He also wrote himself checks consistently, including one $7,800 check less than two months before school closed, according to the records.

Grizzly Law in Kalispell, representing McKenna, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

When Bell and Jasper requested to inspect all data pertaining to Monarch’s operations, the school’s attorneys said it would be impossible.

“… Monarch shut down its network and factory reset all computer hard drives when it ceased operations to ensure their students privacy and HIPAA rights were protected,” they wrote.

The Monarch School is one of several residential programs for trouble teens in sparsely populated areas of northwest Montana. The schools do not have direct oversight by the state government, but rather through a commission made up partially of industry leaders.

When Monarch shut down nearly a year ago, the McKennas posted on strugglingteens.com a message to the community, as reported by the Bonner County (Idaho) Daily Bee:

“We can no longer sustain the number of students we need to continue our work,” they wrote. “In 17 years, there have been many changes at Monarch School, many changes in the population of students and families we have been serving and many, many wonderful people who have dedicated their lives at Monarch School. It has been an amazing journey that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. Thank you for being a part of our dream and our memories.”

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