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Teen sexually assaulted at Tobin Center, suit says
Teen sexually assaulted at Tobin Center, suit says
The alleged abuser no longer works at the facility.
SALEM — A Wellsville woman claims in a lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted repeatedly in 2005 while she was in a local juvenile attention facility.
The lawsuit was filed late Wednesday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
Kelly Reed said in the lawsuit that she had been in the Louis Tobin Center, 8363 County Home Road on two occasions in 2005.
Reed stated that she was confined to the facility from April 20 to May 31, and Sept. 8 to Nov. 11.
The Tobin Center is part of the Multi-County Juvenile Attention System based in Canton that is composed of seven counties, including Columbiana. In such systems in Ohio, the focus is on rehabilitation.
The lawsuit doesn’t say why Reed was in the facility. She was 16 years old at the time. She is now age 18.
Jeffrey L. Howell Jr. of 6426 East Lake Road was a worker at the facility at the time, according to the lawsuit. The filing states that Howell “had responsibilities” for the custody and supervision for the youths.
Starting in late September or early October, Howell “engaged in a series of sexual assaults and batteries” on Reed, according to the lawsuit.
Howell’s misconduct, Reed claims, was “during the course of, and facilitated by his employment” by the system.
Reed states she suffered mental, emotional and psychological stress and harm and “invasion of bodily integrity.”
Neither Reed nor Howell could be contacted to comment.
Reed is seeking in excess of $25,000 in damages from Howell and other defendants, including the MCJAS Board.
Daniel Bing is the chairman of the commissioners and the commissioners’ representative on the board of the MCJAS. He declined to comment Thursday.
Donald W. Thernes Jr., the director of the system, said that Howell, “is no longer an employee.”
Thernes said he could not comment on Howell’s whereabouts and had not even seen a copy of the lawsuit.
The director said he could not comment more on the advice of the board’s lawyers.
Besides Thernes, the lawsuit is seeking damages from 16 workers at the facility, some only by their first name and others by John or Jane Doe, that the action said failed to protect Reed.
wilkinson@vindy.com