Maricopa County authorities dismiss 3 Southwest Key abuse cases

PHOENIX – Authorities said Friday no charges will be filed after an investigation into three abuse cases at a Southwest Key shelter for migrant children in the West Valley.

The cases involved allegations of physical contact between employees at the Youngtown facility called Hacienda Del Sol and kids being held there.

“After thoroughly reviewing and carefully assessing the context within which these events took place, along with additional evidence developed by the investigation, we have determined there is no reasonable likelihood of proving beyond a reasonable doubt the required elements of a felony offense,” Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said in press release.

The alleged incidents took place in September 2018, and the cases were submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for charging review in January, according to the release.

Investigators found that the children weren’t injured, and the kids didn’t share feelings of being mistreated, the release said. There also wasn’t evidence of intent to cause injuries.

The cases were initially closed by the Maricopa Sheriff’s Office in December, but interest was rekindled after video of staffers dragging and pushing kids was made public.

Sheriff Paul Penzone acknowledged that his office initially mishandled the cases and credited the media for giving the story the exposure it warranted.

“I am not saying that we know for a fact that crimes have been committed; that will be reviewed and determined,” he said in January, after the cases were reopened and submitted to Montgomery’s office.

“But we had a responsibility to ensure that we got another set of eyes on this investigation so that we could be thorough in every aspect.”

Southwest Key is the nation’s largest provider of shelters for migrant children.

Other cases of abuse at the company’s Arizona facilities have been prosecuted.

Two Southwest Key shelters, including Hacienda Del Sol, were closed in October, when the state health department also ordered the company to temporarily stop accepting minors at all its Arizona facilities.

In February, the state cleared one Phoenix shelter, Lighthouse, to resume accepting minors on a limited basis.

Follow @KTAR923