(Los Angeles) A former boot camp instructor was sentenced today after pleading no contest to a felony count of child abuse, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Edgar Alvarado, 38, was immediately sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Suzette Clover to 60 days in county jail, four years of felony probation and 30 days of community labor.
Additionally, Alvarado may not to engage in any kind of counseling, training, or care of minors, whether it is paid or unpaid.
Deputy District Attorney Brook White said Alvarado was the owner “Recon 180,” an informal boot camp that dealt with troubled children.
Over a three-year span, several teenagers were hospitalized after entering the boot camp. Officials learned the youths were physically overloaded and experienced exhaustion due to the difficult physical regiments Alvarado put them through. Also, there was no medical supervision at the camp, and the victims’ ailments would go untreated, the prosecutor said.
Additionally, the prosecutor said the teens claimed that they were physically abused by the defendant and his staff. The youths claimed they were punched, slapped and stomped on while attending the boot camp.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victim’s Bureau.
Source: Los Angeles County District Attorney
I sent my son away to this horrible place. I didn’t believe him when he said they were beating him and other kids.
After weeks I decided to return and spoke to Mr. Alvarado, he said no such thing happend. I did go to Sheriffs office and tried to file a complaint. They spoke to him and they claimed no such thing happend, most kids lie because they do not want to return. After so many years my son is 100% sure that they beat him along with other kids. This is NO WAY to deal with discipline.
seems a bit harsh, sometimes deterring errant teens takes coercion