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Brownwood and Boy Scouts may face sexual assault lawsuit
More Big Country The Boy Scouts of America could be named as defendants in a lawsuit along with the City of Brownwood, Police Chief Virgil Cowin and former Sgt. Vince Ariaz, who was convicted in May for repeated sexual assault of a teenage member of the Police Explorers program.
Ariaz, 54, is now serving three concurrent 20-year prison terms after pleading guilty May 27 to two counts of sexual assault of a child involving a 15-year-old female member of the Police Explorers Post 1150, which is an organization chartered by the Texas Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
In the letter, Austin attorney Scott Ozmun, who is representing the 15-year-old female victim and her family, recommends the Boy Scouts of America settle out of court for $1 million in damages, to avoid further litigation. The letter was dated Sept. 26 and obtained through an open records request by the Reporter-News.
So far, the city has attempted to settle the out of court through mediation, but Brownwood City Attorney Pat Chesser said today he expects a lawsuit to be filed within the next week to all of the defendants named by Ozmun. The city has retained legal counsel from attorney Jon Mark Hogg of the Texas Municipal League.
Posted by abilene1 on October 15, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is going on in Brownwood? It seems like every week a new story appears of sexual abuse by a person in authority.
Posted by wild_bill on October 15, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is more evidence of our "victim-centered" culture. If someone has something bad happen to them, then somebody else needs to get out the checkbook. How is this any different than extortion? Just because they have a lawyer doing it, why is this even legal?
The man who did the horrible deed is in prison. The city didn't approve of what he did, nor did the Police Department or anyone else in authority. From what I remember of the case, as soon as the problem became known actions were taken to safe-guard the public. But the victim and her family want $1 million to make the lawsuit "go away".
Posted by donny on October 15, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the police can not keep their word on keeping even children safe in police vehicles they need to be sued.
Posted by blahblah on October 15, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with donny on this one. Isn't that what the police are for? Safety and Protection?
And before officerx gets on here and slams me...I am not talking about every police officer...just this sicko!
Posted by wild_bill on October 15, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was not "the police". It was one rotten pervert in a police uniform who violated his oath of office, the law and the young lady. The police loath these sick individuals every bit as much as any of you do.
What donny seems to suggest comes across to me like blaming all blacks for a few drug using criminals or all hispanics for a few illegal aliens or all priests for a few perverts among their flock. BSA and Brownwood PD did not support or hide this puke, they first threw him out, then they tried him and finally put him in jail. Don't blame the organization for the individual's sins. Darn sure don't try to soak the tax payers because one guy was bad.
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