LPD: Employee sexually assaulted teen living at Lincoln clinic’s residential facility

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A former employee of a youth clinic in Lincoln was arrested Friday in the sexual assault of a teen earlier this year.

The Lincoln Police Department started its investigation on April 30 after a report was made to a DHHS hotline regarding the sexual assault.

A 17-year-old boy living at HopeSpoke’s residential facility was sexually assaulted by an employee, 24-year-old Brandon Young, police said.

“It was determined the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 23rd around 10 p.m,” said Erika Thomas, a spokesperson for LPD. “The victim stated Young had driven him to go shopping. On the way back, he parked the vehicle in the alley behind the facility, locked the doors and initiated inappropriate sexual conduct with the teenager.”

Young was immediately placed on leave.  On Friday, he was arrested on suspicion of several charges, including sexual abuse by a school worker, sexual abuse of a detainee and child abuse.

“He was taken to Lancaster County Jail for sexual abuse of a school worker, sexual abuse of a detainee and child abuse,” Thomas said.

HopeSpoke is a local clinic that provides “mental health and substance abuse assessments to families who are struggling to identify the services needed to help their children,” according to its website.  The organization also provides residential services for youth.

HopeSpoke released a statement saying: “HopeSpoke has been committed to the safety of children and families for over seventy-five years and we will continue to be for years to come. Our agency has worked cooperatively with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS), Lincoln Police Department (LPD), and Licensing, to ensure that the youth in our care are safe.”