Former Devereaux Advanced Behavioral Health employee Rodrigo Omar Flores has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing three girls who were patients at one of Devereaux’s group homes in Phoenix.
Flores is accused of molesting, kissing, groping, and threatening three girls between ages 13 and 15. He was arrested at his home on May 7 and has been charged with child molestation, sexual abuse, assault, and aggravated assault on a minor.
According to court documents, the first victim was 14 years old and came forward concerning alleged abuse by Flores in Anjalih. The girl told investigators that Flores kissed her, groped her, and pressed against her at least four different times in her room and the home’s laundry room. The girl told her teacher assistant and Flores was placed on leave shortly after, before being fired.
The second two girls disclosed alleged abuse during an investigation that followed the first allegations. The 13- and 15-year-old girls told investigators of similar alleged incidents at the group home.
Flores reportedly admitted to kissing the 13- and 14-year olds who came forward. He is being held on a $200,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 22.
Attorney contributor Kevin Biniazin represents survivors of sexual abuse in civil lawsuits. Here are a few of Kevin’s thoughts on the legal options available to survivors of sex abuse in group homes:
Group homes are intended to be places where youth struggling with behavioral issues, drug addiction, and other problems can be treated and improve their lives. But sadly, there is also a high potential for sexual abuse in group homes. Sometimes, sexual predators seek out positions in this field because of the fact that they’ll be trusted and have authority over vulnerable children.
When a group home employee sexually abuses residents, those victims have legal rights. Along with criminal charges against the perpetrator, some victims of group home sex abuse may have grounds for filing a lawsuit over sexual abuse. This may be the case when negligence is involved, such as the home failing to run a background check and hiring an employee with a history of sexual misconduct.
If you or your child is a survivor of group home sexual abuse, you can learn more about your family’s legal options by speaking with an experienced sex abuse survivors attorney.