Alpine Academy
Reviews and Complaints

Jon was not the only rapist at Alpine. There was one before that didn't get enough attention because of not enough "evidence" but after that is when they started to put cameras in the homes.

I went to Alpine Academy and I'm telling you, even without statutory rape laws existing, there is absolutely no way that any "student" there could consent to sex with an employee. The employees have absolute power over the "students" (i put that in quotations because they are essentially prisoners, vast majority of them did not choose to be there, were kidnapped out of their bedrooms and forced to comply). When I was there we had to ask to go to the bathroom. If we did anything that a staff member didn't like (it could be literally anything) we had to basically sit in a corner and were not permitted to do anything except schoolwork. We weren't even allowed to talk to the other girls. This was called "losing your privileges" and could last for weeks at a time if you were "badly behaved" enough. It would be extremely, EXTREMELY easy for a staff member at alpine to take advantage of a student. At least now they have cameras in all the houses, but they didn't at this time. When you're trapped in a place, not permitted to leave, not even permitted to call or write your friends back home, go to the bathroom without permission, eat anything without permission, consume any sort of media without permission, of course you are not going to fight back when staff demands sex. It totally all adds up. I'm glad this disgusting excuse for a human being is in prison now. Also, if you google "Alpine Academy Statutory Rape" you will find that one of their teachers was charged with 21 felony counts of sexual abuse against an underage student in 2010 but the case was dismissed due to being outside of the statute of limitations. The teacher was still permitted to work there for years afterwards (she may still work there, I'm not certain either way). So Alpine continues to put students in danger and clearly has not learned their lesson from this terrible incident.

It always intrigues me when people who know nothing of rape or child molestation, want to call a 17yrold an adult even though she can't smoke, drink, rent a room, or fight for her country. "Grooming" is a technique used by pedophiles to manipulate children. This can happen in the form of gifts, priveleges the adult has to give, or even the SIMPLE case of BEING ON THE CHILDS SIDE. think of how easy that would be in this situation... Child has parents who think she is bad, a troublemaker, or crazy... Jon tells her NO, you are a spirited, sexy, amazing woman and no one else understands you like I do! Half of what makes teens not adults mentally is how self centered they are and how they have an inability to see what is right in front of their nose if it requires too much of a shift--change literally hurts the brain and being a teen is one of those ages where change comes often and new ideas and cells are opening up and forming... I will also include this chart that shows the number of rapes reported vs convictions. And you wonder why the abused don't bother to tell, usually. And that not including people ashamed to admit they we're actually taken advantage of, wronged, coerced, and forced. If you don't know about child abuse, maybe leave it to the professionals who we're consulted when the law was made -_-

CDK, yep, you obviously posted when you were fresh out of treatment, LOL

Sadly, we wished we had discovered this info prior to sending our daughter to Alpine because we wouldn't have done so. In our experience it is a place filled with lies, deception and efforts to brainwash young women and isolate them from their families. The program director is the biggest BS artist we ever met, spinning stories to cover Alpine's inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. They outright lie about "informing" parents about Carver's actions... we were never told a thing. They hide and cover up the truth. I am so sorry that we sent our daughter there, and I am sorry for the young women left behind whose parents don't know what goes on at Alpine. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE, IT IS FULL OF LIES AND DECEPTION. If your daughter is there, take her out immediately.

I agree with everything that ThankYouForReadig said. Their values are VERY corrupt. You see, I am bisexual. I once tried talking to my therapist about it, who happened to be the same one that the aforementioned person had, and she told me I wasn't. Later that night, I was talking to my parents on the phone (which we only got to due once or twice a week for 7-15 mins depending on your level) and I was crying. A few minutes later one of the staff came up and told me to get off the phone. She then asked me why I was crying, so I told her. Afterwards, she basically told me that was something that I shouldn't cry about.
Another instance I can remember that shows how corrupt their values are is when I wanted to bring a KIDS book that was about Paganism to Alpine. I wasn't allowed, because it was "inappropriate". The house parents looked through the book, and showed me ONE thing that may have been taken badly. My PARENTS had even brought it for me.
I remember that Alpine encouraged us not to be "fake" ie:
NOT talk about our feelings to our peers, even if you were merely upset. How the heck is that NOT being fake?
Another thing I remember is that we weren't allowed to wear shorts or tank tops. I am assuming that Mormans generally aren't allowed to?
I also remember one time, a girl stole like, ONE sip of soda out of a 2 liter bottle that wasn't hers. Someone saw her. Now, you have to understand that in no way do I think stealing is okay. But we ALL had to sit around the table for an hour and a half and wait for her to tell the parent teachers what she had done. Even though someone had already told them it was her who had done it.
All in all, there was a LOT of corruption, hypocrisy, and undeserved punishment.

After reading this story and having been in residential care at the Willow Creek home during the Carver's period of time working, I have just a few things to say. You can label them as negative or you can agree with me, but none the less, it is my opinion. Of course, you can have any opinion you'd like. But, speaking from the perspective of a former student, I was not personally equipped with the skills to create my own opinion, not only within my general outlook on life while at Alpine Academy, but also specifically with the Carver Case...

1) Alpine staff were quiet good at covering their assets, or in other words their business and their economical value, when Jon was arrested. Some of my dearest friends within the Willow Creek home had gone to Janet, the director, and other authority figures with complaints and valid concerns about Jon. Their complaints went unheard and their concerns went unnoticed, until of course, evidence came pounding at their door along with the press who wanted to cover the story. Parents, investors, and supporters continue to donate to this non-profit organization. But what are they donating their money towards: teenagers improving their lives, or teenagers learning how to manipulate the program so they can just go home? Some might argue that kids get better here. But here is my opinion, which is just as flawed as yours: some kids get better, and some kids get worse.

