The parental consent form Francis McClintock signed before sending her 15-year-old daughter to the Love Demonstrated Ministries Christian Boot Camp hinted there would be some tough love involved.

But authorities say the treatment McClintock's daughter received at the faith-based camp amounted to assault. When the girl couldn't keep up with other campers on a morning run, she was allegedly tied to a truck and dragged down a road.

The camp's director, Charles Flowers, and camp counselor Stephanie Bassitt were indicted Thursday by a Nueces County grand jury on second-degree felony assault charges, which carry sentences of two to 20 years in prison.

The charges stem from a June 12 incident that began when McClintock's daughter and the rest of the participants at the 32-day camp in Banquete, Texas, went on a morning run.

The girl fell behind, and Flowers told Bassitt, 21, to run alongside her, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Story continues

When the girl, who is not named in the affidavit, couldn't run anymore, she slowed to a walk. At that point, the girl says, Bassitt yelled at her and pinned her to the ground until Flowers, 47, who had been driving a van in front of the group, came over.

Flowers, a pastor and former Air Force instructor, tied a rope around the girl, attached it to the van and drove off, according to the affidavit. The girl fell several times and was dragged down the road on her stomach, suffering scratches and bruises.

Nueces County District Attorney Carlos Valdez said the actions of the director and counselor crossed the line of discipline into criminal activity.

"Tying someone up to a vehicle and dragging them beyond a road goes way beyond anything you could imagine going on, even at a boot camp," Valdez said. "Some people really believe that doing anything as long as it's in God's name is OK, but I think that's a really dangerous claim to make."

The consent form for the camp, which McClintock signed, makes parents aware that their children can be injured or killed in the attempt to instill discipline, respect and morality in their children.

"I realize that Christian Boot Camp is a strenous [sic] and highly intense program. I further realize that the possibility of accident, injury or even fatality to my child does exist," the consent form states.

Valdez said that many parents may have overlooked the consent form because of the camp's religious basis.

Camp counselor Stephanie Bassitt is accused of holding a girl down while the director tied her to a truck.

"Some parents would think that because this is a Christian boot camp, it is a good place where nothing would happen to their child and are more likely to sign something without reading it," he said.

And regardless, Valdez said, the consent form should not hinder prosecution of the two defendants.

"Parents can't agree to have their child assaulted or injured," he said. "You can't agree to have your child killed. The actions taken at this camp are criminal, with or without a consent form."

Faith-based camps have come under criticism in the media, especially since the release last year of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Jesus Camp," which is critical of evangelical summer camps as places that brainwash and mentally abuse children. Other criminal charges have been filed in relation to treatment in both faith- and non-faith-based boot camps in Florida, Georgia and several other states.

But for many of the families who send their kids to boot camps, the programs are essential for troubled teens. On Monday night, community members gathered in a packed church in San Antonio to rally behind the Flowers, Bassitt and the boot camp. Teenage graduates of the camp praised Flowers and the program for changing their lives and keeping them out of jail.

Despite the surge in support, Valdez said he plans to make a statement about abusive treatment with the prosecution of this case.

"I know people will defend what was done in this case, saying it was for the good of the child, and I'm the first one to tell you I believe in discipline," he said. "But at a certain point it's crossing the line, and here it did cross that line. If you are going to run these camps and try to discipline kids, you need to watch that line."

Both Flowers and Bassitt posted $100,000 bond and were released from jail. Calls to Flowers and Love Demonstrated Ministries were not returned.