Problems continue to pile up for an Ephrata facility for troubled boys.

Ephrata Police this week filed charges against a counselor aide at SummitQuest Academy for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a resident while employed there.

Elizabeth Gaska, 24, of Reading, faces one count of institutional sexual assault. Police said today they are waiting for her to turn herself in on the charges stemming from her alleged actions at the psychiatric academy, where one in three boys has sexual behavior issues.

The most recent charges follow complaints from local officials that police are overtaxed with calls related to the academy off Route 272.

From February to mid-September, Ephrata police responded to about 100 calls from SummitQuest.

Many of those calls were related to boys running away from the academy. Some of those boys then committed crimes outside the facility. Also, police have been called to the academy for fights or for assaults on teachers there.

Akron residents who live near the facility and municipal officials are upset about the crimes and about the increasing number of calls.

Owned by Ohio-based ViaQuest Behavioral Health, the 129-bed facility is not locked down but is "staff secure." It houses about 90 boys, ages 11 to 18.

Half of the boys have exhibited criminal behavior in the past. The other half have mental-health issues, but no criminal behavior.

A ViaQuest official has said the runaway problem is the result of a state mandate that limits the practice of physically restraining residents.

In February 2006, a 16-year-old boy from SummitQuest died hours after being restrained by staff.

County Coroner Dr. G. Gary Kirchner found the boy may have had an undiagnosed heart condition, and ruled the death accidental. An independent expert hired by the boy's family said findings indicated the teen suffocated.

SummitQuest was investigated by state officials, and put on a six-month provisional license. No charges were filed against SummitQuest.

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