Third Lawsuit Filed Against County of Plumas Alleging Systemic Failures in Addressing Sexual Assault by Former Correctional Officer

SACRAMENTO, CA – January 20, 2025 – A new lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California by a plaintiff identified as “N.P. Doe” against the County of Plumas and former correctional officer Brandon Compton. The suit alleges egregious acts of sexual assault perpetrated by Compton while plaintiff was incarcerated at the Plumas County Jail between 2015 and 2017. The case also accuses the County of failing to investigate or prevent misconduct despite prior reports and lawsuits highlighting systemic issues of abuse and retaliation.

According to the complaint, Compton repeatedly sexually assaulted the plaintiff during her incarceration, leveraging his authority to intimidate and coerce her into silence. The allegations include explicit claims of physical and sexual violence, as well as threats of retaliation if the plaintiff reported the abuse. The complaint further details that Compton continued his harassment after plaintiff’s release, including an incident where he allegedly forced her into non-consensual sexual acts outside the jail facility.

Systemic Failures Highlighted

The lawsuit underscores longstanding systemic failures within the County of Plumas, pointing to its alleged pattern of protecting staff accused of misconduct. It also claims that officials actively retaliated against victims who attempted to come forward. These allegations mirror those raised in two recent lawsuits involving the same correctional officer:

• In 2023, a court found the County and Compton liable for creating a hostile work environment and retaliating against a female correctional officer, awarding over $2.3 million in damages and attorney’s fees. That case highlighted the County’s failure to establish effective mechanisms for addressing sexual harassment under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
• In another case, M.S. Doe v. County of Plumas, allegations of sexual assault against Compton also surfaced, with claims that County officials failed to investigate, preserve evidence, or comply with standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). That complaint outlined the County’s alleged deliberate indifference to repeated warnings about Compton’s conduct.

Plaintiff Seeks Accountability

The current lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, along with injunctive relief to enforce compliance with PREA standards and to address ongoing issues of retaliation and negligence. It alleges violations of plaintiff’s constitutional and statutory rights, including claims under the Bane Act and federal civil rights statutes.

Attorneys Calvin Chang of CAL LAW APC and G. Eric Lambdin represent the plaintiff. Both lawyers have emphasized the importance of addressing the County’s failure to protect inmates and employees from predatory behavior by its staff.

Ongoing Pattern of Neglect

This filing comes amid growing scrutiny of the County’s practices. The new lawsuit underscores allegations that the County has failed to investigate the claims brought forward by plaintiffs. According to the complaint, after her release from the Plumas County Jail, she reported the sexual assaults to a neighboring law enforcement agency. The plaintiff has not been interviewed by the County or its officials regarding her allegations, raising further questions about the County’s commitment to addressing sexual assault and systemic misconduct.

As the legal proceedings unfold, questions remain about the adequacy of the County’s current policies and the extent of its responsibility in allowing such misconduct to persist without investigation.

(via a third-party source)