The Hills Youth and Family Services in Duluth’s Woodland neighborhood made numerous changes to its policies and procedures after a former youth counselor was charged with sexually assaulting at least five boys, state officials said.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services last week found 28-year-old Mark David Painter responsible for the abuse of the facility’s clients, who ranged in age from 13-17, and disqualified him from future work in similar fields.
Painter is facing five felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Police said the victims and other residents reported to investigators in July that Painter would offer them contraband including cigarettes, drugs, tattoo supplies and access to a cellphone or laptop in exchange for sexual acts.
The report found that while Painter violated numerous policies, other staff members acted appropriately. It added that the Hills later completed an internal review and made changes to “the physical plant, staffing practices, training, facility culture, technology, programming for youth, communication and critical incident review procedures.”
Painter, who worked at the facility from March to July, remains in the St. Louis County Jail. He is scheduled to be back in court on Nov. 27.
