NYC Teen Center Acknowledges Inquiry

Associated Press

August 6, 2007

NEW YORK - A residential psychiatric treatment center for adolescents in Manhattan acknowledged an investigation by prosecutors into allegations that three former employees sexually abused girls in their care.

Dr. Michael A. Pawel, the executive director of the August Aichhorn Center for Adolescent Residential Care Inc., said in a statement on the organization's Web site that it had been cooperating with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in its investigation of the former employees, The New York Times reported in Monday editions.

"We will continue to cooperate with all relevant investigations so that it can be determined whether these allegations are true or false," Pawel wrote.

The allegations were first reported in The New York Post's Sunday editions.

The suspects were fired from their jobs at the center in May and early June after being indicted on multiple counts of rape, sexual abuse and sexual misconduct involving at least four girls younger than 17.

All three suspects - listed in court records as Milton Venable, 46, Phree Noel, 32, and Edward R. Tapia, 26 - pleaded not guilty at their arraignments in Manhattan Criminal Court and were released on bail, the Times reported. They are due back in court later this month and in September.

Efforts by the Times to reach the accused men and their lawyers were unsuccessful Sunday. Venable's father, Frank, told the newspaper in a brief telephone interview that the charges against his son were false.

The center at West 106th Street receives more than $5 million in public funding, and its work has been praised by city and state officials.

In a letter quoted by the Post, former Governor George E. Pataki wrote: "Through the committed work of community-based organizations like yours, we will continue to advance the well-being of young adults in your community and the entire state."