MULTIPLE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS UNDER INVESTIGATION AT SMYRNA MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY, a resident listed in public arrest records, was taken into custody on April 5, 2025, in Featured County, Georgia. According to the official booking report, the arrest was made by local authorities and the subject was charged with the following offense(s): unspecified charges. This incident was officially recorded and made publicly available by law enforcement agencies in the state of Georgia. The details provided reflect the arrest information at the time of booking and do not indicate guilt or conviction. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
COBB COUNTY, Ga. – Ridgeview Institute, a Smyrna-based mental health and addiction treatment center, is under scrutiny following multiple active investigations into alleged sexual crimes involving patients.
According to the Smyrna Police Department, since January 1, 2024, officers have responded to 1,511 calls for service—ranging from emergencies to non-emergencies—at the facility located on South Cobb Drive. Police reports describe incidents in which patients have accused other patients of rape, sodomy, and inappropriate touching.
Ridgeview offers psychiatric and substance use treatment for adolescents, adults, and seniors, including residential care. Between January 2024 and February 14, 2025, 14 sexual offense investigations have been launched involving Ridgeview patients. Seven of those cases remain active, with alleged victims ranging in age from juveniles to adults up to 44 years old. The reported suspects include individuals as young as 12 and as old as 62.
The most recent open case involves a 12-year-old suspect and was reported on February 11. In a separate incident from February 2024, a suspect was arrested after accusations involving two juvenile victims—aged 13 and 16—though further details have not been disclosed.
One of the more serious incidents occurred in July 2024, when 34-year-old Joshua Burney, a patient at Ridgeview, was accused of raping a female patient. According to court documents, staff members briefly left the victim’s room during a scheduled observation period. When they returned, they reportedly found Burney actively assaulting her. Staff initially struggled to restrain him before administering an anti-hallucinogenic injection. The victim was transported to Kennestone Hospital for treatment. Burney, who allegedly threatened the victim during the assault, was later indicted on charges of rape and aggravated sodomy and is currently being held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. His request for bond was denied on February 4.
Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen acknowledged the mounting cases and emphasized her office’s commitment to accountability:
“The sheer number of accusations is very concerning to this Office,” Allen said. “Our law enforcement partners are currently investigating this matter and our Office will continue watching as their investigation unfolds. While we cannot comment on any specifics of any ongoing investigation, I want to assure the public that this Office is committed to pursuing justice with integrity and transparency once our law enforcement partners complete their investigation. I would encourage anyone with information on this matter to come forward as we all strive to protect the safety of our community.”
As of now, Ridgeview Institute has not issued a public statement regarding the investigations.
Disclaimer: All data provided here is taken from public arrest records. This publication does not imply guilt or final conviction.
More Arrests in Featured on April 5, 2025
No other arrests found on this date in Featured.
