A San Bernardino County, California jury awarded $33 million to a man who was sexually abused by a former deputy sheriff from the time he was 14- to 17-years old.

Former San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff Jeremie Cox, a 25-year veteran of the department, first met the boy around 2012, according to reports, when the boy was around 13 or 14.

Over the next year and a half, Cox reportedly befriended the boy, allowing him to eat, play video games and watch shows at his house. He even began taking the teen on camping trips and hikes. During that time, the victim's attorneys say Deputy Cox learned that the child's mother was neglecting him and leaving him alone for long periods of time, not feeding him proper food, and may have been abusing drugs.

"Deputy Cox considered, but decided against, filing a child neglect report because he did not want the child to go into foster care," the release stated. "Instead of reporting the neglect of the child by his mother to CPS, Deputy Cox chose to communicate with the child's mother directly and arranged to have the child move into Deputy Cox's home."  

Over the next three years, lawyers say Cox sexually abused the teen.  

The deputy also began involving the victim in the San Bernardino County Sheriff's community, bringing him to department workspaces, the courthouse, arranging for ride-alongs with deputies.  

Eventually, the teen reported his mother to the county's welfare fraud investigation unit because she continued to receive welfare funds to care for him, but had not provided him care in three years. His mother was later charged, convicted, and jailed for welfare fraud.  

After finally being able to move out of the deputy's home, the victim, who was around 21 at the time he reported the sexual abuse to authorities, alleged several deputy sheriffs and a welfare fraud investigator failed to report his neglect, which was a substantial factor in the continued abuse. Josh DuBose "California deputy's child sex abuse victim awarded $33 million" https://ktla.com/news/local-news/victim-of-child-sex-abuse-at-hands-of-southern-california-deputy-awarded-33-million/ (Sept. 29, 2024).

Commentary and Checklist

Failure to report child sexual abuse starts as a misdemeanor in California, but can be escalated higher if the child suffers harm (as in this matter).

In addition, failure to perform mandatory reporting duties – whether by a government employee or a mandatory reporter civilian - can also lead to civil claims and jury verdicts…which it did in this case.

The perpetrator in the above matter was a member of law enforcement and a mandatory reporter. He ignored the law under the guise of charity or kindness, claiming he did not want to harm the mother (and incidentally the victim) by keeping the boy out of the foster system. The result was the victim remained neglected, and was sexually abused…harms that the foster system would have prevented. The jury award should surprise no one.

A component to the higher amount awarded is that law enforcement personnel had the ability to stop the abuse at any time by reporting the neglect and the odd relationship between the victim and the deputy. The perpetrator brought the victim to work and the courthouse. The victim rode with officers on patrol. The victim was surrounded by mandatory reporters that had reason to question the relationship.

Perhaps it was the openness of the relationship; the appearance of caring by the perpetrator; and/or the knowledge of the victim's circumstance that led law enforcement to not report, but the colossal failure of all of these mandatory reporters is what led to the large verdict.

Ironically, had the deputy reported the neglect once discovered, the mother would have received help for recovery and may have been able to raise the victim at a later date.

Finally, the source article details classic grooming behavior, including spending time with an adult at their home; playing video games, going camping and hiking, and other activities.

Other perpetrator behavior can include:

• A desire to be with children/students or one particular child/student without other adults present
• Goes to great lengths to build trust with children/students and adults around them
• Looks for and/or creates opportunities to be with children/students away from parents and other adults
• Provides gifts, money, or attention to children/students without parent, caregiver, or organization knowledge and/or consent
• Takes and collects images of children/students not related to them
• Acts like a child/student and does child-like things to receive attention from children/students
• Prefers the company of children/students to adults and/or is uncomfortable around adults
• Wants children/students to view them as preferable over other adults
• Fixates on one or a few children/students while ignoring others
• Gives special permissions, such as, increasing grades without merit, allowing students to sleep in class, or allowing children to bend organizational rules
• Asking a student to stay after class alone without other adults/students present
• Communicates directly to children/students online or other means without parent, caregiver, and/or employer knowledge
• Disrespects or demeans parents, caregivers, and other adults to children/students
• Frequently touches children/students, sexually or otherwise
• Makes sexual comments or uses sex speak around children/students
• Makes comments to children/students about their bodies or appearance
• Views, stores, and shows pornography to minors
• Provides alcohol or drugs to children/students or permits children/students to abuse alcohol or drugs in their presence
• Has coercive sexual fantasies
• Is impulsive and has antisocial tendencies
• Prefers impersonal sex
• Is hostile toward women
• Has a childhood history of sexual or physical abuse
• Talks about sexual activities regarding children, students, or teens
• Encourages children/students to keep secrets
• Requests adult partners to dress or act like a child/student during sex
• Identifies children/students using sexual slang terms
• Frequently visits places where children/students are present
• Loiters in places where children/students are nude, semi-nude or can be viewed without notice, such as, bathrooms and locker rooms