A teacher at ABM Ministries in Missouri has been charged with child abuse for allegedly bloodying a student’s face during a boxing session. This incident is the latest in a series of allegations against Christian boarding schools in the state.
| Headline | Summary |
|---|---|
| Teacher Charged with Child Abuse at Missouri Boarding School | A teacher at ABM Ministries in Piedmont, Missouri, has been charged with abuse or neglect of a child. Caleb Sandoval, 22, allegedly bloodying a boy’s face while boxing. This incident marks the third person associated with the same school to be charged this month. |
| ABM Ministries Owners Charged with Kidnapping | The owners of ABM Ministries, Larry Musgraves Jr. and Carmen Musgraves, were charged with first-degree kidnapping for allegedly locking a student in a small room. These allegations are the latest against people associated with Christian boarding schools in Missouri. |
| Allegations Prompt Stricter Regulations for Boarding Schools | The recent cases at ABM Ministries and other boarding schools in Missouri have prompted stricter regulations for such facilities. A state law was passed in 2021 to provide oversight and protection for students in religious boarding schools. |
| Former Principal Settles Lawsuit for Sex Acts with Student | A federal lawsuit in 2009 accused a former principal of ABM Ministries of sex acts with a female student. The school and the Musgraves agreed to pay $750,000 in a settlement, and the principal agreed to pay $100,000. |
| Connection to Agape Boarding School | Julio Sandoval, the director of ABM Ministries, was formerly associated with Agape Boarding School in Stockton, Missouri, which closed in 2023 due to allegations of abuse. Cases are still pending against Agape’s longtime doctor and five other employees. |
| Circle of Hope Trial Scheduled | The former owners of Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch, another boarding school in the area, are scheduled to go to trial in November on child abuse charges. They have pleaded not guilty. |
A teacher at ABM Ministries in Piedmont, Missouri, has been charged with abuse or neglect of a child. Caleb Sandoval, 22, allegedly bloodying a boy’s face while boxing. This incident marks the third person associated with the same school to be charged this month.
According to the probable cause statement, Sandoval, who is the son of the school’s director, punched a 15-year-old student multiple times during a sparring session. The boy suffered a bloody nose as a result. Sandoval initially claimed that he was teaching the boy to box for a Mixed Martial Arts camp. However, he later admitted that the sparring took place after the boy made sexual comments about him and his wife.
ABM Ministries, also known as Lighthouse Christian Academy, is a private Christian boarding school for boys in Wayne County, Missouri. The school’s owners, Larry Musgraves Jr. and Carmen Musgraves, were recently charged with first-degree kidnapping for allegedly locking a student in a small room. These allegations are the latest in a series of incidents involving Christian boarding schools in the state.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office began investigating ABM Ministries after receiving reports of runaways and allegations of abuse. The school has faced previous legal issues, including a federal lawsuit in 2009 that resulted in a settlement of $750,000. Julio Sandoval, the director of ABM Ministries, was also formerly associated with Agape Boarding School in Stockton, Missouri, which closed in 2023 due to allegations of abuse.
The recent cases at ABM Ministries and other boarding schools in Missouri have prompted stricter regulations for such facilities. A state law was passed in 2021 to provide oversight and protection for students in religious boarding schools. The former owners of Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch, another boarding school in the area, are scheduled to go to trial in November on child abuse charges.
