In a distressing revelation, a former counselor is accused of committing a series of sexual assaults on children over an eight-year period at a hospital on Chicago’s West Side, according to prosecutors. The troubling allegations suggest that these incidents were not isolated, but rather repeated attacks that spanned nearly a decade.

Edmund Rivers, now 68, faces serious legal consequences as he has been charged with five counts of sexual assault. Prosecutors claim that during his tenure at the facility from 1996 to 2004, Rivers targeted boys aged between 7 and 14 years old. These offenses allegedly occurred in various locations within Hartgrove Behavioral Health Hospital, which has since relocated within the West Side area.

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The case gained momentum when five survivors came forward, encouraged by a civil lawsuit filed against Hartgrove Hospital last year. This legal action appears to have galvanized these individuals to speak out about the abuse they claim to have suffered.

Martin Gould, an attorney involved in the lawsuit, is representing numerous former patients who have come forward with their harrowing experiences. As this case unfolds, it underscores the importance of vigilance and accountability within healthcare facilities to protect vulnerable populations.

Martin Gould is one of the attorneys representing dozens of former patients in that lawsuit.

“For the first time in these people’s lives, they have a sense of justice and something’s being done about it, that this person is being taken off the street,” said Gould, an attorney and founding partner at Gould, Greco and Hensley.

Attorneys in the civil case say Rivers was known as “Staff Perpetrator 1” in the complaint.

“Edmund Rivers was so brazen in his abuse, he felt totally untouchable, that he actually dared victims to come forward, telling them that they would never be believed. And that’s why this arrest just means so much,” Gould said.

Gould said over a dozen clients in their civil case were victimized by Rivers. The survivors include a person, referred to as “John Doe,” who spoke with ABC7’s Michelle Gallardo last year.

He said at 11 years old, he was sexually abused two days into his month-long stay.

“It was almost an every other day occurrence while I was there. If they took more than one of us, then they said they were going to have a group session. They would force us to do things to each other,” he said.

“This is the tip of the iceberg in terms of getting accountability. And we expect many more arrests, and we look forward to seeing that unfold,” Gould said.

At the time, counsel for Hartgrove Hospital disputed the allegations contained in that original lawsuit, writing, “The safety of all patients is of paramount importance to Hartgrove Hospital and we take these allegations seriously. Based upon preliminary review of the lawsuit, Hartgrove denies the allegations against them and intend to defend this case vigorously.”

As for Rivers, after his hearing, a judge ordered him to remain in custody.