assault, sexual exploitation by a counselor, and child endangerment. He was scheduled to report to the Lee County Correctional Center to begin a nine‑year sentence but did not appear as required. The school was permanently closed following a 2016 raid by state and federal authorities after allegations were made by a student.

1 article about celebrities and viral stories
  • The Multi-Billion Dollar ‘Troubled Teen’ Industry Is Getting a True-Crime Reckoning Observer | Jul 10, 2020 | expose · About one of its programs

    Recent media projects, including podcasts and documentaries, are examining institutional practices within the residential youth program industry. Survivors and public figures are sharing accounts of restrictive practices and psychological methods originating from Synanon-affiliated programs, bringing increased public attention to long-standing allegations of mistreatment.

Lawsuits

  • Newman v. Lichfield, et al. 2006 | Ruling issued | Supreme Court of Montana (appeal from the Twentieth Judicial District Court, Sanders County) | DA 10-0548

    Outcome: Newman settled with Spring Creek, Teen Help and National Contract in early 2010. A jury returned a defense verdict for Lichfield and WWASP on October 27, 2010. On March 6, 2012 the Montana Supreme Court affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded for a new trial, holding the trial court wrongly limited evidence on foreseeability.

    Judith Newman sued over the death of her daughter Karlye, who was found hanged at Spring Creek Lodge Academy in Thompson Falls, Montana on October 7, 2004 and died at age 16. She filed suit on October 23, 2006 against Spring Creek and its directors, later adding WWASP founder Robert Lichfield, WWASP, Teen Help, National Contract and Peacox, and alleged negligent care, wrongful death and deceptive marketing to parents of suicidal youth. She settled with Spring Creek, Teen Help and National Contract in 2010, and a jury found for Lichfield and WWASP in October 2010. On March 6, 2012 the Montana Supreme Court reversed in part and ordered a new trial. The documents do not show what happened after remand.

  • Dungan, et al. v. The Academy at Ivy Ridge, et al. 2006 | Filed | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York

    Families of former students filed a class action complaint on July 25, 2006 in federal court in the Northern District of New York against The Academy at Ivy Ridge in Ogdensburg, its owners, WWASP and Robert Lichfield, an accrediting body, and several referral companies. The complaint alleges the defendants falsely told parents and the public that Ivy Ridge was licensed and authorized by New York State to award high school credits and diplomas. It brings claims under RICO and New York law, including fraud, conspiracy, deceptive business practices and breach of contract. The document on file is the complaint and does not show how the case ended.

  • Cheryl Struble, et al. v. Herman Fountain, et al. 2004 | Filed | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Southern Division

    Eight families of former students (called cadets) sued Herman Fountain, John Fountain Jr., Josh Fountain, Susan Churchwell and others who ran Bethel Boys Academy near Lucedale, Mississippi, in federal court, claiming federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state-law claims. The complaint alleges that staff and cadets forced by staff beat new arrivals, that boys were locked in footlockers, made to hold electric fences, held underwater at a swamp, denied bathroom breaks, sleep, food and medical care, and made to work up to 18 hours a day without pay. It alleges the academy misled parents about care, education and a staff nurse, and kept tuition and other payments. The enrollments described run from 2002 to 2003. The extracted text is missing the caption page, so the docket number, district and filing date are not shown, and the document shows nothing beyond the complaint.

  • Criminal case record - Eagle Point Christian Academy 2003 | Unknown | Chancery Court of George County, Mississippi | 2003-326

    Outcome: Consent decree entered; case settled; all claims dismissed.

    The State of Mississippi sued Bethel Boys Academy and related parties for alleged abuse and neglect of children at the facility. The parties entered into a consent decree that requires the defendants to implement comprehensive safety, monitoring, and staff screening measures. The decree also mandates the removal of electric fences and the establishment of a community advisory board. The agreement resolves all claims against the defendants in the Chancery Court of George County.

  • lawsuit Unknown | State of Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit | 14-1028

    Outcome: Reversed summary judgment; remanded for further proceedings

    Amy Tepper and her parents appealed a trial court decision that granted summary judgment in favor of Red River Academy, LLC. The appellate court found genuine issues of material fact regarding the school’s medical care of Amy, and reversed the summary judgment. The case was remanded for further proceedings. The decision focuses on alleged negligence in the school’s handling of Amy’s medical treatment.

  • Newman v. Scottsdale Insurance Co. (Mont. 2013) Unknown
  • lawsuit Unknown
  • Mazder v. Teen Help Unknown
  • Brightway Adolescent Hospital v. Health Plan of Nevada, Inc. Unknown
  • State of Iowa v. Benjamin G. Trane Ruling issued | Iowa District Court for Lee (South) County; Iowa Supreme Court

    Outcome: Convicted December 22, 2017 of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist (pattern, practice or scheme), and child endangerment. Sentenced May 10, 2018 to 9 years in prison. Convictions affirmed by the Iowa Supreme Court (State v. Trane, 934 N.W.2d 447 (Iowa 2019); No. 21-1211, January 6, 2023). Trane reported to the Lee County jail to begin his sentence in March 2023. In postconviction proceedings the Iowa Supreme Court (No. 23-1928, January 31, 2025) reversed the grant of a new trial on the child endangerment count.

