Wayne Co. removes state workers from juvenile jail amid sex assault allegations

An investigation is underway into allegations a state employee sexually assaulted a minor at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, officials said.

As a result, the county has removed all state employees from the facility, they said.

The allegations and the county's move are the latest issue in a series of problems that have plagued the troubled juvenile detention facility in the last several months, including overcrowding, understaffing and allegations of sexual assault.

"Last week, Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility staff discovered that a State of Michigan employee, mandated to the facility by MDHHS, allegedly engaged in inappropriate contact with a 15-year-old youth inside the facility," officials said in a statement provided to The Detroit News by Kimberly Harry, interim director of communications for County Executive Warren Evans.

"Wayne County staff promptly removed the state employee and initiated an investigation that led to the employee's arrest by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office," the statement said. "The state employee has been formally processed on allegations of criminal sexual conduct and child abuse and released pending further investigation.

"We are profoundly saddened that state employees entrusted to care for children would exploit them," the statement said.

As part of an investigation, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office uncovered the involvement of at least two additional State of Michigan employees, according to the statement. County officials continue to investigate the allegations and are working with state officials, it said.

"Due to the serious nature of these allegations and based upon evidence collected thus far, concerns arise about the monitors' impartiality," officials said. "Therefore, to ensure the safety and welfare of the youth in our care and to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, all state employees have been removed from the facility under the County Executive’s direction.

"Upon completing the investigation, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office will submit its findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for further action."

Employees of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services first began working in the county's juvenile detention center in March 2023. County officials agreed to allow state employees to work with children, add oversight, and work with them to implement changes after an alleged sexual assault of a child at the facility.

Bob Wheaton, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesman, called the allegations against the state agency's employee at the center "appalling" and said the accused staffer has been suspended without pay while the allegations are investigated.

"We are also looking into additional employees who may have been involved," he said in a statement. "We are deeply disappointed that staff entrusted with the safety of at-risk youth may have taken advantage of them.

"MDHHS’ mission is to protect children and there is zero tolerance for any employee conduct that doesn’t reflect that value," the statement said. "If the allegations are true, we trust this employee will be prosecuted and held accountable with the full weight of the law. This behavior is not reflective of the important work our child welfare workforce does every day to protect the safety of children."

He added the department has begun an internal investigation into the allegations and is fully cooperating with law enforcement.

"In the meantime, although monitors are not currently on-site at Wayne Juvenile Detention Center, the department continues its work to investigate complaints of child abuse and neglect and licensing violations in accordance with the law."

In March, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans issued a public health emergency order for the center due to the problems. It ended in June, but the state resumed its oversight in July after the facility's population spiked.

In November, the center was given a six-month provisional license due to repeated violations of licensing regulations, including a lack of staff supervision, poor living conditions, and children not receiving hygiene products or recreation time.

Last year, there were dozens of staff vacancies in the county's juvenile detention system, part of a larger county trend in which 1 out of every 4 Wayne County government job was unfilled, The Detroit News found through information obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The problems at the facility come at time when the county still awaits to move into its new criminal justice facility, which was originally expected to open in mid-2022. The new complex includes a 160-bed juvenile detention facility. County officials hope the new facility will ease the issues at the juvenile detention center due, in part, to security and design upgrades.

The latest goal is for the new criminal justice complex to open later this year.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

X: @CharlesERamirez