A Child Rape Victim Filed Lawsuit Against County Office of Children and Youth Caseworkers Seeking $10 million / Sexual Abuse Lawyer Philadelphia

Sexual Abuse Lawyer Philadelphia: We all have heard stories of foster parents sexually abusing and neglecting their foster kids. It is even more shocking to hear a story of a foster child sexually assaulting and raping his foster parents' son!

The story of J.O., a 14-year-old foster child and a rapist, is quite disturbing. J.O. was 14-year-old when his father and soon-to-be stepmother turned him over to government care because they could no longer control him. J.O. had previously sexually offended two girls and talked of shooting and stabbing people. Alarmed by his violent sexual propensities, the parents told the government agency they feared that their son would be the "next Jeffrey Dahmer," a serial rapist who ate his victims.

After J.O. was released from the sexual offender treatment program at Harborcreek Youth Services, he was in the custody of Erie County Office of Children and Youth, who were entrusted with finding him a foster home. Cindy Baxter, who worked for OCY at that time, paired him with experienced foster parents willing to take any child, but a severe sex offender. They were never told about J.O.'s disturbing past and his violent sexual propensities. She did advise the family, however, to rig his door with alarms!

At the time J.O. was placed in the home, the foster parents had a 9-year-old adopted son. J.O. started sexually assaulting the 9-year-old, raped him on multiple occasions and threatened to injure him if the boy reported the sexual assault. The 9-year-old rape victim finally got the courage to report the child molestation in August 2001.

Today the child rape victim is 20 years old. He filed a civil rights lawsuit against the OCY workers who placed J.O. into his parents' house claiming that their placement of J.O. in his parents' home caused him to be raped and violated his civil rights. The lawsuit alleges that the foster care workers knew J.O. had a lengthy history of sexual aggression and was at risk to reoffend, but they placed the boy in the home with no warning about his past. The lawsuit alleges that the placement of the teen violated the family's written request that no juvenile sexual offender or "fire-setter" be placed in their home. It also violated OCY policy that required workers to inform a foster family about a foster child's background, the lawsuit claims. The child rape victim is seeking $10 million in damages.

Child rape victims suffer serious physical and psychological injuries. The abuse may exacerbate their already existing psychological problems. Many victims of sexual assault and rape also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and require multiple medications for their mental conditions. Rape victims have a right to file a civil lawsuit against all the responsible parties. In a foster care setting, the agency placing a child in a foster home may be responsible for the sexual assault and abuse if it breached its duty to screen foster parents and foster children, supervise and monitor the placement of the foster child and his/her life in a new foster home. Even though no monetary award can erase the painful memory of rape, financial compensation may help pay for the rape victim's medical treatment and therapy. The Lassen Law Firm is dedicated to helping rape victims recover the money damages to which they are entitled under the law. We are a team of aggressive civil rights litigation attorneys who will fight hard for your right to be compensated for the pain and suffering. Please call the Lassen Law Firm for your free, confidential consultation on your civil rights. Let the Lassen Law Firm help you start your way to recovery and justice.

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Authored by: Christian Lassen