    Benjamin G. Trane opened Midwest Academy in Keokuk, Iowa in 2003 and ran it until it closed in 2016 after state and federal agents searched the school. In 2015 a female student reported that he sexually abused her, and two male students reported physical abuse; the State of Iowa charged Trane with third-degree sexual abuse, sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist, and child endangerment. At a jury trial in Keokuk in December 2017, a child protection worker testified that the Iowa Department of Human Services and the FBI had received a report in March 2015 that students were held in isolation rooms with human waste, and agents described searches of the school on January 28, February 1 and February 11, 2016. On December 22, 2017 the jury convicted Trane of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, a pattern, practice or scheme to engage in sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist, and child endangerment. He was sentenced on May 10, 2018 to nine years in prison, ten years of supervised release and sex offender registration. His appeals failed: the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the convictions in 2019 subject to a rape shield hearing, affirmed again on January 6, 2023, and on January 31, 2025 reversed a lower court's grant of a new trial on the child endangerment count.

  • Wood, et al. v. World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, Inc., et al. Unknown | Fifth Judicial District Court, Washington County, Utah | 120500380

    William Chase Wood and several hundred other former students and their parents sued the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), founder Robert Lichfield, his business partners and dozens of affiliated programs, marketing and billing companies in Utah's Fifth Judicial District Court in Washington County. The document on file is the plaintiffs' 228-page first amended complaint, submitted July 24, 2013, which refers to claim sheets filed in the case on December 17, 2012 in opposition to a WWASPS motion to dismiss. It alleges that students placed at WWASPS programs in Utah, other states, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Samoa and the Czech Republic from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s were beaten, restrained, locked in isolation and small boxes or cages, denied food and medical care, sexually abused and forced to work without pay. It alleges the programs operated as a single enterprise that deceived parents and concealed the abuse, and brings negligence, fraud, contract, conspiracy and emotional distress claims. The document does not show how the case ended.

  • Houlahan v. World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, et al. On appeal | U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | 1:04-cv-01161

    Outcome: Clerk's Judgment was entered in favor of Defendants against Plaintiff, a motion for a new trial was denied, and the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal.

    Thomas G. Houlahan was the plaintiff in a federal case against the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASP) and others in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The only document on file is the report of the plaintiff's expert witness, industry consultant Lon Woodbury, filed as an exhibit on February 1, 2006. Woodbury's report compares WWASP programs to industry standards, citing referral fees, commission-paid marketers, enrollments far over 200, open-ended phone blackouts, students used as junior staff to enforce discipline, and more abuse claims and closures than at other programs. The document does not state the plaintiff's claims or how the case ended.

Every case in the lawsuit directory

Documents

Documents on file (204)
Academy at Dundee Ranch (3)
Academy at Ivy Ridge (7)
Browning Academy (1)
Carolina Springs Academy (2)
Casa by the Sea (3)
Cross Creek (3)
Cross Creek Programs (2)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (1)
Darrington Academy (5)
High Impact (4)
Majestic Ranch (1)
Majestic Ranch Old West Academy (2)
Midwest Academy (46)
New Beginnings (1)
Paradise Cove (7)
Pillars of Hope (8)
Resource Realizations (26)
Seminars (19)
Spring Creek Lodge (4)
Spring Creek Lodge Academy (7)
Teen Help (5)
Tranquility Bay (19)

Filed under its programs

120 documents across 15 programs: inspection reports, court records, clippings and more, each on its program page.

From the Unsilenced archive

5,828 documents about World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: WWASP.

