Duchesne nurse charged with sex abuse of teens
By Andre Salvail
For the Deseret News
ROOSEVELT — A man who worked as a nurse at a boarding school for troubled teens has been charged with having sexual contact with two of the school’s teenage residents.
Geary David Oakes, 57, of Cedarview, Duchesne County, is charged in 8th District Court with two counts of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony, and two counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
A nurse at Cedar Ridge Academy, Oakes engaged in sex acts with two 15-year-old students from the school, the charges state.
One of the teens told deputies that Oakes gave him pain medication, according to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office, and that he “provides pain and sleeping medications for the kids at Cedar Ridge and tells them to keep it a secret.” Oakes corroborated some of the information provided by the teens, but denied that he had supplied anyone with medication that was not prescribed, authorities said.
Cedar Ridge Academy, located north of Roosevelt, is billed as a therapeutic boarding school. Investigators believe Oakes’ alleged activities with the teens occurred at the school and at his home during November.
Oakes was fired once criminal charges were filed, said Cedar Ridge co-owner and program director Rob Nielson. He said Oakes had worked at the school for about 10 years.
“This was just a shock to all of us,” Nielsen said. “Our first concern is our students and we have talked with them to determine the extent of the misconduct.”
He said the school has alerted students’ parents about the situation, and has received “a lot of support.”
The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the case. Oakes remains in the Duchesne County Jail in lieu of $60,000 bail.
e-mail: editor@ubstandard.com
{ 1 comment }