Pike authorities have apparently captured two young men who escaped Thursday morning from the Teen Challenge facility off Hwy. 19 South in Pike County.
Two Teen Challenge escapees caught
One resident of the area spotted the pair in his pasture. He confronted them and they told him they lived nearby and were taking a shortcut home. One was wearing khaki pants. Neither was wearing the orange jumpsuit required of new inmates at the facility.
Radio traffic described one of the escapees as 'aggressive' and indicated the pair were headed north.
PJR reporter Rachel McDaniel went to the area and saw a Pike patrol car headed back to Zebulon with two young males detained in the back seat.
Teen Challenge has been a flashpoint of public criticism due to multiple escapes and allegations by neighbors of a lack of security at the facility.
More on this story as it develops.
Radio traffic described one of the escapees as 'aggressive' and indicated the pair were headed north.
PJR reporter Rachel McDaniel went to the area and saw a Pike patrol car headed back to Zebulon with two young males detained in the back seat.
Teen Challenge has been a flashpoint of public criticism due to multiple escapes and allegations by neighbors of a lack of security at the facility.
More on this story as it develops.
I thought this place was 'safe'?
I will wait on all your reasons why these pitiful children, none of which are from Pike, should be up on our Pike Hill while a preacher and his wife reap benefits as Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye did from their parents.
By the way, neither had on orange jumpsuits. What is the deal with that? One even had on camouflage.
Bring it on.
Ring, ring: Are the commissioners home?
I guess not.
"They're working really hard to try to keep those kids in line. They are making some changes down there," Powers said. "They know they have problems – mostly with boys who've been there less than 45 days – and will now make them wear orange jumpsuits. They'll add more outside lighting and put security monitors on doors upstairs where the boys stay. They are trying."
Well try again, when someone gets hurt you will be tried not trying!
Do inmates who are incarcerated in the Zebulon jail have the option of going back to levis and flannel shirts after 45 days? Clothing and accessories are not the point here. DO you think for just ONE minute that if there are non-orange-non-jail-looking attire in that building, that a less-than 45 day boy cannot get his hands on them?
If a more than 45 day teen kills you, are you less dead?
The point is that TWO MORE TEENS HAVE ESCAPED from the Teen Challenge Facility in Pike County in which the initial vote was "NO" to allowing the facility to be allowed to operate in Pike County. When commissioners changed the vote was taken again. AND WA-LA it was opened.
Since the purpose of county commissioners is to make improvements to PIKE County, I cannot see the logic.
"Hello Mr. Commissioners,
My name is Greg Keylon. I understand that you have no crime in Pike County, no drug users, no stressed teenagers, excess to spend in your budget....HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU! I am willing to move my court-ordered teen criminals from Spalding to Pike so that you can have exposure to drug users. They are good boys. The criminal judges just wanted them to breathe some mountain air. Now, I will be collecting an average of $2000 a month, per kid. BUT I will not be bothering your tax collectors with any new transactions because WE are not going to pay any taxes to your county. We will however, need to use your tax paid facilities like sheriff deputies, firemen, 911 etc. If someone should get hurt because we opened in Pike....don't call me, the commissioners approved it."
How totally stupid! You incumbents, minus Tommy, need to be HISTORY!!
AND it will happen again...or Rose Kennedy did not own a black dress!
You're kidding right ? A much more serious issue is being discussed and you comment on trivial semantics ? How lazy and apathetic can you be....
One of the more decidedly shocking results of Teen Challenge (affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ and GAINUSA) setting up shop in states with little or no regulation of “Faith-based children’s homes” is of a known multi-offense sexual assaulter and child molester running one of the Teen Challenge homes in Winthrop, ME–namely, Shondi Fabiano, listed officially as a co-head of Teen Challenge New England by the website of the Northern New England District of the Assemblies of God (Assemblies of God is Jimmy Swaggart’s denomination), and who is officially listed as a lifetime-registered sex offender for second-degree child molestation and sexual assault in the third degree.
An online check of sex offender registries, including the Florida sex-offender registry run by Florida Department of Law Enforcement, also shows Shondi Fabiano also has a history of 2nd degree sexual assault conviction in Kent, RI. (Why is this an an issue? 3rd degree sexual assault in Rhode Island is essentially statutory rape of a 14- to 16-year old minor by a person over the age of 18, 2nd degree sexual assault is sexual assault of an incapacitated person or sexual assault using force or coercion, and second degree child molestation is what is generally termed as frank pedophile rape–sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14. And this was probably not a case of “I thought he was legal”; Fabiano would have been nearly 24 years old at the time of the offense)
Fabiano apparently (at least per a search of the records site for Rhode Island’s criminal courts) committed the crimes under her maiden name Shondi Barbato; she was originally charged with 1st degree child abuse (which involves sexual penetration of a child under the age of 14). It also appears Fabiano (under her maiden name of Barbato) has something of a checkered history even aside from sexual offenses against children; she has a conviction for fraud (specifically attempts to obtain money under false pretenses, insurance fraud, and conspiracy) and a dismissed charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Fabiano may be just the person to teach the “Hokey Pokey” and instruct on the finer points of pretending to understand what people say.
