By Julie Cart
Times Staff Writer

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Department of Economic Security on Tuesday announced it would temporarily extend the operating license of the Arizona Boys Ranch pending the completion of at least two inquiries into the March 2 death there of a 16-year-old Sacramento boy, as well as investigations of new child abuse allegations.

The ranch's license to operate expired Tuesday, but the department said there wasn't sufficient time to sift through reports compiled by various agencies since the death of Nicholaus Contreraz, who collapsed during punitive physical exercise.

The license for the ranch has previously been place on provisional status three times because of abuse claims.

The volume of new abuse claims has bogged down investigators, according to DES Assistant Director James A. Hart.

Hart said there have been between 20 and 25 claims of child abuse lodged against the ranch since Nicholaus's death.

Joe Estrada, director of juvenile placement for the Los Angeles County Probation Department, said his department has filed 55 abuse claims against the ranch since March 2.

The paramilitary-style camp draws the majority of its population from California juvenile offenders

License Extension for Arizona Boys Ranch It's not my faultInterview with nurse Linda Babb Members of Congress request investigation by GAO US Department of Justice opens probe DES interoffice memo The death of Aaron Bacon:Different program ~ similar scenario ~ goddam kids are liars, manipulators and fakers California cuts funding to Arizona Boys Ranch California investigation rips Arizona child protection agency Report excerptsCalifornia blasts Arizona agency California report summary California Department of Social Services news release July 7, 1998 Directive to all California county probation officers and social service departmentsJuly 7, 1998 Letter to Arizona regulatorsJune 19, 1998 Who's guarding the kids from the guards? One hundred twenty days Arizona Boys Ranch Operating Permit extended Sheriff's initial incident report Prosecutor's reviewing evidence Case may be too big for Pinal County prosecutors History of abuse known by state Time to keep the kids in California Nurse wants her name cleared in death of NicholausOne dead kid isn't enough??? Justice for Nicholaus Additional RadViews sites: Memo to GroverSix-year-old murder victim's justice plea bargained away Dead kids don't make campaign contributions.Where's the justice for these victims??? Blind and Equal Justice? Commentary on Criminal Justice