When 13-year-old Cody Thompson was sentenced for burglarizing a house, his mother gave him a choice: complete his probation at Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch in Saint Ignatius, or do time at a juvenile detention center closer to the family's Illinois home.
About 4,000 Delaware County residents and officials recently received a letter alleging abusive conditions at the Family Foundation School in Hancock.
Brian Lombrowski, president of the Brooklyn-based Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth, said the letter was sent out by the group to gather information about school conditions.