EVERETT—Hagens Berman attorneys filed a new lawsuit earlier this month against Snohomish County alleging sexual abuse of incarcerated minors at Denney Youth Center and Denney Juvenile Justice Center.
The new filing details ongoing abuse, disclosed by nine new plaintiffs stating that: “Rather than protect these children and teenagers, Snohomish County sustained a culture of abuse through a variety of harmful practices that harmed the child inmates.”
The complaint continues to include invasive and sexualized strip and/or cavity searches, and the county’s refusal to take any action to protect the children following their reports of abuse.
Seattle-based Hagens Berman now represents 21 formerly incarcerated youth in the lawsuit, in addition to a tandem lawsuit brought against the facilities on behalf of employees who were retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment.
“The accounts of our clients are truly heartbreaking, and we are fighting to uphold their rights to justice and recourse in light of these shocking practices right here in Snohomish County,” said Jacob Berman, attorney representing minor plaintiffs in the case. “Our case against the county is growing, and we look forward to holding accountable those responsible for this ongoing and pervasive pattern of behavior.”
New Plaintiffs Step Forward
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on July 7, 2026, against Snohomish County, who owns and operates the youth detention facilities, and up to 20 unnamed individuals also alleged to be responsible. Plaintiffs bringing the new complaint range in age as young as 12 and experienced “painful and humiliating” abuse, court documents state.
Documented abuse in the lawsuit includes repeated assault, highly inappropriate sexual conduct, groping and other forced sexual acts. One plaintiff was incarcerated at Denney for only one night, during which he was forced to perform sexual acts on a male guard, according to the lawsuit.
“We commend the bravery of these plaintiffs stepping forward to share the darkest moments under the custody of Snohomish County,” Berman said. “Our firm will protect their anonymity and identities as we bring these claims forward to put an end to this abuse.”
The complaint alleges Snohomish County’s policies, practices and procedures effectively enabled the pervasive and empowered nature of the abuse.
“The County did not create or operate any legitimate or safe procedures for the children in its care to report sexual abuse and misconduct,” the 24-page lawsuit states. “It offered Plaintiffs no assurance that reporting would not result in retaliation, which staff commonly threatened.”
According to the lawsuit, abuse at Denney Youth Center and Denney Juvenile Justice Center amounted to repeated instances, not stemming from one-off incidents or random acts.
“Not only did Snohomish County fail to protect these children under its care, but the county’s very policies, practices and customs placed our clients and other detained youth at greater risk of sexual assault,” Berman said. “We believe the county has been negligent and actively harmful to these children.”
The lawsuit brings claims against Snohomish County including violations of state negligence laws and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In addition, the lawsuit claims Snohomish County violated federal law, including Monell claims which pertain to maintaining and implementing unconstitutional policies, practices and/or customs of sexually assaulting and harassing inmates, failing to screen or train staff members, understaffing and many other failures affecting safety and human rights.
The new lawsuit filing brings the tally up to three
This is the third lawsuit brought forward by Hagens Berman against Snohomish County alleging sexual abuse at Denney Juvenile Detention Center. With this new lawsuit the number of plaintiffs has now increased to 29.
The first was filed on November 6, 2025, and included 20 unnamed individuals alleging widespread sexual abuse by staff at two juvenile facilities—Denney Youth Center and the Denney Juvenile Justice Center in Everett over the span of two decades.
The second lawsuit, filed on February 9, 2026, involved a former detention officer alleging harassment and retaliation after she stepped forward to report sexual abuse at Denney Juvenile Detention Center.
The lawsuit listed a series of retaliatory acts; frequent, unsolicited and inappropriate comments; threats of explicit violence and more.
The former detention officer acting as plaintiff – represented by Hagens Berman – is Kourtney Oehlerich argued that, after reporting alleged sexual abuse, she was met with a series of retaliatory acts directed at her including verbal harassment, bullying and creation of a “severe and pervasive hostile work environment.”
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.
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.
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm’s determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of “Most Feared Plaintiff’s Firm,” MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
