SNOHOMISH COUNTY—A former detention officer, represented by Seattle-based law firm Hagens Berman, has filed a lawsuit against Snohomish County, accusing it of discrimination and retaliation after she reported sexual harassment at Denney Juvenile Justice Center.
This is the second complaint brought forward against the county in the last three months. The first lawsuit, also brought forward by the Hagens Berman law group, included eight plaintiffs (who were all minors at the time of the alleged incidents) alleging they experienced sexual abuse including rape, forced oral sex, groping, and other forms of sexual assault, often perpetrated in isolated areas such as cells, showers, or “blind spots” without surveillance.
In the most recent lawsuit, which was filed last week On February 5, Plaintiff Kourtney Oehlerich argues that she witnessed several incidents of sexual abuse against detained minors by her colleague James Jordan. When she reported these incidents, the lawsuit states, Jordan responded through a series of retaliatory acts directed at her including verbal harassment, bullying and creation of a “severe and pervasive hostile work environment.”
Attorneys representing Oehlerich are arguing that Snohomish County failed to take adequate steps to prevent, discourage, or correct this harassment, and in some instances even “responded with dismissive, minimalizing, or retaliatory conduct”, the lawsuit states.
“We believe the county punished and attempted to silence our client for acting in accordance with her lawful duties as a mandatory reporter,” said Jacob Berman, Hagens Berman’s attorney representing the plaintiff.
The lawsuit lists a series of retaliatory acts; frequent, unsolicited and inappropriate comments; threats of explicit violence and more.
Oehlerich said she was also put “under investigation” when she allegedly reported more than 20 incidents of sexual abuse against detained children and, soon after, was terminated from her position.
Under Washington’s Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60) it is illegal to sexually harass, intimidate, or otherwise mistreat a fellow employee because of her sex. This includes making direct or indirect comments about a female employee’s physical appearance or engaging in any behavior that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on sex.
The WLAD also prohibits employers from retaliating against or terminating an employee who reports harassment or discrimination in the workplace.
Oehlerich began working at Denney Juvenile Justice Center in December of 2024. Since her start date, she alleges she was sexually harassed by JDO James Jordon, in addition to Denney staff and supervisors. She also alleges she witnessed sexual abuse between Jordon and underage detainees including having conversations that were sexual in nature and exchanging gifts.
Oehlerich and Jordan were responsible for supervising and caring for detained minors, which included maintaining safety and order, overseeing daily routines, and ensuring compliance with facility rules and policies. Their duties extended to housing-unit time, meals, recreation, and movement within the facility, during which they were expected to intervene, guide, and redirect behavior in a professional manner.
Through their fulfillment of these duties, Oehlerich said she witnessed Jordan act inappropriately towards the detained minors, including providing gifts to the youths from outside of the facility, inappropriate physical contact, physical closeness, and conversations of a sexual nature. He also routinely displayed inappropriate physical closeness with female detainees, including sitting unnecessarily close to the female minor detainees, according to the lawsuit.
Oehlerich also observed, more than once, JDO Jordan speaking with male youths about underage sex, their ability to get women pregnant, how drugs can lower sperm count, and suggested that some of the underage female detainees had “dirty genitalia” and that they should not engage in underage sex with them.
When Oehlerich confronted Jordan about his behavior, he became retaliatory and abusive, she said. Court documents describe Jordan would “sexually harass” Oehlerich and encourage detainees to do the same, would not return her radio and keys after his shift thus compromising her ability to do her job, and waited for her by her vehicle after work in attempt to “intimidate her.”
Oehlerich brought the abuse forward to Denney staff but said the Juvenile Center did not address the issues, nor prevent Jordan from being left alone with detainees without supervision.
Oehlerich also encountered persistent, ongoing, abuse from underage detainees, including sexual and verbal abuse (with some even threatening to kill her and her family). In one instance she was sexually assaulted by an underage male detainee who had intentionally flooded his room.
In September, 2025, Oehlerich received a letter from her supervisors saying she was under investigation but the letter did not explain why.
Despite Denney’s policy, the Fair Reporting and Prison Rape Elimination Act, and her duties as a mandatory reporter, when Oehlerich stepped forward with this information she was “retaliated” against by staff members and subsequently terminated on October 8, 2025, court documents state.
The lawsuit is arguing Oehlerich was subject to discrimination based on her sex or gender, and experienced unlawful retaliation.
“As a direct and proximate result of the conduct of Defendant Snohomish County and its employees/agents, Plaintiff has sustained injuries and damages, both past and future, for pain and suffering, emotional distress, anxiety, adverse and/or debilitating physical symptoms and conditions, loss of enjoyment of quality of life, loss of earnings, diminished earning capacity, medical and psychological treatment expenses, and other damages in an amount to be proven at trial,” the lawsuit says.
Oehlerich is now demanding a jury trial.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
