A volunteer mentor in the Fort Bend County Juvenile Detention Center is accused of sexually abusing a male detainee more than 300 times.The lawsuit names 64-year old Deborah Helen Sutter along with various officials with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and members of the detention center.
Sutter was arrested in May, 2018 and charged with indecency with a child.She reportedly confessed to the crime.
According to the lawsuit, the abuse started in March, 2017 when the boy was 15 years old.He was allegedly molested “ three times per visit, twice per week, for a total of 312 times."
Investigators say they first noticed the seating arrangement between the two was incorrect; they’re supposed to sit across from one another, but surveillance video showed Sutter sitting side by side with the teen, and touching him inappropriately.
At the time Sutter was charged, the Fort Bend Juvenile Probation Department released this statement:
"The Fort Bend Juvenile Probation Department has a zero tolerance policy on any form of abuse or inappropriate conduct. The safety and well being of our youth is our highest priority and one we do not take lightly. This inappropriate volunteer is no way a representative of our other valued community mentors. Be assured that misconduct by anyone towards our youth is taken seriously, investigated, and vigorously prosecuted."