Child-abuse and witness-tampering charges against Challenger, dismissed earlier this year, are being re-examined by the Garfield County sheriff's office.

The misdemeanor child-abuse charge, originally filed in June 1989, alleged that Challenger counselors abused Stephanie Hook by dragging her through the desert when she refused to hike. Challenger was also charged with felony witness-tampering after flying Jon McMahon from the state during the investigation.Garfield County Attorney Wallace Lee dismissed the charges without prejudice last spring after deciding prosecution would be too costly. The witnesses were all former Challenger students and were "scattered all over the country," Lee explained.

However, following the June 27 death of a girl hiking in the Challenger program in Kane County, new witnesses, including former Challenger employees, have been located and interviewed by the Kane County sheriff's office.

"There is a possibility that we will re-open these child abuse charges," Lee said.

Hook has filed a federal lawsuit against Challenger.

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Challenger Foundation President Stephen Cartisano said the allegations are without merit.

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