Snohomish County sued again over alleged sexual abuse at Denney juvenile jails

Published 11:45 am Monday, July 13, 2026

EVERETT — A new lawsuit alleges Snohomish County’s policies and procedural failures are responsible for decades of sexual abuse against incarcerated minors by staff at the county’s juvenile detention facilities.

The complaint was filed on behalf of nine former detainees who report being abused at the juvenile justice center dating back to the 1980s and as recently as 2012, according to documents filed in King County Superior Court on July 7.

The lawsuit brought by Seattle-based law firm Hagens Berman claims the county’s failures to take action at the Denney Juvenile Justice Center and its predecessor, the Denney Youth Center, amount to negligence.

“At all times, Snohomish County was fully aware of the danger that sexual abuse by staff posed to the children in its care,” a portion of the 24-page complaint said. “Nevertheless, Snohomish County failed to implement a variety of popular and statutorily mandated policies and procedures that would have protected these children from such abuse and a lifetime of subsequent pain.”

The nine victims allege incidents of sexual abuse in their cells, showers and during strip searches, by guards, according to the lawsuit. One teen alleged she was raped in her cell at least ten times, court documents said.

The youngest victim was just 12-year-old at the time of the reported abuse, the lawsuit said.

Bridget Casey, Snohomish County’s chief civil deputy prosecuting attorney, said the county does not comment on pending litigations.

“The county is reviewing the complaint and will respond in court,” Casey told The Daily Herald.

Lawyers for the victims described “ongoing institutional failures,” including claims that the county employed sexual predators in roles of power over vunerable children.

“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 lawsuit said.

The lawsuit contends Snohomish County is legally responsible for negligence, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Attorneys are asking for a jury trial to award damages and any additional appropriate relief, according to documents filed in the case.

“Due to the County’s negligence in allowing this culture of sexual abuse to flourish and in failing to protect the children in its custody from harm, Plaintiffs suffered physical, emotional, and psychological trauma, leading to significant anguish and distress that they will live with for the rest of their live,” according to the lawsuit

This is at least the third lawsuit filed over the last calendar year against Snohomish County in connection to the juvenile detention facilities.

A similar federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight formerly incarcerated minors alleging systemic sexual abuse, rape and degradation in November, The Daily Herald previously reported. A trial in this case is set for February of 2027, court documents said.

A second lawsuit was filed in February on behalf of a former employee who claims she faced discrimination and retaliation for reporting sexual harassment involving minor detainees at the center.

Ian Davis-Leonard: 425-339-3097; ian.davis-leonard@heraldnet.com