Elizabeth Blanchard, 34, used to work at EPIC Behavioral Healthcare, but is now in jail in St. Johns County.

Jacksonville deputies arrested Blanchard last Friday on warrants from St. Johns.

Among the nine felony charges, she is charged with sexual assault by a person in authority on a minor and lewd and lascivious assault on a minor.

Jax Action News Annette Gutierrez spoke with an off-camera employee who said Blanchard was difficult to work with and had to move units at least once, including one right across the street from the jail.

“It’s ridiculous,” said a customer’s grandfather. “In this kind of environment, I don’t know how I can let that happen.”

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The grandfather of an EPIC client wished to remain anonymous to protect his grandson. He said he was shocked to hear about the criminal charges.

EPIC is a center to help people with mental health and substance abuse.

“Kids go into a room by themselves with different people and you don’t know what’s going on because we’re not allowed in there,” the grandfather said.

Action News Jax obtained an internal email the company shared with its employees — which included information not shared with the public.

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In it, company leaders said Blanchard was fired before the allegations for “going off campus with a minor customer.”

They said a week later, a parent accused Blanchard of having an inappropriate relationship with a client.

EPIC CEO Nangela Pulsfus emailed a statement to Action News Jax saying, “We are shocked and appalled by the actions of our former employee. The behavior in question goes against our company’s values ​​and standards, and we do not tolerate such misconduct under any circumstances.”

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In the internal email, the company said it plans to add another dozen cameras, more training and will continue background screenings.

As for the grandfather I spoke to, he said, his grandson is forced to go here because he brought a pen to school. And he has no choice but to continue.

“It’s sad, said the grandfather. “The court makes you come here. You have no choice. So what do you do, you’re between a rock and a hard place, really.”

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EPIC said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement officials as they continue their investigation.

Blanchard is in jail on $267,000 bond.

Her next meeting with Duval County is set for Nov. 7. We are still waiting for the court records of St. Johns County.

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