Woman in sex scandal sues East Bay officials
The sexually exploited young woman at the center of a scandal involving multiple Bay Area law enforcement officers filed a lawsuit against Contra Costa County sheriff ’s officials, alleging a former deputy was engaged in an illegal “quid pro quo” sexual relationship with her.
The woman, who prefers to go by the name Jasmine and previously used the pseudonym Celeste Guap, alleges police in Oakland, Livermore, San Francisco, and sheriff ’s deputies in Alameda County have also abused her.
The scandal became public in 2015 after Oakland Police Officer Brendan O’Brien committed suicide and left a note detailing his and other officers’ relationship with Jasmine, the daughter of an Oakland police dispatcher who was sexually exploited as a teen.
The Contra Costa County suit — filed Thursday night in federal court in San Francisco and announced by Jasmine’s attorney Friday — marks the third suit the woman has filed in relation to the scandal. The new lawsuit names Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston and former Deputy Sheriff Ricardo Perez as defendants.
She filed a similar lawsuit last week against the Richmond Police Department, naming Chief Allywn Brown, former Chief Chris Magnus, internal affairs supervisor Lt. Brian Dickerson and five officers as defendants. In May, the city of Oakland awarded Jasmine $989,000 to settle a case against their officers.
“The widespread nature of it makes it horrible to consider that law enforcement, police officers from six departments, so blatantly (could) violate their oath,” said Oakland attorney John Burris, who is representing Jasmine. “It raises questions.”
Burris said Jasmine’s 20th birthday was Friday, and that “she’s in a pretty good space.”
The suit says Perez had sex with the girl multiple times when she was 17, and that she had told Perez she was underage.
“When Plaintiff told Defendant Perez in January 2016 that she had been 17 at the time they had sex, his attitude was like, ‘whatever,’ ” the suit states.
“This conduct with this officer is so despicable,” Burris said. “Not only did he know ... but he continued to do it. And sought photographs,” Burris said. “He should be prosecuted.”
Perez has been charged with multiple sex crimes in connection with the case.
Livingston said Friday that the lawsuit has not yet been served, but he added, “We cannot let Mr. Burris’ hasty press conference go unanswered.”
“This case involves the off-duty conduct of one former deputy sheriff who resigned in lieu of termination when the allegations came to light. Additionally, he was fully trained on his requirement to report suspected child abuse and certified so in training documents,” Livingston said in a statement. “He is now properly facing criminal charges and we will vigorously defend this lawsuit.”
The suit alleges Perez sent several photos of his penis to Jasmine between July 2015 and April 2016 and that she sent back nude photos of herself. Perez shared her photos with other members of the sheriff ’s department and may have sent her sexually explicit pictures while on duty, according to the suit.
“Defendant Perez was informed by Plaintiff, and knew or should have known that the illegal sexual relationship was one of a ‘Quid Pro Quo’ for minor Plaintiff ’s protection from the police as a sex trafficked child,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff informed Defendant Perez, she was having illegal sex as a minor with other police officers.”
The suit says Livingston, as chief, bore the responsibility for hiring, training and supervising Perez, yet failed to ensure he was versed in California laws on child abuse and child sex trafficking.
The victim is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. Burris said they are considering filing suits against the Livermore and San Francisco police departments and the Alameda County Sheriff ’s Office, but have not made a final decision.