Charges Filed Against Metro Counselor Accused Of Assaulting Juvenile Patients

A counselor working with troubled youth comes under fire for allegations of abuse.

David Wayne Cunningham, 51, is accused of hitting his young patients with a wooden paddle. Now, he's facing criminal charges.

After several months of investigation, Cleveland County prosecutors filed assault and battery charges against David Cunningham.

They say Cunningham stepped over the line by beating some of his patients.

According to court records, Cunningham was licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselors when he began incorporating corporal punishment into his counseling sessions with underage patients.

7/10/15 Related Story: Metro Counselor Accused Of Assaulting Juvenile Patients

"The allegations were that he had struck a 17-year-old, 12 times, six with a belt, and six with a paddle," said Sergeant Jeremy Lewis.

Investigators say when they dug deeper into the case they found a second victim. Both teenagers were ordered by the court to attend counseling sessions with Cunningham.

At the time of the incidents, investigators say, Cunningham was contracted through 21Days2Change -- a company that provides in-home counseling services for troubled youth.

Jim Hale, co-owner of 21Days2Change said Cunningham is no longer with the company but refused to comment on the case.

But court records show Cunningham held appointments at an abandoned home near SW 160th and Western where he struck the young patients with paddles and leather belts.

In April 2013, Cunningham allegedly threatened a patient saying he could either paddle him or turn him into a judge for probation violations.

Another accusation came to light in January 2015.

In that case, investigators say the victim was struck with a paddle as warning of what would happen if the patient violated his probation.

"It wasn’t reported as it happened,” Lewis said much of the case is built on the victims’ testimony, “ there was not a  scene we could go to or anything like that so the detective just had to piece things together," said Lewis.

Cunningham was charged with three counts of assault and battery in Cleveland County early Friday morning.  A warrant is out for his arrest but at last check he has not been picked up by authorities.

Meanwhile, sources tell News 9, Cunningham's conduct as a medical professional was also questioned in the past. .

He was licensed as a state social worker in 2007 and had disciplinary action brought against him in 2011.

Steve Shaw will have more on his past at 10.