19-year-old says he is still haunted after months of alleged sexual abuse by female staffers at youth rehab center

Summary by The Midland Editorial Desk · Based on reporting from KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · July 22, 2026 · 3 min read

KEARNEY, Neb. ( KOLN /Gray News) — A 19-year-old says he is still haunted after months of alleged sexual abuse by female staffers at a youth rehabilitation center in Kansas. He is one of multiple child victims who have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse. DaVontae Helmstadter spoke to K...

Why this matters in The Midland

The allegations of sexual abuse at a Kansas youth rehabilitation center have disturbing implications for the Permian Basin community, where similar facilities operate. While the incident occurred outside of Midland, it raises questions about the safeguards in place at local youth rehabilitation centers to prevent such abuse. The fact that multiple former employees have been arrested and charged in recent months suggests a systemic failure to protect vulnerable youth. As the community grapples with the consequences of this abuse, it is crucial to examine the measures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of youths in similar facilities in Midland County. The incident also highlights the need for increased transparency and accountability in these institutions, as well as support for victims of abuse and their families. By learning from this incident, Midland can work towards creating a safer environment for its youth.

About this story

Original reporting by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). The Midland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 22, 2026 · Source: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · Reading time: 3 min

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This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) and curated for The Midland readers.

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Summary created by	The Midland Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 22, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 22, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

19-year-old says he is still haunted after months of alleged sexual abuse by female staffers at youth rehab center

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