MIDLAND, Texas (CN) - A married couple who sought counseling claim that their counselor told the wife that having sex with him was "part of the necessary treatment." They sued licensed counselor Mario Pena dba Alpha-Omega Counseling Center, in Midland County Court.
Pablo and Rosa Villela say that in April 2008 they began seeing Pena at his counseling center, separately, seeking help with their marital problems.
They say Pena saw Rosa "on substantially more occasions than Pablo Villela," and continued seeing her for a year and a half.
In that time, the Villelas say, Pena abused his position to get Rosa to have sex with him, claiming that it was "part of the necessary treatment."
Pena "used his authority as the plaintiffs' counselor and used privileged information obtained from the plaintiffs to create and begin an intimate, sexual relationship with Plaintiff Rosa Villela, according to the complaint.
They say Pablo Villela was not aware of the sexual relationship between his wife and Pena until it ended, around November 2009.
They claim that Pena caused them "severe emotional distress, irreparable damages to their marital relationship, and other damages."
They seek damages for sexual exploitation, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, emotional distress, breach of confidential communications and negligence.
They are represented by Damian Castillo with the Law Offices of Roy L. Scott.
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