Nine More Survivors Provide Notice of Sexual Abuse Claims Against Clark County Juvenile Justice Center
On May 21, 2026, nine additional survivors notified Clark County of their intent to file lawsuits alleging they were sexually abused as children while in county custody at the Clark County Juvenile Justice Center.
The new claimants, all now adults, join eight survivors who filed a lawsuit against Clark County in February over alleged sexual abuse at the same facility. All 17 survivors are represented by Scott Edwards, Sara Schirato and Ben Melnick of Schauermann Thayer in Vancouver.
According to the notices, the nine new claimants allege Clark County employees sexually abused them while they were incarcerated at the Clark County Juvenile Justice Center between 1990 and 2014. Each claimant was between 12 and 17 years old at the time.
The allegations describe repeated sexual abuse by guards and other county employees, including forced sexual acts, exposure to pornography, forced nudity, sexual touching and assaults in secluded areas of the facility, including closets, showers and children’s cells. Some claimants allege guards used threats to force compliance and silence, including threats of longer sentences, loss of family visitation and physical harm. Others allege guards rewarded silence with cigarettes, candy, extra food and special privileges.
Several guards were identified by name or description. Denton Sackett, known as “Gunny,” Jim Castleberry and Vanessa Wood were also named in the lawsuit filed in February. Officer William “Bill” Blue was also identified as an alleged abuser.
The claimants allege Clark County failed to protect children in its custody, allowed a culture of abuse to continue, failed to create meaningful reporting systems and failed to act when abuse was reported. According to the notices, survivors told other guards about the abuse, but the county “didn’t seem to care and nothing was ever done.”
The claimants allege they suffered physical, emotional and psychological trauma, including mental anguish, emotional distress, pain, suffering, disability, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of society and companionship.
“After filing the lawsuit in February, we began receiving calls from others who were raped and sexually assaulted while children at the Juvenile Justice Center,” said Scott Edwards, attorney for the survivors. “The patterns of sexual abuse echoed the voices of those survivors we already represented, and we hope to bring justice for these survivors as well. This type of behavior has no place in our community. It must stop.”
Under Washington law, those who provide notice must wait at least 60 days to allow the county to respond before filing a lawsuit.
Survivors interested in pursuing legal action may contact Schauermann Thayer at 360-695-4244.
