It's absolutely disgusting when mentors of youth abuse their power to abuse a child, especially when that abuse turns sexual. Unfortunately, that is the reality for one Montrose family as a boy was sexually assaulted by a former Partners mentor. The Montrose Press is saying that the family is now suing two youth service organizations for at least $100,000.

The two organizations that were named in the lawsuit were Delta-Montrose Youth Services and Mesa Youth Services. And the mentor was Joshua Hemphill. Hemphill worked as a detention officer at Mesa County Jail then as a Deputy in Colores County. Shortly after his resignation in 2017, an investigation began into claims of sexual assault. This was all prior to him working for Partners of Delta, Montrose & Ouray.

Where Is the Sexual Offender Joshua Hemphill Located Now?

In 2019 Hemphill pled guilty to sexually assaulting children, which includes the case with the Montrose boy. Hemphill was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison but he might never leave due to Colorado's indeterminate sentencing laws for some sexual offenses.

After pleading guilty to charges including sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, Joshua Hemphill has been held at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility. He will not be eligible for parole until the year 2031.

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The Reason The Family Is Suing For $100,000

Court documents show the family of the Montrose boy is seeking over $100,000 to pay for punitive damages as well as attorney fees. Hemphill was eventually fired from Partners for not following protocol and spending an inordinate amount of time with the youth, who had received complaints from the youth's mother.

After he was terminated is when the CBI began investigating including Hemphill mentors other youth outside of the Partners program. The family in Montrose said that Hemphill worked to integrate himself into the family, even staying the night.

After sleeping on the floor in their son's room instead of the guest room, having few adult friends, and odd behavior the family contacted the police and obtained a restraining order.

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