Brenda Pitre
December 11, 2009Irma Illum
December 22, 2009
In a new twist in the ongoing Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention Center sex scandal, the father of one of the female victims filed a lawsuit in Terrebonne Courthouse last month.
The scandal arose in April when a former inmate at the detention center, age 15, told Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s detectives that she had exchanged sex for snacks and special privileges with Angelo Vickers, a guard in the detention center. Eventually, three more victims accused guards of sexual misconduct and six more detention center employees were arrested. The victims’ ages ranged from 14 to 16.
The suit names Vickers, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, the Louisiana State Office of Juvenile Justice and the parish’s insurance company as defendants. The plaintiffs say there claim is worth more than $50,000 according to court documents. Therefore, by state law, the suit will be tried in front of a jury. The names of both the victim and her father were withheld in order to protect their identities.
“We filed damages based on federal statute. That’s unique because it carries with it not just damages. It also carries with it punitive damages,” said Felix Sternfels, the plaintiff’s Napoleonville-based attorney. As a result, the plaintiffs could be awarded additional money beyond physical and emotional damages as a way to punish the state.
“A secondary effect in a civil suit like this would be to have the system repair itself. In other words, once suits are filed and insurance companies get involved and the state gets involved, the stakes get pretty big. So they would, by nature, reform themselves,” said Sternfels.
As a civil action, lawsuits have a lower burden of proof and a higher chance of a positive outcome for the plaintiffs.
“We would have to prove more likely than not, that there’s better than a 50 percent chance, that she was assaulted or raped by Mr. Vickers,” said Sternfels. “Where as with a criminal suit, they’d have to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Both Jason Hutchinson, the director of the detention center, and Jerel Giarrusso, a spokeswoman for the Office of Juvenile Justice refused to comment.
According to a report from the Associated Press, the case is still under investigation by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the grand jury for the case is still in session. As a result, arrests may still be forthcoming.
Vickers, 47, was arrested in April and indicted in June on four counts each of molestation of a juvenile and sexual malfeasance. He is accused of exchanging sex with all four victims for extra snacks and phone privileges.
Vickers bond was set at $450,000. He remains in the Terrebonne Parish Jail in lieu of that amount, authorities said.
Then, in May, six additional detention center employees were arrested and charged in the incident.
John Gathen, 27, and Darrin Carter, 38, both of Houma, were charged with molestation of a juvenile and malfeasance in office. Gathen was not an employee of the detention center at the time of his arrest.
Chadwick Griffin, 35, of Thibodaux, was charged with malfeasance in office. He is accused of watching to inmates perform sexual acts on each other and watching in exchange for food privileges.
Darwin Brown, 24, of Thibodaux was charged with two counts of malfeasance in office, molestation of a juvenile and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Floyd Howard, 49, of Houma, was charged with molestation of a juvenile and sexual malfeasance. Howard was a supervisor at the time of the incidents.
Tiffany Blakemore, 35, of Houma was charged with obstruction of justice. She allegedly threatened one of the inmates and told her not to cooperate with the investigation.
According to Sternfels, he’s only seeking justice for his clients.
“Well, I think the case has a main purpose, which is to get recompense for the damages that have been done and for any future remedies to help these juveniles go forward in life,” said Sternfels.
ANGELO VICKERS Remains in Terrebonne jail in lieu of $450,000 bond
