Texas Teen Believed to be Victim of Freshly Fired Juvenile Detention Worker

A 16 year veteran at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center has been fired and arrested after allegations of sexual abuse to a child arose.

According to a press release from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Todd Hanks, 50, was arrested June 29 for charges of improper sexual activity with a person in custody and indecency with a child.

Hanks, who worked as a youth development coach, was reported by a fellow coworker in the morning, and was immediately removed from having contact with youth. At first Hanks was suspended without pay, but then officers from TTJD's Office of the Inspector General interviewed Hanks and terminated his employment.

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“I am outraged by this incident, and we will pursue the highest possible penalties available against this former staff member,” said Camille Cain, the Executive Director of TJJD. “This agency has zero tolerance for any employee who preys upon or endangers the youth in our care, and we will always respond swiftly to such allegations. I am heartbroken for the youth, and we are doing everything we can to provide proper treatment and care.”

That same evening Hanks was arrested by the Office of the Inspector General and booked into the Hidalgo County Jail. The victim is said to have received medical and clinical care. The victim's family has been notified, and TJJD followed Prison Rape Elimination Act guidelines following the incident.

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 requires that federal, state, and local correctional facilities maintain and enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual assault for both inmate-on-inmate and staff-on-inmate misconduct.