A lawsuit filed Friday in Benton County Circuit Court alleges the Monroe fire department negligently allowed a volunteer to sexually assault a minor participating in its junior firefighter program.
The lawsuit seeks $3.5 million in damages from the Monroe Rural Fire Protection District, claiming it failed to properly train and supervise the volunteer in charge of the junior firefighter program, allowing the volunteer to groom a minor female over time and eventually sexually assault her a number of times.
The lawsuit also alleges Monroe fire officials failed to adequately investigate and notify law enforcement when given information about the alleged abuse.
A claim filed by the plaintiff's attorney, the Portland-area law firm Crew Janci LLP, said the volunteer was put in a position of authority over the participants in the junior firefighter program.