Man accused of sexually abusing boys at state facility

LAS VEGAS - A 37-year-old Las Vegas man has been indicted on charges he sexually abused five boys at a state-run home for emotionally disturbed children.

Rick Taylor is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on 18 counts of sexual assault of a minor and lewdness with a child.

Taylor worked at the Oasis Residential Treatment Center from July 1998 until June of this year, when he resigned, Chief Deputy District Attorney Teresa Lowry said.

During that time Taylor is accused of abusing five boys between 11 and 15 years old.

Taylor has told police that he worked at youth facilities all over Utah and in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City.

Lowry said investigators are contacting all of those facilities to check for other potential victims. They also have interviewed other children at the Oasis center.

The treatment center is operated by the state's Division of Child and Family Services. The children who live on the campus have severe emotional and behavioral problems and some have been physically or sexually abused.

In February, Larry Wisenbaker was sentenced to five life sentences for molesting 16 boys while working as a caretaker at St. Jude's Ranch, a residential treatment center for children in Boulder City. He is eligible for parole after 75 years.