Disturbing allegations of physical abuse have emerged from a state correctional facility in the United States, where former students claim they were subjected to a campaign of brutal mistreatment. Six former residents of the Wyoming Boys' School in Worland have launched a lawsuit against the institution and the Wyoming Department of Families.
Allegations of Physical and Psychological Abuse
Originally filed in February 2024, the lawsuit has escalated after three plaintiffs—Blaise Chivers-King, Charles 'Rees' Karn, and Dylan Tola—submitted a response packed with video footage and photographs of the alleged mistreatment. The legal documents paint a grim picture of daily life inside the facility, where vulnerable teens were allegedly tackled, slammed, and thrown into solitary confinement.
One image reportedly shows a shirtless Karn pinned down, strapped to a chair by his wrists and ankles, with a hood pulled over his head. Another photo depicts a boy cowering in fear in the corner of a solitary confinement cell. According to the lawsuit, guards took sadistic pleasure in using restraint chairs, with one staff member allegedly boasting: 'The best part of the chair is watching the kids cry and scream like a f**king child … that's what makes it worth it.'
Details of Alleged Abuse
The plaintiffs claim boys were bound in restraints for 'up to eight hours a day' and left to weep. The lawsuit outlines a laundry list of alleged abuses, including excessive force by leaving boys in restraint chairs for long periods and slamming them when they were not resisting. The group also alleges a culture of medical neglect, claiming healthcare needs were ignored and that some teens were thrown into solitary confinement immediately after self-harming.
Furthermore, they accuse the school of actively covering up the abuse, stating that staff logbooks had large gaps in documentation, inaccurate entries, uncertain authorship, and no verification mechanism. In one testimony, Karn claimed a staff member shoved his head directly into broken glass before pinning him down—an allegation the staff member strenuously denies.
Defendants Deny Claims
The defendants, including current and former employees, have fiercely denied all claims and filed a counter-motion to throw the case out of court. Officials have pointed out that Karn is currently serving a life sentence for the 2023 murder of his girlfriend. They claim he was highly disruptive at the school, allegedly attacking a peer with a shower head and making bomb threats on Facebook.
Regarding another minor plaintiff, known only as 'DH', the state argues he was isolated for refusing to follow orders. However, DH's legal response said: 'The behaviours for which DH was punished were obvious symptoms of his disabilities.' The state maintains that its staff only acted in response to dangerous behavior, asserting there is no evidence plaintiffs were discriminated against by reason of their disabilities; rather, the record shows staff actions were based on plaintiffs' conduct.
A judge will now review the evidence to decide whether the case will head to a full trial or be dismissed.
