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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Camper Says He Was Molested by Ex-Marine

CHARLESTON, S.C. (CN) - A man claims he was sexually assaulted by a former U.S. Marine captain who volunteered as a counselor at The Citadel's annual summer camp. He claims the assaults happened during 3 weeks at the military college's summer camp in 2001.

John Doe, who is now between the ages of 21 and 26, sued Michael Arpaio and The Citadel in Charleston County Court.

Doe claims that Arpaio "repeatedly and on multiple separate occasions initiated inappropriate physical contact with plaintiff. This inappropriate physical contact progressed to sexual molestation and severe physical assault on separate and distinct occasions. As a direct result of the actions or inactions of the defendants, plaintiff has endured physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering and permanent psychological distress/damages."

Doe claims that "defendant Arpaio's conduct was so extreme and outrageous as to exceed all possible bounds of decency, particularly in light of the criminality of defendant Arpaio's actions, and most be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized society."

He claims The Citadel failed to protect him and other campers, failed to have proper policies and procedures to hire camp counselors, and failed "to use even slight care and caution in safekeeping the plaintiff with whom they had a fiduciary relationship."

He claims that The Citadel created "a campus environment which subjected plaintiff and other campers to being physically and/or sexually harassed or abused by employees and/or agents of The Citadel, including defendant Arpaio."

This is the second such complaint against The Citadel. In 2005 the college settled a civil action filed by five campers who said Arpaio had molested them. The settlement was for $3.8 million.

Arpaio, was a counselor at The Citadel summer camp between 1995 and 2001, pleaded guilty to several charges stemming from his contact with minors in 2003, after a military court-martial. He subsequently served 15 months in the brig at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station in North Charleston.

Doe seeks actual, consequential and punitive damages for assault and battery, sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress-outrage, negligence and gross negligence.

He is represented by David W. Harwell with the Bell Legal Group in Georgetown, S.C.

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