‘Praying that they keep their eyes open’: Former YRTC staffer sentenced, a victim’s family reacts
By Madison Perales
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BUFFALO COUNTY, Nebraska (KETV) — Four women have been arrested and accused of sexually abusing protected people in state custody.
They all worked at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center based in Kearney; one of them was sentenced.
According to court documents, Ruiz Palacios was sentenced for third-degree sexual assault and contributing to child delinquency. She’s also required to register as a sex offender.
Martha Ruiz Palacios, 29
Sentence ruling: third-degree sexual assault contributing to child delinquency required to register as a sex offender
Jessica Camacho, 37
Charges: first and second-degree sexual abuse possession of child pornography two counts of intentional child abuse
The judge gave her a $25,000 bond and ordered no contact with the two victims in her case.
Katrina Fewkes, 44
Charge: second-degree sexual abuse Fewkes paid her $5,000 bond and was released on the conditions that she doesn’t commit a crime or contact the victim in her case.
Tarah Ross, 23
Charge: second-degree sexual abuse Ross paid 10 percent of her $20,000 bond and was released on the same conditions as Fewkes.
Jennifer, a Lincoln woman, said her son was exploited by her during his time in the YRTC Kearney facility and said it’s been a long road to recovery for him.
“Mentally, it’s not been an easy feat for him to beat, it’s not,” Jennifer said.
Jennifer’s son had sex abuse allegations against Ruiz Palacios months before the courts and his mom were notified.
“They willingly sent progress reports to the judge, to myself and whomever else was on the team, saying that he wasn’t completing his tasks and his programming wasn’t where it was supposed to be,” she said.
In November, he was released and she said he’s been improving.
“I’m happy that it didn’t get swept under the rug, like usual things do,” she said.
Jennifer’s son sent a letter to the judge assigned in her case.
“I could tell it was a struggle, because some of the words that he wrote down, you could see he just rushed through it just to get it on a paper,” Jennifer said.
She gave KETV Investigates the letter.
“I keep replaying the day Ms. Ruiz-Palacios and I were upstairs over and over again. It makes my skin crawl to think of it,” Jennifer’s son said in the victim statement to the judge assigned to Ruiz Palacios’ case. “Yet, even when I stop thinking about it, I see it in my dreams.”
Jennifer said it took him a while to share this with her.
“I wish I had a stop to teach my kids about grooming,” Jennifer said. “That’s not something I’ve ever taught my kids about because I didn’t think nobody would do no stuff like that, especially not in a place like that.”
She said she’s content with the former staffer’s ruling and hopes the Department of Health and Human Services stays on top of reports like this in the future.
“I’m happy that these people have now been weeded out,” she said. “And are having to stand trial for these things. I’m praying that they keep their eyes open from this point forward.”
DHHS said in a statement:
“DHHS has further enhanced our reporting through a standard operating procedure which includes timely legal notification letters to the courts, enhanced monthly progress letters to the courts, and critical incident reports to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Chief Executive Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Director of Children and Family Services, Probation, the Office of Inspector General, and parents/legal guardians.”
The three other former YRTC staffers have been charged, but have not been sentenced.
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