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Police: Former director of Birdseye Boys Ranch reportedly abused teen resident

Posted at 7:14 PM, Apr 28, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-28 23:57:38-04

UTAH COUNTY -- The former director of a Utah County all-male residential treatment center has been booked on charges of sexual abuse after reportedly assaulting a 15-year-old resident, police said Monday.

On April 16, detectives with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, received a report from the Division of Child and Family services that a teen at Birdseye Boys Ranch had been sexually abused by Teresa Cope.

Birdseye Boys Ranch is an adolescent residential treatment program for sexual behavioral problems and pornography addiction, according to the program's website.

Cope, 34, of Springville, was the director of the facility when most of the abuse occurred, according to a press release from Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim told detectives the abuse occurred at the treatment center, two other locations in Utah County as well as in Washington County, according to the press release.

On April 23, detectives executed a search warrant on Cope’s home where they collected evidence that supported the victim's claims of sexual abuse, police said.

Cope was arrested the same day and booked into Utah County Jail on charges of unlawful custodial sexual relations, a second-degree felony; sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony; and sexual abuse of a minor, a class A misdemeanor.

Bail was set at $10,000 cash only.

Cope posted bail and was released April 25.

Charges may also be filed in Washington County.

Police say there is no information to indicate that Cope may have victimized other young men.

This remains an active investigation, police said.