WWNY
March 11, 2024
CANTON, New York (WWNY) - Complaints of abuse are coming into the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s office every day from students of the former Academy at Ivy Ridge near Ogdensburg.
The DA, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and State Police held a news conference Monday afternoon in Canton.
District Attorney Gary Pasqua says his office has gotten dozens of complaints of sexual, physical and mental abuse at Ivy Ridge when it was open between 2001 and 2009.
The calls come after a Netflix documentary, “The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping,” was released last week.
While promising to investigate the complaints, Pasqua asked the public not to trespass onto the Ivy Ridge property, call the DA’s office to ask about the investigation or harass others.
“I understand the reaction that is going to come from watching some of the things that were on those videos. But it is not a reason, it does not give you a free pass to go and harass anyone, whether it be a person or a business,” said Pasqua. “Please. Let us do our job.”
Pasqua says he is working with the alleged victims as his investigations into potential charges continue.
As for whether the statute of limitations will apply, Pasqua says he’ll have that conversation with the alleged victims of each specific case.
“It is going to take time. We’re talking about incidents that happened, in some cases, over 20 years ago. So this is not going to be a quick resolution,” he said.
The former academy in the town of Oswegatchies is now blocked off and plastered with no-trespassing signs. Curious onlookers have been driving to the location to get their eyes on the property but Pasqua says that will only cause more trouble.
“We are still trying to get documentation out of there. I’m imploring people, please do not go there. There comes a certain point where we can only ask nicely so many times, please do not go there,” he said.
Another issue: former Ivy Ridge staff members are being harassed, Pasqua says. The documentary doesn’t name many but people have turned to social media to put up pictures, names and contact information. 7 News has learned of some threats of violence against former workers.
“I can tell you there have certainly been calls around the county for individuals who have said they are being harassed whether that’s online or in other ways. I’m not sure if any arrests have been made at this point,” said Pasqua.
Pasqua asks anyone who has been a victim of abuse at Ivy Ridge to call his office in Canton.
Copyright 2024 WWNY. All rights reserved.
https://www.wwnytv.com/2024/03/11/district-attorney-dozens-ivy-ridge-abuse-complaints-pour-after-documentary/
No comments:
Post a Comment