Hanna Boys Center employee suspected of molesting former student

In another blow to the reputation of the Hanna Boys Center - the Catholic nonprofit home for at-risk boys in Sonoma Valley whose credo is “turning hurt into hope” - deputies Saturday arrested its clinical director on suspicion of molesting a former resident over a period of five years.

Kevin Scott Thorpe, 39, is scheduled to be charged today in Sonoma County Superior Court on two felony counts involving lewd and lascivious acts against a minor.

The arrest is the latest allegation of failed oversight at the center, a home and refuge for children for more than 70 years.

Last fall, a warrant was issued for the arrest of another Hanna Boys Center employee, a counselor suspected of sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old center resident. The organization is also subject of an ongoing whistleblower lawsuit from a former employee who claimed he was fired after bringing to light unchecked bullying.

Thorpe worked at the center for 14 years before his arrest Saturday at his Rohnert Park home. Detectives suspect there could be additional victims, based on their investigation and Thorpe's years at the center and his work as a youth minister at a local church, Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

“Frankly, it's been really shocking and sad for us,” said Brian Farragher, executive director of the Hanna Boys Center, which is associated with the Santa Rosa Diocese of the Catholic Church. “We've worked with Kevin for awhile. Today we're taking care of our kids. People are pretty sad.”

Thorpe has been put on administrative leave following his arrest. His bail was set at $250,000.

“All the trustees take these allegations very seriously and we will work in every way possible to cooperate and assist law enforcement and the safety of our boys will always be first and foremost our greatest priority,” said Bill Schrader, board of trustees chairman for Hanna Boys Center and also chairman of the board for Exchange Bank.

The victim, now 23, reported the abuse to sheriff's deputies June 1. The man came forward, telling detectives he was concerned about the possibility of ongoing victims, Crum said.

The victim told detectives he'd been abused by Thorpe numerous times from 2006-2011, when he was 13 to 18 years old, Crum said. The alleged incidents occurred on campus and at Thorpe's then-Sonoma home, Crum said.

Detectives are talking to a second possible victim – another former Hanna Boys Center student from years ago.

“We think it's possible there's going to be others,” Crum said.

Thorpe was promoted to clinical director less than six months ago, following the firing of longtime director Timothy Norman. Norman is suing the center in a $2.7 million whisteblower lawsuit, saying his firing stemmed from his complaints about unchecked bullying at the center. Center officials have denied the allegations, saying the center dealt promptly with incidents.

However, state investigators found a “preponderance of evidence” supporting Norman's bullying claims, according to an April 20 report produced by the California Community Care Licensing division of the Department of Social Services.

The complaint investigation report noted “personal rights violations have taken place and the facility needs to redouble and improve its efforts to prevent and address bullying of boys, especially those seen as different by other boys. Therefore, the above allegation is substantiated,” according to the April 20 report.

The lawsuit is set to go to trial next year, according to Norman's lawyer, Vic Theusen. Thorpe would have worked as a case manager under Norman's supervision before his dismissal. Theusen declined to comment on Thorpe's arrest other than to say the cases are unrelated.

Last fall, a 22-year-old female youth counselor at the center was investigated by the Sheriff's Office involving a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old center resident. The teen had a history of sexual issues and had received treatment, information that was known to center staff, according to a report from the state Department of Social Services about the case.

The counselor was fired from the center, the report said. The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office issued an arrest warrant for Angelica Malinski, suspected of misdemeanor sexual assault, Crum said.

According to online staff biographies, Thorpe originally was hired as a youth counselor, and eventually became a licensed counselor before being promoted to clinical director - a high level position supervising staff counselors and interns, and guiding treatment plans for all students.

He also oversees the Hanna Boys Center's Honor Committee, helping boys who've excelled in the program, according to the online biography.

It also lists Thorpe as a church volunteer who runs a youth ministry program for teens and says he is married with two children.

Hanna Boys Center was founded in 1945 on Arnold Drive as a residential treatment center and school for about 100 at-risk boys.

Crum asked anyone with information to contact detectives at 707-565-8290.

Staff Writer Nick Rahaim contributed to this story.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport. You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com.