Documents (2,631)
Affidavits (7)
Depositions (3)
Generic Seminar Information (42)
Internal WWASP Emails (1)
Legal / Alva, et al v. Teen Help, et al (20)
Legal / Artim et al v. Cross Creek Manor et al (2)
Legal / Austen et al v. World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools et al (2)
Legal / Bardin vs Teen Help (3)
Legal / Bowman vs Teen Help (1)
Legal / Cross Creek v Reeves (5)
Legal / Doubinin, et al v. Teen Help, et al (12)
Legal / Dungan et al v. The Academy at Ivy Ridge et al (13)
Legal / Goold, et al v. Teen Help, et al (5)
Legal / Houlahan vs Freeman & WWASP (7)
Legal / Hunt etc vs Midwest Academy (41)
Legal / Jerrad vs Midwest Academy (51)
Legal / Kimzey, et al v. Spring Creek Lodge, et al (30)
Legal / LaFleur vs Teen Help (1)
Legal / Lexington Insurance Company v Carolina Springs Academy (19)
Legal / Lichfield vs Lichfield (2)
Legal / Mazdzer vs Teen Help (4)
Legal / Mitchell, et al v. Cross Creek Manor (11)
Legal / Moody v Cross Creek (2)
Legal / Newman vs United Fire and Casualty Company (71)
Legal / Newman vs WWASP and Spring Creek Lodge (138)
Legal / Peay, et al v. Bellsouth Med Asst, et al (2)
Legal / PURE Depositions (8)
Legal / Robert Browning Lich, et al v. Bullhead City, City, et al (1)
Legal / Robert Browning Lichfield vs Youth Foundation (1)
Legal / Sparks v Spring Creek Lodge (20)
Legal / St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company v. Teen Help (1)
Legal / State of Iowa vs Benjamin Trane / Trial Documents (199)
Legal / State of Iowa vs Benjamin Trane / Trial Transcripts (1)
Legal / Vaca et al v. Sky View Academy LLC et al (7)
Legal / World Wide Assn of, et al v. Houlahan (12)
Legal / World Wide Assn Spec v. Pure, et al (13)
Legal / Youth Foundation vs Optimum Billing (12)
Letters from Program Parents (1)
Political and Local Letters of Support (4)
Programs / Academy at Dundee Ranch-Pillars of Hope / News (75)
Programs / Academy at Dundee Ranch-Pillars of Hope / Program Documents (35)
Programs / Academy at Dundee Ranch-Pillars of Hope / Survivor Stories (1)
Programs / Academy at Ivy Ridge / Media (1)
Programs / Academy at Ivy Ridge / News (8)
Programs / Academy at Ivy Ridge / Program Documents (332)
Programs / Bell Academy (8)
Programs / Brightway Hospital (10)
Programs / Carolina Springs Academy / Media (4)
Programs / Carolina Springs Academy / News (14)
Programs / Carolina Springs Academy / Pictures (18)
Programs / Carolina Springs Academy / Program Documents (30)
Programs / Carolina Springs Academy / Survivor Stories (28)
Programs / Casa By The Sea / News (105)
Programs / Casa By The Sea / Pictures (69)
Programs / Casa By The Sea / Program Documents (25)
Programs / Casa By The Sea / Survivor Stories (3)
Programs / Cross Creek Programs (75)
Programs / Cross Creek Programs / Cross Creek Chronicles (7)
Programs / Cross Creek Programs / News (15)
Programs / Cross Creek Programs / Pictures (67)
Programs / Cross Creek Programs / Program Documents (23)
Programs / Cross Creek Programs / Survivor Stories (12)
Programs / Darrington Academy (25)
Programs / Gulf Coast Academy (19)
Programs / High Impact (19)
Programs / Horizon Academy (21)
Programs / Majestic Ranch (31)
Programs / Majestic Ranch / News (16)
Programs / Majestic Ranch / Police Reports (1)
Programs / Majestic Ranch / Program Documents (1)
Programs / Majestic Ranch / Survivor Stories (8)
Programs / Midwest Academy (25)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Legal (4)
Programs / Midwest Academy / News (83)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Obituaries (6)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Pictures (88)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Program Documents (371)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Random (2)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Sheriff Reports (60)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Survivor Stories (1)
Programs / Midwest Academy / Workforce Unemployment (43)
Programs / Morava Academy (24)
Programs / Northwest Academy (7)
Programs / Paradise Cove / News (6)
Programs / Paradise Cove / Program Documents (53)
Programs / Paradise Cove / State Cables (19)
Programs / Paradise Cove / Survivor Stories (8)
Programs / Red River Academy (20)
Programs / Royal Gorge Academy (16)
Programs / Skyview Academy (10)
Programs / Spring Creek Lodge (185)
Programs / Spring Creek Lodge / News (19)
Programs / Spring Creek Lodge / Program Documents (110)
Programs / Spring Creek Lodge / Survivor Stories (3)
Programs / Sunset Bay-Oceanside (36)
Programs / Teen Mentor (1)
Programs / Tranquility Bay / News (51)
Programs / Tranquility Bay / Program Documents (29)
Programs / Tranquility Bay / Reports (2)
Programs / Tranquility Bay / Survivor Stories (8)
Programs / Youth Foundation Success Academy (21)
Random (1)
Teen Help (1)
The Source (3)

From WWASP Survivors

1 document about World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools that WWASP Survivors published and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on WWASP Survivors's website.

From SCIAD NET

349 documents about World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps them on Google Drive, where they open.

State Cables (19)
Court records (1)
Court records: case 1 (2002-2004) (6)
Court records: case 2 (2002-2014) (207)
Court records: case 3 (2002-2005) (36)
Court records: case 4 (2002) (4)
Court records: case 5 (2004-2014) (11)
Court records: case 6 (2005) (3)
Court records: case 7 (2011-2018) (17)
Court records: case 8 (2013) (4)
Court records: case 9 (2021) (1)
Program Documents (35)
News clippings (1)
Media (3)
Other documents (1)

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Record updated October 14, 2026. Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction