First Of Many TYC Lawsuits Filed

I think we can all expect to see much, much more of this:

The first major lawsuit was filed Monday in connection with the sex abuse scandal involving the Texas Youth Commission.

The father of a young man once held at a TYC facility filed a $5 million lawsuit in federal court.
KVUE-TV
Ricardo Luna filed a $5 million lawsuit Monday on behalf of his son.

Ricardo Luna is suing the state for his son, who is now 21 years old.

“He was wrongfully incarcerated (and) wrongfully treated,” said Luna.

Ricky Luna, Jr. was first sent to a state youth camp in 1999 for stealing a bike, then again in 2001 for hitting a school hall monitor. While being held in San Saba, Ricky Luna claims he was not only beaten up by guards, but was also groped by a female staff member. In an one on one interview with KVUE News, Luna said there were attempts to conceal the abuse.

“Like when they slammed my head against the concrete — they try to move the camera so it wouldn’t see,” Ricky said.

The Lunas have photographs they say are proof of the abuse. Ricardo Luna believes his son’s problems are the result of a mental disability; he claims the state failed to properly diagnose the condition and should have provided Ricky mental health care rather than incarceration.

Their first attempt at filing a lawsuit seven years ago was dismissed. Since then, he says getting anyone to believe their story had been difficult until other claims began to surface.

“Finally, finally, it came out,” said Ricardo Luna.
Also Online

More on abuse of troubled youths at TYC facilities

The Lunas’ story is one of several cases currently under investigation. State lawmakers continue holding hearings into accusations of sexual and physical abuse at state youth facilities. So far, the formal investigation has lead to the resignation of the TYC board of commissioners.

For Ricardo Luna, it’s vindication - but not the end of his fight.

Later this week, members of a special legislative committee may hold another hearing about the scandal. As of Monday, there were 849 active investigations of alleged abuse.

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