A counselor who worked for Highfields, a residential treatment center for troubled boys, faces second-degree criminal sexual assault charges for assaulting two teenage boys on the job.
The charges, brought by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s office, come after Amy Fuller was investigated and cleared by Michigan Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Department of Child Welfare Licensing in Michigan.
Fuller was placed on administrative leave in August 2019 while the two state agencies investigated the allegations. By October, they determined Fuller had done nothing inappropriate and allowed her to return to work in November, where she is still employed as of May 3, 2020.
The counselor is accused of touching two young boys private parts over their clothes more than once, intentionally brushing her buttocks against their groins, and telling the boys to touch her breasts and genitals.
Grewal Law attorneys spoke with a sexual assault expert regarding the harm these boys may face, and the trauma they will likely face later in life can be profound. Contrary to what some may think, a 15 or 16 year old boy who is sexually assaulted and betrayed by a person they trusted, in a place they should have been protected, will suffer as much as any other victim of sexual abuse. Additionally, since the boys receiving Highfields’ services likely had pre-existing trauma, the abuse will likely exacerbate and further injure these young boys, who deserved better.
Highfields website proclaims its mission is: to provide opportunities to children, youth and families to become more responsible for their own lives and to strengthen their relationships with others. It is disappointing that more swift and decisive action was not taken to protect the young people in their care and live up to its own stated mission when given the chance last fall.
Since the Prosecutor’s office has a higher burden of proof to meet than an administrative agency, it is troubling that the Prosecutor found enough evidence to bring criminal charges, but the state agencies who first responded and investigated did not.
The trauma-informed sexual assault team of attorneys at Grewal Law will be closely following this case. If you have information about this incident or another sexual assault you would like to speak with a lawyer about, please call Grewal Law at (517) 393-3000.
With more than 29 years of experience, Mick Grewal has the skills and knowledge to help his clients accomplish their goals, whether such pursuits involve sexual assualt advocacy, personal injury or medical malpractice matters. Founder and managing partner of Grewal Law, Mr. Grewal prides himself on providing full-service legal help to families in the greater area of Lansing, Michigan.
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