UPDATE | Lighthouse Care Center brought into child abuse lawsuit

Monday, July 23, 2018

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- The Lighthouse Care Center of Augusta and its parent company, Universal Health Services, are being sued after a patient was assaulted in 2017.

Timothy Carroll was the Admissions Coordinator at Lighthouse. He faces multiple charges, including child molestation, sexual battery, and sexual assault.

According to a complaint, a 14-year-old patient being treated for depression and attempted suicide was brought into care in July 2017. Her mother allegedly told Carroll the girl had sexualized behaviors and needed to be kept away from male patients.

The victim's lawyer says that weeks later Carroll asked the girl to come inside a conference room in the facility. That's where he allegedly committed multiple sexual acts on her.

The complaint in the lawsuit also says that Carroll made sexually aggressive comments to her and showed her sexual photos on his phone.

The complaint goes on to say the girl told another employee at Lighthouse what happened the next day, but Carroll was still allowed one-on-one time with her later in the day. Lawyers say he assaulted her again in that time.

Lawyers say the Lighthouse Care Center knew, or should have known, Carroll would assault the girl again if he was given access.

Victim’s attorney Jeff Herman called this lawsuit, “One more example of a vulnerable child being sexually abused at an institution who is supposed to be caring for the victim. The complaint alleges multiple notices of abuse to staff that were ignored.”

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 / News 12 at 6 O’Clock

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) – Detailed warrants describe the alleged sexual assault of two teens, age 14 and 16, all allegedly happening at the Lighthouse Care Center of Augusta on Perimeter Parkway.

Investigators say two Lighthouse employees are responsible.

Warrants say admissions coordinator Timothy Carroll molested a 14-year-old on the Lighthouse campus two days in a row in August. He’s accused of having supervisory authority over the child.

Warrants also accuse mental health technician Jacey Haskell of sodomy and sexual assault after an alleged sexual act with a 16-year-old girl also on the Lighthouse property in February; and while having supervisory authority over the teen.

The center claims on its website that clinicians treat children and adolescents from five to 17-years-old who suffer from psychological troubles and substance abuse.

The center is accredited by several well-known agencies including the Georgia Board of Education and the Joint Commission. A gold sticker shows the Joint Commission accreditation. The joint commission website shows their last on-site visit was in October 2015.