Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch Student Abuse: Preacher, Bob Larsson, Says 'Satan' Caused Accusations (VIDEO)

Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch in Saint Ignatius, Mont., is under scrutiny for accustations of child abuse at the boarding school, and even more so after Bob Larsson, preacher and the school's owner, gave his explanation for the allegations, CNN reported.

His reasoning? According to the network's investigation, "Satan" caused them to make up the accusations.

"Ultimately, we only have one enemy who wants to defeat the goodness in the world and that's Satan," Larsson told CNN's Gary Tuchman. "...The Bible says he is the father of lies, and people sometimes believe his lies. Underneath it all that is what's happening."

James Mason, a student at the school for six years, alleges that he was choked and lifted off the ground by his throat, Christian news blog God Discussion detailed.

Melissa Stasiuk, also a former student, claims house parent Ned Kent lifted her by her throat and slammed her onto a kitchen table -- an accusation Kent refuted to Tuchman, saying he only used pressure points around the throat area to restrain students.

Accusers claim that the abuse extended beyond discipline to include dangerous construction jobs, though Larsson asserts that students were punished but not abused.

The school's website notes their program's strict code of conduct on its home page.

"Pinehaven is a residential, year-round program aimed at providing a stable, controlled, secure environment in which young people can reach the potential that God has placed within them."

These reports come in the wake of a string of lawsuits against St. John's Military School in Salina, Kan., which claim the school let a group of students -- known as the "Disciplinarians" -- to punish other students by gagging, beating, binding and urinating on them.

According to the suit, the plaintiffs seek damages for negligent supervision, intentional failure to supervise, intentional infliction of emotional distress or outrage, breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy to assault and batter.

Comments

[ABUSED]

01:36 PM on 02/05/2013

There is abuse there, no matter what you guys say, ( i am talking to those who believe that there is no abuse there). There is abuse and i and others who just left have witnessed it and HAVE EXPERIENCED it, we had to live with it, Now it is time to show the world what pinehaven is really doing!!

[JCem2]

12:51 PM on 01/07/2013

If true, the individual should be made an example of wholeheartedly by the authorities and the school. The school itself could create a new security/student welfare/staff review/oversight position.

[Barry F]

12:18 PM on 04/05/2012

Sorry guys but I have been there many of times and have never seen any abuse. I also have a family member who works there and I know for a fact that if this abuse happened he would have stepped up and said something. Would be nice if bloggers and news reports would not just look at the so called victims and also look at all of the success stories... Not to mention the face the kids that are at Pinehaven are there for a reason. does not make it right to abuse but we have to look at the whole story and not just the few who think or have been abused.

[ferretlady]

09:27 PM on 07/22/2012

So what you are saying is that since there are people who did well at pinehaven then those of us who were abused don't matter. I for one wish people would look at BOTH sides and not just call us "so called victims". I was drug down a flight of stairs and forced to bath with others watching me. Then the houseparent threatened to smell me after I was done. Oh and I was deprived hot water. Many people have stopped working at pinehaven BECAUSE of the abuse and have stepped forward and told what happened.

[James P Mason]

04:32 PM on 03/29/2012

Thank you for your continued dedication to the safety of children at Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch. For further information, please visit www.pinehavenabuse.org.

Want to do something about abuse at Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch? Send the Pinehaven Montana State Code Violation Report to the MT Attorney General's Child Justice Center. Visit this site to do it NOW! - visit www.pinehavenabusereport.info

[Lori Harton]

05:59 PM on 04/02/2012

I am always suspect of many of these religious camps for troubled teens. I have not heard of many good outcomes, even without the terrible abuse suffered at this camp. In speaking to parents of those sent to these type camps, they are very angry with the young person. Maybe a blind eye is turned to complaints by the teens?