TEEN CHALLENGE PRAYER MOUNTAIN
Po Box 1000
Griffin, Georgia 30224
Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Crime
Monday, May 24. 2010
Comments (234)
Another teen escaped from Teen Challenge early in the morning Monday, May 24. The 16-year-old white male from Blackshear was taken into custody at a home on McCorkle Curve Road in Upson County after residents said they kept him occupied by allowing him to make phone calls to his parents and girlfriend. Six teenagers have now escaped from the facility in the year it's been open.
Chief Deputy Dan Kilgore of the Upson County Sheriff's Office said they were alerted of the teen's escape around 1 a.m. and were patrolling the county line area when they received a call from a resident about the teen.
"It was around 3:40 a.m. when we got the call," Kilgore said. "They said a juvenile showed up and asked to use the phone at their house."
The teen was transported by officers to the Pike County Sheriff''s Office and turned back over to Teen Challenge counselors.
Jan Ogletree lives down the mountain from Teen Challenge in Upson County and she says her husband was on the front porch when he spotted the teen in their yard. She said he is lucky he did not get shot.
"Since they've been up there, I keep my front door locked day and night," she said. "I knew something wasn't right by the way he was dressed. He told me he was 21 years old but it was obvious by his appearance that he wasn't. He told me he had shot a person when he was younger."
For more on this story, see the 5.26.2010 print/e-edition of The Journal-Reporter.
Walter Geiger
in News
Saturday, April 24. 2010
Comments (124)
Sheriff Jimmy Thomas has confirmed two juveniles are in custody after they fled the Teen Challenge facility here Friday night.
They were found hiding in a school bus after an all night search.
A golf cart and motorbike were taken from a neighbor's house and recovered nearby. One had a dead battery and the other was out of gas. The juveniles are thought to have stolen the items.
Yet another young man has bolted from the Teen Challenge facility in Meansville. Patrick Berrane, 14, ran away Feb. 23 after only 21 hours at the center.
Lt. Jamie Strickland said there's a good possibility that he is trying to make his way back home to Miami, Fla.
"He is originally from Miami. Teen Challenge is something his parents took him to and paid for him to attend," said Strickland. "It's basically a private organization, not any type of RYDC facility."
Charles Berrane said his son was caught with marijuana and Xanax in his room in Miami. After taking him to a drug psychiatrist and starting to home school him, he started sneaking out at night.
"Once we found out he was sneaking out, he ended up running away and was gone for two weeks," said Berrane. "When we located him, we took him to Teen Challenge."
Lt. Strickland said Berrane has been placed on the Georgia Crime Information Center as a runaway.
Anyone with information on Berrane should contact the Pike County Sheriff's Office at 770-567-8431.
Tamra Jarrett
in Top Stories
Thursday, April 9. 2009
Comments (51)
Two juveniles who reside at Prayer Mountain Teen Challenge in Meansville have been returned after leaving the premises Wednesday.
The youths were reported missing around 5:30 p.m. Pike County deputies heavily patrolled the area looking for them. A lookout was also issued to surrounding counties, according to investigator David Neal.
They were found by 9 p.m. in Upson County and brought to Pike by Upson County deputies. They were returned to Teen Challenge, Neal said.
"They just ran away and were picked up," he said.
The juveniles were from out of state, he added.
Teen Challenge won its nearly three year battle to operate a boarding facility, school and ministry for troubled teen boys in Pike County and was granted a special expception at the Jan. 27 meeting. The facility is on a 36-acre property on Highway 19, formerly the location of The Church at Grace Hill. The land is also part of what is called Prayer Mountain.
Approval came with stipulations. Teen Challenge Prayer Mountain Boys Academy shall accept boys ages 13-18 only, and no student over 18 shall be allowed to reside there. Additionally, if any student is convicted of committing bodily harm on any citizen of Pike County while enrolled or in residence at the academy, commissioners may reconsider the special exception allowing its operation as per the zoning ordinance criteria.
Walter Geiger
in News, Top Stories
Tuesday, January 27. 2009
Comments (31)
The Pike County commission voted 3-1 January 27 to approve a special zoning exception to allow Teen Challenge to operate a boarding facility, school and ministry for troubled teenage boys here.
Commissioner Tommy Powers cast the lone no vote.
The commission did insist on two stipulations. The Teen Challenge student body will be restricted to boys ages 13-18. No teens over age 18 will be allowed. Additionally, the commission retained the right to revoke its approval if any student is convicted of a crime involving bodily harm.
