Former therapist files civil rights lawsuit against police officer after losing career amid accusations – KLAS – 8 News Now

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) After prosecutors dropped all charges in her in March, a former behavioral therapist has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of North Las Vegas and a police officer.

Amy Villareal had been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old client who has autism. All charges were dropped on March 16.

Villareal, who worked at Crescent Academy, was arrested in September 2021 and charged on allegations that were vague, inconsistent, uncorroborated, and objectively unbelievable, according to her lawyers, the Law Office of Jordan Marsh.

The lawsuit accuses North Las Vegas police officer Jorge Correa of violating Villareals Fourth Amendment rights. Villareal lost her career and her reputation, and spent months fighting charges that could have put her in prison for the rest of her life, according to a news release distributed by her lawyer.

The lawsuit contends Correa made no attempt to verify the accusations by interviewing other therapists, and no physical evidence or witness corroboration was offered regarding the alleged incidents.

People assume the police wouldnt arrest someone for such a serious offense if they didnt have a solid evidentiary basis to believe they committed the crime, attorney Jordan Marsh said. But thats not always the case, and it certainly wasnt here. And Amy has been paying the price for that since her arrest.

Villareal is seeking a jury trial in U.S. District Court. The lawsuit alleges three federal civil rights violations by Correa:

The lawsuit alleges the City of North Las Vegas is responsible for Correas actions as a city employee.

Villareals lawyers say she incurred $25,000 in legal bills and $15,000 for the bond to release her from jail. She lost her behavioral therapist license and is afraid to return to the same line of work, according to the lawsuit.

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Former therapist files civil rights lawsuit against police officer after losing career amid accusations - KLAS - 8 News Now