Four arrested on child abuse charges at Jamaican school for American 'troubled teens' just days after Paris Hilton flew out to support 'fellow survivors'

Four staff at a Jamaica school for American 'troubled teens' have been charged with child abuse days after Paris Hilton flew out to support her 'fellow survivors'. 

Eight American boys, aged between 14 and 18, were taken out of Atlantis Leadership Academy in February after an unannounced inspection of the school uncovered allegations of children being starved, beaten and put in chokeholds by staff.

Employees Eddison Morris, 39, Courtney Wiggan, 51, Carson Cox, 33 and Odane Maswell, 31, have since been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, cruelty to a child and assault at common law. 

The victims were taken into custody in Jamaica and are being held in group homes while their families campaign for their release.

Paris Hilton, who has fought against the troubled teen industry since she experienced it herself, flew to Jamaica to support the boys, saying: 'There is nowhere on Earth that I am unwilling to travel to support and advocate for youth who have experienced institutional child abuse and neglect.'

Paris Hilton who has fought against the troubled teen industry since she experienced it herself, flew to Jamaica to support the boys

The Atlantis Leadership Academy is located on Treasure Beach, located along the island's south coast

The eight boys were students at Atlantis Leadership Academy located in Treasure Beach, located along the island's south coast.

The faith-based school claims to specialize in helping teens overcome anger, depression, substance abuse.

According to its website, it prides itself as an 'affordable, structured, boarding academy serving young men who possess strong leadership skills, though they've taken some wrong turns in their lives.' 

But critics claim it is part of the controversial troubled teen industry which has been rife with allegations of abuse and neglect. 

On February 8, after a unannounced inspection revealed concerns, the Jamaican Child Protection and Family Services Agency removed the boys and placed them in protective custody until they could be safely returned to their families. 

Their concerned parents have been trying to bring their children home, but so far only two have been returned to the US with a third expected to be sent this week. The rest will be the subjects of a trial later this week. 

Paris Hilton flew out to Jamaica last week to campaign for their release and the closure of the school. 

She said: 'When I heard about what eight American children had endured in the hands of a troubled teen facility in Jamaica, I knew I had to drop everything to show my support of their testimony.'

She said the boys had reported being 'violently beaten, whipped, water-boarded, and starved.' 

And added: 'There is nowhere that a facility can hide where we cannot find them. We will not allow children to carry the shame and stigma of abuse alone — that belongs solely to the abusers.'

'It outrages me that it is taking months to bring these children back to the United States and mere moments to send them away in the first place.'

'While we wait for the government to take action, survivors will continue to uncover this broken system and expose those who are putting profits over the wellbeing of our most vulnerable youth. We will protect the powerless ourselves.'

Tarah Fleischman, the mother of Cody Fleischman, 16, sent her son to the academy last May hoping it would help with some of his aggressive behavior. 

Her family attorney, Michael McFarland told NewsNation that Cody had 'lost a significant amount of weight since entering into Atlantis.'

The mother of Cody Fleischmann, 16, who sent her son to the academy last May hoping it would help with some of his aggressive behavior, is now feeling remorseful, family attorney, Michael McFarland told NewsNation 

Pictured: Atlantis Leadership Academy founder and director, Randall Cook 

Pictured: Generic images of young people at the academy. The faith-based school specializes in helping teens overcome anger, depression, substance abuse 

'They're investigating allegations of physical abuse, which would include beatings, also chokeholds, restraints, things like that. And neglect, which would include, you know, withholding food and not getting proper nutrition to the boys,' McFarland said. 

DailyMail.com contacted Atlantis Leadership Academy for comment. 

The school's founder Randall Cook has not been arrested and denies the allegations, telling NBC: 'ALA is appalled at the hatchet job that is being done to our reputation and deny all the allegations that have been coming at us after over eight years in operation.' 

Cook is a mainstay of the troubled teen industry, which is made up of a network of boarding schools, wilderness camps and ranches for children struggling with behavioral issues. 

The industry has come under increased scrutiny as celebrities like Hilton raise awareness and a Netflix documentary focused on allegations of abuse from survivors.