Ventura County Juvenile Hall Officer Charged with Sexual Abuse of Incarcerated Teen
Azzan Sandhu, a former youth detention center employee, has been arrested for sexually abusing a female teenager who was incarcerated at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, which was closed as of June 2023. Sandhu is charged with 9 felony counts, including 7 charges of sexual abuse against a minor, 1 charge of communicating with a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offense, and 1 count of using images of a child to create child pornography.
The victim has only been identified as a female, who was 15 years old at the time of the abuse. According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the former California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations officer “preyed upon and sexually exploited” the inmate from December 2022 to February 2023. Among his offenses are allegations that he used his cell phone to create child sexual abuse material with images of the victim.
His charges are enhanced with a special allegation of abusing one’s position of power for the purpose of child exploitation, due to the fact that the girl was under his care and supervision during the time of the abuse. Sandhu’s upcoming court date is set for April 25, and he is currently being held on $1,000,000 bail.
It’s a relief that this predator has been arrested, but one has to ask why this girl was sexually abused for several months at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility. This youth detention center is one of 11 youth prisons that used to be operated by the State of California. However, changes in the laws led to the closure of state-run juvenile halls, which are now managed at the county level.
Though state officials won’t admit it, much of the change has to do with a failure by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations to protect minors from neglect, physical abuse, and sexual misconduct. There is a long and troubled history of child abuse at these facilities, and that’s why we are certain that the girl being represented in this lawsuit is not Azzan Sandhu’s first victim. Furthermore, we believe that Sandhu is not the only staff member who abused his authority as a juvenile hall officer to take advantage of an underage inmate.
If you were sexually abused while you were incarcerated at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, please consider a free consultation with one of our attorneys. That way, you can learn about your rights as a victim of child sexual abuse and decide if filing a lawsuit is right for you. We look forward to speaking with you and being a part of your journey to recovery.
$1.93 Million
$2,287,495
$54 Million
$22 Million
$600,000
$965,000
Assaulted By Employee
$1,900,000
$1,975,000
Yes, we can help you file a lawsuit for sexual abuse at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility at 3100 Wright Road, Camarillo, CA 93010. These lawsuits are generally filed against the agency that’s in charge of operating the facility where you were abused. Even though the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility is closed, it was operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations for many years.
Sadly, there is a lengthy and disturbing record of inmate abuse within these facilities. Sexual assault of minors is exceedingly common, along with physical assault, lack of basic necessities, solitary confinement, and unsanitary conditions. These are examples of the CDCR failing in their duty of care to juvenile inmates at their youth detention centers.
From decades of representing juvenile hall abuse victims, we know that most complaints of sexual abuse slip through the cracks, or they are outright ignored. Even if the inmate doesn’t complain, other staff members should have been trained to recognize the signs of abuse and immediately contact the proper authorities. In reality, children are left to suffer month after month, with no hope of escaping or avoiding their abuser.
The closure of Ventura Youth Correctional Facility doesn’t take away the state’s responsibility to compensate the victims of Azzan Sandhu and other employees that sexually abused underage inmates. We are committed to the representing your interests and fighting for the settlement you are entitled to, so please contact us for more information on suing for child sexual abuse at Ventura Youth Correctional Facility.
Average Value of a Ventura County Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse LawsuitThe average settlement for a youth detention center sexual abuse lawsuit can range from $2,000,000 to $5,000,000 for sexual assault, and $500,000 to $1,500,000 for sexual harassment and solicitation. Many people ask us for a singular case value that can be described as average, but this is impossible due to the many factors that play a role in what these lawsuits are worth. These include, but are not limited to:
- The injuries sustained by the victim
- How these injuries impacted their life
- Negligence by facility administrators, including unlawful acts like threatening the victim for speaking out about sexual abuse or destroying evidence of sexual assault.
Based on the severity of neglect and misconduct, a case value may be increased by two or three times its normal value, and this is why some child sexual assault cases are worth $10,000,000 and above. But these are exceptional cases, meaning that settlements for Ventura Youth Correctional Facility lawsuits are generally worth 6 to 7 figures.
How Long will it Take to Settle my Case?The average length of time to settle a juvenile inmate sexual abuse claim is around 1 to 2 years, and over 3 years if there is a trial. Please note that the possibility of a trial is very slim, as over 90% of these cases are eventually settled. But how long it takes for both sides to agree on a settlement amount is not something we can predict ahead of time. But we can say with certainty that the majority of lawsuits take at least 12 months, though we have had cases that were settled within 6 months. But this is a rarity, due to the complications of suing for the sexual abuse of a child, along with the requirements for suing a state or county agency.
Lawsuits for the sexual abuse of a minor have a 22 year statute of limitations, starting from when the victim is 18 years old. To put it another way, you will need to sue the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations by the time you are 40 years old if you were sexually assaulted at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility.
Another option is to file a lawsuit within 5 years of when you find out about a physical or emotional injury that resulted from sexual misconduct by a juvenile hall employee. Realization of injuries from sexual abuse is common with children who were incarcerated at a juvenile detention facility. Some of the inmates tell an administrator or another staff member, but the allegations are ignored or concealed. Others are threatened with physical retaliation, loss of privileges, or time added to their sentence.
It’s understandable that kids facing this dilemma stay quiet and repress memories of the abuse they suffered. But you can only run from the pain of sexual abuse for so long, and eventually, many of them end up with serious mental health issues. As a result, many of them go to a therapist, where they find out about the trauma that was caused by sexual abuse during childhood.
Upon the discovery of bodily harm or psychological damage from sexual abuse, you are allowed 5 years to file a lawsuit for monetary compensation. To learn more about the discovery rules and your eligibility to sue for sexual assault by a youth prison guard, contact our office.
Contact a Child Sexual Abuse LawyerThe Ventura County juvenile hall sexual abuse lawyers of DTLA are ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve, so contact us immediately to learn about your rights and legal options. At our law firm, child sexual victims receive free legal services from day one. Our expenses are paid by Ventura County at the same time as your settlement check, plus we have a Zero Fee Guarantee, so you are not responsible for any legal fees if we don’t win your case.
It all starts with a free consultation, so call us today and talk to a lawyer who can sue for sexual abuse at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility in Camarillo.
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