An attorney representing over 200 women has stated that the federal government should investigate long-standing allegations of sexual abuse at a juvenile boot camp operated by the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
This request follows Los Angeles County’s decision to pay $4 billion to settle around 7,000 sexual abuse claims at juvenile facilities dating back to 1959, marking the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.
The lawyer, whose client was not included in the settlement, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayley, describing the settlement as inadequate because it lacks details about the individuals involved or accountable for the abuses.
They are urging the Department of Justice to launch an investigation.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment.
The clients in question range from ages 12 to 17 and were sent to specialized camps for “at-risk youths” who committed lesser crimes, apart from juvenile hall. Interestingly, some parents were even charged fees for these programs, as mentioned by the lawyer.
At a press conference, attorney John Manley compared the camp to an island associated with Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting Camp Joseph Scott in Santa Clarita as particularly notorious. Santa Clarita’s officials note that this camp, which was home to a capacity of 125 girls, was shut down during the pandemic.
“The heartbreaking reality is that these camps became hubs of sexual predation, and LA County probation officers who were supposed to help these kids ended up exploiting them,” stated the lawyer.
His colleague, Courtney Tom, mentioned allegations against former deputy probation officer Thomas Jackson, who faces accusations of sexual assault from at least 30 women during his tenure. Civil lawsuits connected to these allegations are set for trial in August.
According to Tom, one victim shared that Jackson continued to abuse her even after she was released to her grandmother, maintaining contact and tormenting her throughout her life.
In contrast, Jackson’s attorney Tom Yu asserted that his client is innocent of the allegations, claiming that plaintiffs are motivated by the settlement money, which taxpayers provided. He criticized the county for distancing itself from its staff.
In December 2023, the county referred Jackson’s case to prosecutors for investigation, but a memo indicated that the alleged events were too old to pursue prosecutorial actions.
Jackson resigned in 2023, after decades in the county, and is now receiving pension benefits, according to Tom.
“No current or former LA County probation officials have faced charges or arrests,” Tom remarked. “Without a thorough investigation, can we really ensure this won’t happen again?”
The county advisory office released a statement acknowledging its commitment to collaborating with authorities to hold offenders accountable but pointed out that many records are no longer accessible. “The allegations of childhood sexual abuse stretch back decades,” the statement noted, adding that plaintiffs’ attorneys have not provided sufficient evidence to identify most perpetrators.
Despite this, the county affirmed its commitment to pursuing legal actions against individuals who commit crimes against minors.
The plaintiffs involved in the $4 billion settlement are leveraging a California law enacted in 2020 that allows victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits without restrictions for three years.
Manley and Tom have represented plaintiffs in several high-profile sexual abuse cases, including those against U.S. gymnastics and Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University sports doctor.
The recent letter called for an investigation into whether the county concealed ongoing abuse allegations at juvenile facilities when the Department of Justice investigated in 2006 and established federal oversight in 2008.
