A San Bernardino County jury has delivered a record-breaking $33 million verdict in a case highlighting the devastating consequences of failing to report child neglect. The jury found that multiple deputy sheriffs and a welfare fraud investigator were negligent in their duty to report the neglect of a young boy, ultimately leading to his sexual abuse over a period of years by a fellow deputy sheriff.
This groundbreaking decision, believed to be the largest reported verdict for failure to report child neglect by mandated reporters, underscores the critical importance of these laws in safeguarding children. The case revolves around a young boy who, between the ages of 13 and 14, was caught by Deputy Jeremie Cox throwing things at an abandoned house with his friends. Cox initially instructed the children to fix the damage, but soon began befriending the boy. Over the next year and a half, Cox witnessed the boy’s neglectful home environment, with his mother leaving him for extended periods and failing to provide proper food.
In 2014, the boy brought methamphetamine sent to his mother in the mail to Cox. Cox, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, took the drugs to the Sheriff’s Department and tested them. The boy, scared and overwhelmed, ran away from home. His mother called the Sheriff’s Department to report him missing, and Cox, who had located the boy in his own backyard after he wandered through the desert, considered filing a child neglect report. However, he ultimately chose not to, fearing the boy would be placed in foster care. Instead, he communicated directly with the boy’s mother and arranged for him to move into his home.
Tragically, this decision led to a horrific turn of events. Once the boy moved in with Cox, he was subjected to sexual abuse for three years. During this time, Cox routinely involved the boy in his Sheriff’s Department work, bringing him to the courthouse and allowing him to participate in ride-alongs with other deputies. The boy eventually reported his mother to the County’s welfare fraud investigation unit because, despite receiving welfare benefits to provide for him, she had not done so for the three years he lived with Cox.
None of the deputy sheriffs, including Cox, or the welfare fraud investigator reported the boy’s neglect. The mother was subsequently charged, convicted, and jailed for welfare fraud. When the boy was 21 years old, he finally found the courage to report the sexual abuse to law enforcement. Cox was arrested while on duty and later sentenced to prison.
The civil trial, titled John Doe v. County of San Bernardino, lasted four weeks and concluded with the jury’s historic verdict. The abused boy, represented by California child abuse lawyer Chris Keane, persevered through his agoraphobia and PTSD to testify about his abuse, ultimately achieving justice. Keane’s extensive experience in child abuse and neglect reporting cases, combined with the boy’s courage, proved pivotal in the trial’s success.
This landmark case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of failing to protect children and the importance of mandatory reporting laws. It highlights the courage of survivors who come forward and the crucial role of dedicated legal professionals in ensuring justice is served.
