# Third Kearney youth center staffer arrested in expanding abuse scandal  
**Published:** 2026-05-11T18:15:00.000Z  
**Source:** [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/third-former-employee-arrested-on-allegations-of-sexual-abusing-teen-at-state-run-kearney-center/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/third-kearney-youth-center-staffer-arrested-in-expanding-abuse-scandal

A third former employee at Nebraska's Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing a teenager in the state's care, according to reporting from the [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/third-former-employee-arrested-on-allegations-of-sexual-abusing-teen-at-state-run-kearney-center/).

Tarah Ross, 23, of Sargent, was arrested Thursday on one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a protected individual, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The alleged abuse occurred between Jan. 27 and April 20 last year, when Ross stopped working at the facility operated by the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The Kearney center serves juvenile offenders ages 14 to 18 and is one of three such [facilities operated by DHHS](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/nebraska-dhhs-fires-top-administrator-at-troubled-kearney-youth-center/) in Nebraska. According to court documents, a note containing sexually explicit conversations between Ross and a Douglas County teen was discovered at the facility in April 2025. The victim told staff that Ross had touched his genitals and that "more than just touching" had occurred between them.

Video surveillance showed the youth inappropriately touching Ross while she smiled at him, but staff did not immediately report the allegations to law enforcement. Instead, the teen faced disciplinary consequences for touching Ross. A Douglas County judge criticized this response, stating that her concern was "not solely that the abuse happened, but the systematic minimization, concealment and disregard by those in charge of his care."

Two other former employees face similar charges. Martha Ruiz Palacios left the department in August, and Katrina Fewkes has been terminated, according to DHHS. A fourth former employee has been named in juvenile court but not charged, while a Douglas County public defender indicated his office has reason to believe six staff members may have been involved in inappropriate contact with teenagers.

An [independent investigation by the Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/pillen-pledges-accountability-as-watchdog-launches-probe-into-alleged-sex-abuse-at-kearney-youth-center/) is ongoing. DHHS fired the facility's top administrator in March and reorganized its leadership structure. The department has also announced plans to move boys from the Kearney facility to other locations as part of a broader [restructuring initiative](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/state-pitches-moving-boys-from-troubled-kearney-youth-center-to-omaha/).

## Sources

- [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/third-former-employee-arrested-on-allegations-of-sexual-abusing-teen-at-state-run-kearney-center/)
- [Flatwater Free Press article on DHHS administrator firing](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/nebraska-dhhs-fires-top-administrator-at-troubled-kearney-youth-center/)
- [Flatwater Free Press article on Inspector General investigation](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/pillen-pledges-accountability-as-watchdog-launches-probe-into-alleged-sex-abuse-at-kearney-youth-center/)
- [Flatwater Free Press article on proposed facility relocation](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/state-pitches-moving-boys-from-troubled-kearney-youth-center-to-omaha/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Flatwater Free Press, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://flatwaterfreepress.org/third-former-employee-arrested-on-allegations-of-sexual-abusing-teen-at-state-run-kearney-center/.