PANGUITCH — An employee of a boarding school for troubled teens has been charged with sexually abusing several teens at the school.

Eric Allen Glosson, 28, was charged in Garfield County's 6th District Court with eight counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of custodial sexual relations with youth receiving state services, second-degree felonies; and dealing in materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony.

Glosson, a youth counselor, is "accused of molesting several teenage residents at a youth treatment center," said Garfield County sheriff's spokeswoman Becki Bronson.

According to court documents filed Monday, the illegal sexual activity occurred in April, May and as recently as June 18.

Glosson, of Colorado, worked at the Silverado Academy, a 200-acre ranch in southern Utah that advertises itself as a clinical boarding school for teens between 13 and 18. The students are juveniles considered to have behavioral problems. Many are sent to Silverado from out of state.

The founder and executive director of the academy is former U.S. Senate candidate Tim Bridgewater. When contacted Wednesday, he said a statement would be issued.

"Early Sunday morning, a student reported allegations of inappropriate conduct by one staff member," that statement from Silverado Academy says. "The Garfield County sheriff was immediately called by our staff to report the allegations and to request an investigation."

Investigators interviewed students and staff. "The staff member involved in the allegations was also interviewed and was taken into custody. The employee was immediately suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation," the statement reads.

The Academy said it is "cooperating fully" in the investigation.

An initial court appearance for Glosson is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. in Panguitch. He was being held Tuesday in the Garfield County Jail on $130,000 bail.

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