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NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — More John Does have filed lawsuits against the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, bringing the total number of inmates alleging abuse up to eight.
A slew of allegations have been made against juvenile corrections staffers and two female staff members have been criminally charged for accusations of having sex with male inmates. Department administrators also face accusations of negligence.
The first lawsuit settled for $450,000 last year. A second lawsuit was filed on behalf of five inmates and a third, the most recent, is filed on behalf of two inmates.
Seven plaintiffs are still awaiting trial and are represented by Nampa defense attorney Bruce Skaug, of Skaug Law Office. Skaug said eventually the cases will be combined for trial.
More inmates have made allegations but did not file tort claims or lawsuits.
The latest complaint filed in Ada County accuses former Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections nurse Valerie Lieteau of abusing boys at the corrections center in Nampa, The Idaho Press-Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/2bmMSUK). According to the complaint, Lieteau had sexual encounters with both boys in 2010 when they were in custody.
Lieteau pleaded guilty in March to aggravated assault in connection to abuse at the center, but a judge rejected her plea agreement and she has since withdrawn it. She is now scheduled to go to trial on sex crime charges.
Another former employee, Julie McCormick, has also been sentenced in connection to the allegations.
The latest complaint accuses Department of Juvenile Corrections officials of failing to supervise Lieteau and any other employees involved in the alleged abuse.
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Information from: Idaho Press-Tribune, http://www.idahopress.com
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