Miracle Meadows Executive Director Susan Gayle Clark arrested

Clark was released on the bond of $26,000 set by Chief Magistrate Keith Marple.

Additionally, Waybright brought more charges against custodian Timothy Aaron Arrington, 36, of Salem. Arrington was charged with three counts of child abuse creating risk of serious injury.

He also turned himself in Friday, and his bond was set at $45,000 by Chief Magistrate Marple. That’s on top of a $50,000 bond set previously on Arrington’s arrest Aug. 14 by Waybright on a child abuse resulting in injury charge. Arrington also has posted bond.

One of the child neglect resulting in injury charges against Clark alleges wrongdoing Nov. 10. Arrington put a 14-year-old male student in a chokehold and then handcuffed him, injuring the juvenile, Waybright has alleged. Clark talked to Arrington about the incident. However, she “failed to exercise a minimum degree of care to assure the minor children’s physical safety and health, as incidents occurred after having knowledge of various acts by school personnel,” Waybright alleges.

The other child neglect charge against Clark alleges wrongdoing May 15. Arrington “conducted an ‘investigation’ into allegations of sexual misconduct among four male students in the dorms,” Waybright alleges. “During this ‘investigation,’ Mr. Arrington did place handcuffs on (a 14-year-old male) and secured him in a ‘quarantine room’ where he remained handcuffed overnight secured within the room.

The boy’s wrists were bloody the next morning, Waybright has alleged.

“Mrs. Clark was aware of this ‘investigation’ and failed to exercise a minimum degree of care to assure children’s physical safety or health,” Waybright alleged.

On one of the failure to report charges, Clark didn’t tell DHHR that Arrington, during “an ‘investigation’ into allegations of sexual misconduct among the students,” locked a 15-year-old male in a “quarantine room” and stripped the boy of all his clothing save his underwear until the juvenile “changed his story,” Waybright has alleged. This is alleged to have occurred March 7.

On the other failure to report charge, Clark knew about “recent sexual incidents involving several of the boys in the boys dorm” but didn’t report that knowledge, Waybright has alleged. This allegation is backed up by a statement Clark purportedly gave during a Board of Directors meeting May 18 for the school, the complaint alleges.

The obstruction charge alleges Clark’s husband was found with custody of two of the 19 students removed from the school by the DHHR on Aug. 14, while six others were located at a Seventh-Day Adventist church near their farm, Waybright has alleged.

On Arrington’s three new charges, he’s accused of putting the student in the chokehold and handcuffing him Nov. 10; stripping the juvenile male of his cloths and putting him in the quarantine room March 7; and handcuffing the student and putting him in the quarantine room May 15.

The previous child abuse resulting in injury charge lodged against Arrington alleges he choked a male student to the point of unconsciousness and then handcuffed him.

Chief Magistrate Marple made it a condition of bond that Arrington and Clark are to have no direct or indirect contact with current students at the school. Clark successfully petitioned the court to add the word “current,” saying that she often is contacted by former students who are now adult professionals.

Arrington declined comment.

Clark gave a brief statement following her initial appearance: “The only comment I can make is I trust God and an honest court that the truth will come out,” Clark said. “That’s all I can say until my lawyer’s beside me.”

Both defendants named Jerry Jones of the West & Jones law firm as their lawyer. Attempts to reach him Friday were unsuccessful.

The felony child neglect/child abuse charges all carry a minimum of a year in prison in the event of a conviction, while the obstructing charge against Clark carries a potential of up to a year in jail. The failure to report charges carry a potential of up to 30 days each.

In addition to all of the students being removed from the school and being placed in DHHR custody, the West Virginia Department of Education has revoked the facility’s state-recognized education status on a perpetual basis.

The Sheriff’s Department and DHHR officials are continuing to investigate, with Assistant Prosecutor Traci Cook also heavily involved.

Waybright was assisted at Friday afternoon’s initial appearances by Harrison Chief Deputy Steve Johnson.