A Former Counselor Faces Serious Charges for Alleged Abuse

A retired mental health counselor is now facing serious legal trouble. Edmund Rivers, 68, is accused of sexually assaulting five young patients over many years. These incidents reportedly happened at Hartgrove Behavioral Health Hospital in Chicago. The charges include multiple counts of criminal sexual assault. Prosecutors say the abuse happened between 1996 and 2004. The victims were boys aged 7 to 14. They did not know each other. The attacks allegedly occurred in various places within the hospital, such as patient rooms, a seclusion room, and even a bathroom. Rivers allegedly threatened the victims with sedation if they did not comply. This is a very serious allegation. It shows how he might have used his position of power to control and manipulate the children. An attorney, Martin Gould, has filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of about 100 former patients. These patients claim they were abused while in the hospital's care. Gould says Rivers took advantage of the children's vulnerabilities. He exploited their past traumas to commit these crimes. The victims came forward after learning about the lawsuit. One man shared his story, saying the abuse happened almost every other day. He also mentioned that other staff members might have been involved or turned a blind eye. Following a recent hearing, a judge ordered Rivers to remain in custody until his next court date. This case raises important questions about safety and accountability in mental health facilities.