In 2010, a Monterey County jury found Jon David Woody, a volunteer with the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, guilty on 20 counts of child sex abuse for molesting four young girls under his mentorship through the program.
Woody was sentenced to 226 years in prison, which he has since been serving at a state correctional facility in San Diego.
Now, one of the women whom Woody molested as a child has brought a lawsuit against Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the organization’s local chapter – alleging that they had reason to know of, failed to prevent and attempted to cover up Woody’s sexual abuse of her and other children he mentored as a Big Brother.
The lawsuit was filed Oct. 10 in Monterey County Superior Court on behalf of Jane Doe, an anonymous 30-year-old woman who was molested by Woody between 2000 and 2002 during her time in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monterey County program – now known as Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County, after a 2010 merger between the nonprofits’ local chapters.
The complaint’s charges against the defendants include infliction of emotional distress, negligence and sexual harassment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE REPUBLICAN VOICE
It specifically charges Woody, also named as a defendant, with sexual battery, gender violence, and two penal code violations related to sexual acts with a minor.
The plaintiff is seeking damages to be determined at a jury trial.
As a result of Woody’s abuse, Jane Doe has continued to suffer “psychological, mental and emotional distress,” including severe anxiety, depression, nightmares, trust and control issues, and “loss of enjoyment of life,” according to the suit.
The filing notes she has incurred expenses for psychiatric and medical care due to the abuse, and has also “been damaged in her employment,” leading to lost wages.
The complaint alleges that “there were ample warning signs, reports, and/or investigations about Woody’s unfitness” as a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor.
It claims the organizations had knowledge of prior misconduct while continuing to allow him to be alone with children, including in his home.
The filing describes the organizations’ actions as a “cover-up” under California law, alleging that they “engaged in conduct to conceal the sexually inappropriate behavior of Woody” and “did nothing to protect the plaintiff” or inform her parents of the risk she faced.
The lawsuit also cites data, including reports published by Big Brothers Big Sisters, detailing how the program “attracts child sexual abusers.”
One report by the American Bar Association found 304 reports of child sexual abuse in the organization’s programs from 1982-1991.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE REPUBLICAN VOICE
Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have both faced numerous lawsuits in recent decades from plaintiffs alleging they were sexually abused as children by mentors in the programs.
Attorneys for the plaintiff and representatives for both Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County did not return requests for comment.
source: montereycountynow.com/a-woman-who-was-sexually-abused-by-a-big-brothers-big-sisters-mentor-is-suing
