The State Attorney General's Office has ordered KIDS of El Paso County Inc. to shut down. But the drug rehabilitation center is not giving up its fight. It remained opened today, claiming the state is being "uncooperative and unjust." ***, the center's attorney in Austin, said she filed a motion this morning to try to keep KIDS open until next week when a hearing is scheduled. Judge ***, of the 331st District Court in Travis County, issued a temporary restraining order two days ago to shut down KIDS of El Paso, said ***, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office. "If they violate the court order, the (KIDS owners and managers) could end up in jail,” he said from his office in Austin. ***, executive director of the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, who has been investigating KIDS for more than a year, said the commission turned the matter over to the Attorney General's Office early this week. *** ordered the center closed after hearing the commission findings, *** said. Some of the allegations against KIDS are:
- Abusing children;
- Keeping minor and adult clients against their will;
- Placing patients in charge of other patients;
- Denying mail or telephone privileges to clients; and
- Denying privacy to clients when using the bathroom and taking showers.
*** this morning said she was trying to find a judge to hear the motion she filed today to dissolve *** order. "Unless I can get a hearing, I might have to advise my client to close," *** said. A hearing to obtain a permanent injunction that would put KIDS out of business is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in Austin, *** said. *** said, "This is clearly an attempt by the commission to put my client out of business." ***, chairman of the board of directors for KIDS, defended the program and said he is concerned about what could happen to the youngsters in the program if the center were to close. He also said the commission's investigators have not been fair and impartial, and that their reports do not reflect the facts.
