A 26-year-old therapist has been arrested in the United States after allegedly grooming a teenage boy while he was held at a juvenile detention facility, then raping him repeatedly for around three months once he was released. Police say the alleged abuse began under the guise of a professional therapeutic relationship, with the woman using her position of trust and access to the youth to initiate contact before his release, raising serious concerns about safeguarding within juvenile justice facilities.

According to investigators, the therapist continued and escalated the relationship after the teenager left custody, with the alleged sexual abuse occurring over roughly three months. She has been arrested and now faces criminal charges relating to the alleged grooming and repeated rape of the underage victim, with the case underscoring wider scrutiny of professional conduct standards for staff working with vulnerable young people in detention settings.