ASHLAND — The Mohican Young Star Academy has a storied past — some of it good, and some of it not-so-good — but has always dealt in providing correctional and rehabilitation services to Ohio’s youth.
Here’s a detailed look into the facility’s presence in the Loudonville area as the state investigates “serious non-compliance” issues.
On Nov. 20, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health suspended admissions to Mohican Young Star Academy following The Marshall Project’s Nov. 6 article that documented violence, staff injuries and fights since an ownership change in November 2024.
Ohio DBH personnel have since “performed regular visits to monitor operations and ensure resident safety,” said Eric Wandersleben, a department spokesman.
The Suspension of Admissions Order will remain in effect “until it has been determined the violations that formed the basis for the order have been corrected,” he said.
Wandersleben did not address the specific violations and did not speak to what will happen to the juveniles already placed there. He also did not say how many juveniles are currently housed at the facility.
Terry Jones, the facility’s CEO and executive director, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
1935-2009
Mohican Young Star Academy is not a youth correctional facility. But it used to be.
Under the Ohio Department of Youth Services, Mohican used to be part of the state’s nine youth correctional facilities scattered throughout the state. DYS used to operate four high-security, four medium-security and one low-security facility.
Today, that number is three, and they all house boys between the ages of 12 and 21. DYS no longer has a dedicated facility for adjudicated girls. The state has departed from operating large youth prisons in favor of smaller facilities.
Mohican was part of the state’s downsizing between 2009 and 2011….
Mohican Young Star Academy, a youth residential treatment facility an hour northeast of Columbus, Ohio. [Nate Smallwood for The Marshall Project] 
-Mostly SunnyTonight