2) My curiosity about the Carver Case was very large, and I was absolutely bubbling with questions when Jon was arrested. But to say the least, I, along with other girls, were left in the dark. It wasn't until I left treatment did I realize what actually happened. During my recovery, girls would mention vague details of what happened to Jon (IE, jail sentencing, and news about court trails they had read on the internet while visiting home), but of course, our conversations were steered in a more "positive direction" by staff. When it comes to psychotherapy, I am so far uneducated, but it doesn't take a therapist to realize that not only kids, but everyone, needs both sides of life: the good and the bad. People also need the truth in order to live a good life, and Alpine doesn't supply their clients with the truth; only judgments placed on their issues, and unhelpful feedback.

3) As a whole, Alpine needs to look at what they're teaching their clients. They preach self-forgiveness, good values, and although they'd rather not admit it, a very bias perspective on religion. In practice though, their teachings come off as self-righteous, closed-minded, and very Americanized. Coming from a former student, I think it'd be much more effective if they taught self-exploration, how to be assertive within the family (I can remember my house parent saying that I could never give my parents feedback unless I was within the confines of Alpine, otherwise it'd be completely disrespectful...), and also, how to be okay with making mistakes.

I know not all of this is related to Jon, but like I said, Jon is just another example of how Alpine Academy refuses to take accountability for their own over-looked mistakes.

-Thank you for reading

UPDATE (May 20, 2011): Jon Carver appeared before the Utah Board of Pardons & Parole last month. This was his first appearance since his guilty plea & conviction on 5 felony counts of sexual abuse in October 2009. After reviewing Carver's file, the Pardons & Parole Board DENIED his release. The board set his next parole hearing for May 2019. That's right - 2019! Eight more years before he will even be considered for parole.
To all who steadfastly support Jon Carver and believe his conviction was a miscarriage of justice, consider the facts as they have played out over the last 2+ years. FACT #1: During the early stages of the investigation but prior to his arrest, Carver posted information constantly on message boards and social networking sites about his victim, the victim's family and law enforcement and made repeated accusations and threats to those involved in his case. FACT #2: After authorities gathered enough evidence to arrest him in May 2009, Carver refused to cooperate with investigators, denied ALL allegations and 'lawyered up'. FACT #3: At Carver’s pre-trial hearing, the court, based on initial evidence presented, imposed a $100, 000 cash bond (an unusually high bond reserved only for those the court deems a threat). Unable to raise that kind of cash, Carver remained in jail awaiting trial. FACT #4: While in jail but prior to his conviction, Carver was ordered to undergo a psych-eval. The results of this eval (presented at his sentencing hearing) established Carver lied and attempted to mislead the psychiatrists. FACT #5: Faced with mountains of damning evidence, Carver does a full 180 and enters a plea of guilty at his sentencing hearing. In his address to the court, Carver admits to sexually abusing his victim and begs for the court's forgiveness and mercy. The court sentences Carver to 1-5 years for each felony to run consecutively. FACT #6: After two years behind bars, the Board of Pardons & Parole meets with Carver for the first time. The Board rules that Jon Carver shall remain incarcerated for at least 8 more years; his next parole hearing scheduled for May 2019.
The point everyone should take from this is Jon Carver, who initially denied any wrong-doing, was investigated, arrested and ultimately confessed to sexually abusing his victim. This was no kangaroo court. He was afforded all of the protections our constitution provides and his case was judged not by his accuser but by an impartial court with no predisposition or opinion as to guilt or innocence. Furthermore, the Board of Pardons & Parole, yet another impartial panel, found just this past month after serving two years; Carver should remain behind bars for a minimum of 8 more years.
It's worth noting that Carver's original sentence was 1-5 years for each conviction (in this case 5 felonies) to run consecutively. My understanding of Utah sentencing guidelines is Carver is required to serve at least the minimum sentence (one year per conviction for a total of 5 years). What the Board of Pardons effectively said with their ruling is that Carver shall remain in prison for at least 8 years (3 years beyond his minimum sentence) before his next parole hearing. Clearly the Board saw an individual they believe is a menace to society and in no way reformed and ready to reenter society.
For the victim, her family and all the other girls who Carver may have abused but never came forward; this latest news is a relief. The board's ruling affirms what many have known for years: Carver is a sexual predator and manipulator who brought irreparable harm to many people. The scars he left behind on his victim(s) will never fully heal. He will never comprehend the emotional pain and suffering he inflicted on a young girl who so desperately needed help. He remains a threat to society.
As I reflect on this, I can't help but wonder what Carver ponders while he sits in jail. Is his view of reality so off-center and delusional that he remains in denial? Has his family finally come to accept his admitted guilt? Do they still believe the victim and her family concocted this entire story and helped police put an innocent man behind bars? Can Carver's wife comprehend the extent of the crimes he committed? Does she realize her husband repeatedly raped a young girl upstairs in the same house while she and her daughter slept? Can she look at her young daughter and imagine if she were a victim of abuse and contemplate her response as a mother? Can any of people who so steadfastly supported Carver and insisted his innocence finally accept the facts that keep Jon Carver behind bars? These are questions that will probably remain forever unanswered. But as long as Jon Carver remains in prison, our world is a better place.