According to a lawsuit obtained by The Daily Mail, Alexa Curtin claims the deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department sexually assaulted her in April, 2014 when she was 21-year-old.
Curtin - who has waived her right to anonymity to encourage any other alleged victims of the police officer to come forward - claims she was pulled over shortly after leaving her boyfriend’s house in Dana Point, California.
The lawsuit states one of the deputies approached 23-year-old Curtin’s car and began questioning her.
It states: ‘The Deputy searched Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff had some of her clothing in her vehicle. While searching...the Deputy found some of Plaintiff’s underwear and began inappropriately questioning Plaintiff about her underwear, asking if the underwear belonged to her, how many pairs she had, why she needed the underwear, etc.’
The lawsuit states that the Deputy then had to leave to tend to ‘another more pressing matter’, but told Curtin she wasn’t free to leave and ordered her to remain in her vehicle.
Twenty minutes later the same deputy who had conducted the earlier traffic stop returned but in his personal vehicle and out of uniform.
The officer then got into the car and sat in the passenger seat next to Curtin.
The lawsuit states: ‘The Deputy began issuing orders to Plaintiff. Based on information and belief the Deputy said, “Since you are still here, I am going to f**k the s**t out of you.”
‘Based on information and belief, the Deputy stated to Plaintiff, “Show me your p***y”.
The suit says Curtin was ‘afraid and feared for her own safety, and she complied with all of the Deputy’s commands.’
It added: ‘Then the Deputy groped Plaintiff’s vagina and digitally penetrated her while commenting on her anatomy.’
The suit says that the officer then pulled his pants down and ordered Curtin to straddle him while he was sat in the passenger seat.
Curtin complied because, she ‘was still in fear for her safety and knew that many in law enforcement carry guns’.
It added: ‘While in this position, the Deputy had nonconsensual sexual intercourse with Plaintiff.’
The deputy then pulled his pants up and asked Curtin for her cell phone number so he could text her again.
Still afraid Curtin gave him a wrong number.
The suit stated: ‘Plaintiff was violated, traumatized, emotionally drained, in shock, and fearing for her own safety. Specifically, Plaintiff feared that given the Deputy’s position, he would find her and harm her again.’
It added: ‘Due to the Defendants atrocious actions, Plaintiff has suffered physical and emotional injuries. Plaintiff’s injuries continue.’
Curtin is suing both the Sheriff's Deputy and Orange County Sheriffs Department asking for substantial damages.
Curtin’s lawyer Jeremy Jass confirmed his client is suing and that she was comfortable being named despite being a victim of rape.
"We talked about her name coming out because she is somewhat of a public figure and she is comfortable with that.," said Cutin's lawyer
"Sex abuse cases are notorious for being unreported or under reported because they are about sensitive issues that people don't want to live through but she has done nothing to be ashamed of and I don't think she should have to shy away from that."
"Maybe because she is a public figure it will bring other victims forward who may not have otherwise come forward."
"We have reason to believe the perpetrator in Alexis's case may have had multiple victims so we hope we can stop this happening again. Hopefully the truth will come out and justice will be achieved."
He added that his client did not report the incident to police at the time because she was afraid of repercussions.
"Alexa didn't make a police report because she was concerned that she would suffer some retaliation from the department," said Jass.
"She was afraid that the perpetrator would find out about the complaint and he could find out where she lived or what kind of car she drives and the license plate. She figured she wouldn't be too hard to track down."
Lieutenant Mark Stichter of Orange County Sheriffs Department gave a brief statement to The Daily Mail.
"We are aware of the service of the lawsuit. Out position, per recommendation from county council attorneys is that we do not comment on pending litigation."
Source/Photo Credit: The Daily Mail
