Allegations of sexual assault at a Kalamazoo academy

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Allegations of sexual assault have stunned a Kalamazoo academy for troubled kids.

A counselor at Lakeside Academy has a lot of eyes on him, and people are wondering if he is actually guilty of what he's been accused of. The 14-year-old student says that he is.

The counselor in question is Kimeon Bolden, he's worked at the academy for about a year. Now, he faces three counts of first degree criminal sexual account.

On Wednesday, Newschannel 3 spoke to the student's mother. She says her son has been moved to a facility in the metro-Detroit area. She's still extremely upset by all of this, and says her son is emotionally traumatized.

The 14-year-old was among about 70 boys from around the state who had been court-ordered to live at the academy.

Police say it was in late April when the 27-year-old Bolden, a youth counselor, forced the teen into having oral sex. The alleged incident happened in a dorm, at night, when other kids were asleep.

Newschannel 3 visited Lakeside Academy on Wednesday to talk with the interim executive director.

"Very difficult to understand someone who would chose to do a criminal act on this property involving our students, that is something we can never figure out," said Don Nitz, Lakeside's Executive Director.

Nitz explained that everyone who works at the academy goes through an extensive criminal and Child Protective Services background check before they are hired.

"We would not have hired him had he had any irresponsible behavior or criminal behavior in the past," said Nitz.

Since the alleged assault, the school has added staff to that particular dorm, and is looking at adding cameras to the units.

The victim's family has hired an attorney to pursue a civil case.

Steven Schwartz of Farmington Hills says he's appalled by what happened, and that parents expect that when their children are placed in a facility like Lakeside Academy that it will be a safe haven.

The director at Lakeside says the facility is a safe campus.

Newschannel 3 did speak to Bolden's wife to try and find out his side of the story, we have not heard back from Bolden. He has been released on bond.