Teen Challenge plans to operate on a 36-acre tract on Highway 19 that includes the former Church at Grace Hill property.
That's the most important part of your post. Those kids may be caught, may be charged, but they most likely will never be convicted if they have a good lawyer.
Mr. Goldman is enjoying OJ's watch, golf clubs, money, sunglasses, savings, royalties,etc.
Walter Geiger
in News, Top Stories
Monday, January 26. 2009
Comments (9)
Pike County commissioners expect a large number of people to attend the January 27 meeting to hear them reconsider the Teen Challenge request for a special exception that would allow it to operate a boarding facility, school and ministry for troubled teen boys.
Commissioners denied the request July 12, 2006, citing three reasons: the proposed center is detrimental to use and development of adjacent properties; based on public outcry, it would adversely affect the health, safety and welfare of adjoining residents; and it would constitute a nuisance and a hazard as a result of type of activities and the facility was proposed for housing and training drug addicts and other troubled or delinquent individuals.
Neal Gray, then owner of the 36 acres and building that was once Church at Grace Hill, filed a lawsuit July 21, 2006, stating the decision was unconstitutional and commissioners did not show the denial was "furtherance of a compelling government interest."
Since then Gray gave the property to Griffin First Assembly of God which in turn gave it to Teen Challenge about a year and a half ago. The complaint against the county and commissioners remains filed in district court but the plaintiff became Teen Challenge. Use of the Pike facility and legal action were both on hold pending the commissioners' decision.
Teen Challenge Prayer Mountain Boys Academy has been in existence nearly two years. It operates from a 60 year old Griffin church camp.
A number of Pike residents who live near the proposed facility voiced their opposition of the boys academy to commissioners and several letters to the editor.
Rev. Greg Keylon, executive director of Prayer Mountain Boys Academy, was among those who lobbied for approval of the special exception. He said Teen Challenge has a 50 year history worldwide and he is not aware of a single negative incident in any community in which Teen Challenge is located.
The monthly fee for Prayer Mountain Academy is $2,450 a month, but the average cost for parents is usually $1,500 a month with scholarships. Once accepted, Teen Challenge requires a minimum of 15 months of participation in the program.
"I understand the fears but I understand what it's about," he said.
Keylon grew up in the ministry of Teen Challenge because his parents directed a facility for men. He said being associated with Teen Challenge students, young and old, has been a positive influence in his life.
teen challenge - does not pay taxes. puts a drain on limited resources for citizens in pike county by forcing local authorities to search for escapees.
prisons - pay loads in taxes and actually augment local resources when necessary to support a search for escapees.
if you were to present these two options to people who have a prison in the county, they would take the prison every single time.
and btw, we have a prison in pike county so there you go.
If you are stupid enough to think that Teen Challenge is a benefit to Pike County, please elaborate on that benefit. Inform me. Educate me. I will apologize on this blog if you can tell me just ONE benefit that any Pike County citizen receives since the bought off commissioners are gone.
They are PIKE COUNTY TAX TICKS. They are users and abusers of tax funded paychecks that Pike County citizens pay to support the Sheriff's Department.
The land is owned by the state of Florida, you moron. When that little under the table deal was made it was so shady that Florida bought it before Georgia sold it.
You are blinded by the light of stupidity. It is burning way to bright nowadays.
"The Teen Challenge property located at 1593 U.S. Hwy 19 in Pike County is not owned by the State Of Florida.
It is owned by Teen Challenge of Florida, Inc. located at 1976 Houston Ave; Macon, GA 31201. A tax exempt 501c3 corp.
Teen Challenge of Florida, Inc. is a Florida Corporation doing busines in Georgia at 15 W. 10th ST; Columbus, GA 31901
which is the address in Georgia for Teen Challenge International Regional Headquarters.
Their tentacles reach far and wide as a "tax exempt" corporation under the AG Church. Big time showboats living large."
My appreciation to this alert reader for bringing this to my attention.
go ask the women at the facility if they think it's a prison.
the state of georgia will hire you back. you should be able to work a lock in your condition.
They are a bunch of Pike County tax ticks.
When two escaped on April 24, 2010 in 4 days, 100 blogs had been posted. Many in favor of Teen Challenge.
Ask yourself, what has changed?
Two commissioners, that is what has changed. The two new ones have not been bought out and the two leaving do not care because Teen Challenge is not going to continue to pay them when they have no power.
And time marches on!
That would really be bad for the county. Lawsuits are pretty expensive. Your taxes will go up again.
Do keep your ears tucked in, they are an easy target.
Off you go.
POPpopPOPpopPOPpopPOPpopPOP.
Bam, splat etc.
Save the ivory, boys!
soul to the devil for $1, and people this is
exactly what happened here.
Blog me back and enlighten me.