‘Real Housewives’ Daughter Sues Deputy

SAN DIEGO (CN) - The daughter of a "Real Housewives of Orange County" star, who also appeared on the show, claims in court that a sheriff's officer sexually assaulted her during a late night traffic stop.

Alexa Curtin, 23, the daughter of "Real Housewives" star Lynne Curtin, sued Orange County and "Deputy Epson" on March 30 in Federal Court.

She claims the deputy stopped her in April 2014 as she drove away from her boyfriend's home in Dana Point. While searching her car, she says, the deputy asked her inappropriate questions about underwear he found in the car. He told her he had to leave "to tend to another more pressing matter, but that she was not free to leave," Curtin says in the complaint. So she complied with his orders and tried to go to sleep.

Twenty minutes later, she says, the deputy returned, in civilian clothes, in his personal car, and told her, "Since you are still here, I'm going to fuck the shit out of you," and proceeded to do that.

Curtin's attorney, Jeremy Jass, told Courthouse News that Curtin is not certain of the officer's identity, did not file a criminal complaint, and that he does not know if she sought medical attention for rape.

The lawsuit states: "To the best of plaintiff's recollection, Deputy Epson was the culprit involved in the April 2014 incident. Should it be determined through discovery that plaintiff has misidentified the culprit as Deputy Epson, plaintiff will seek relief to amend this complaint to name to identify the true culprit as a defendant in this matter. Thus, throughout the preliminary allegations of this complaint, plaintiff will hereinafter refer to deputy Epson as 'the Deputy.'"

Curtin says in the lawsuit that the deputy ordered her: "Show me your pussy," then groped and penetrated her and forced her to have intercourse, during which he partially ejaculated inside of plaintiff's vagina, and partially on the passenger seat of plaintiff's vehicle."

To top it off, she says, the deputy "pulled up his pants, and asked plaintiff for her cellular phone number so he could text her and in order to do this again. Still afraid, plaintiff gave the Deputy a wrong number. Then the Deputy returned to his personal vehicle and left."

Curtin says she was "violated, traumatized, emotionally drained, in shock, and fearing for her own safety," and fears that "he would find her and harm her again."

She claims the Orange County Sheriff's Department inadequately supervises and fails to discipline deputies who abuse their position, and fails to intervene, arrest, or report deputies who violate citizens' rights.

These "policies and practices have resulted in a culture of violence and sexual exploitation in which the violations of constitutional rights are accepted and customary parts of police work in the County of Orange," the complaint states.

Though many victims of rape hide their identity when filing civil actions, Jass said, Curtin chose to use her name because she did nothing wrong, and it likely would get out, anyway, due to her brief time on television.

Curtin seeks punitive damages for unreasonable seizure, due process violations, pain and suffering and unlawful custom and practice.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department said it is aware of the complaint and does not comment on active litigation against it.

Jass's office is in Long Beach.

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