HOUSTON – The parents of a teenage girl are suing Harris County and the Juvenile Probation Department over allegations that a corrections officer molested the girl while she was in the downtown detention center.
The suit claims the county lacked proper procedures and protocols to prevent this situation from occurring.
Last October, former juvenile corrections officer Robert Robinson was arrested and accused of trading candy in exchange for sexual favors with the 15-year-old while she was locked up in the detention center.
Investigators said Robinson would visit the teen's cell after lights out. Detectives said officials learned of the activities from Robinson's personal journal. Detectives said surveillance video from the detention center backed up the girl's claims.
Attorneys for the girl's family argue that Robinson was assigned to the "boy's" unit and should never have been allowed in the "girl's" unit of the detention center. The lawsuit claims had proper procedures and supervision been in place at the detention center, then this incident would not have happened.
The lawsuit further argues that Robinson was allowed to visit the girl's cell on several occasions and "groom" her for sexual contact.
A statement from the County Attorney's Office to Local 2 reads, "The Office of the County Attorney received a copy of the lawsuit today. We are reviewing the allegations and will respond to them."