County faces new lawsuit for former social worker: Third victim of convicted felon sues for sexual abuse, negligence

On June 15, his third victim listed as “Jane Roe” filed a lawsuit against Sedillo-Messer and the county for a range of allegations including sexual battery, gender violence and negligence.

It’s the second civil case levied against the county for its employment of Sedillo-Messer, who was assigned to East Palo Alto families from 2006 until he resigned in late 2014. An investigation revealed he had sexual relations with three underage clients. In April 2016, the then 39-year-old pleaded no contest to having inappropriate relations with the underage clients who were 16 and 17 years old at the time of the abuse.

The now 23-year-old victim filed the lawsuit this week alleging the county should have done more to prevent the abuse.

According to the filing, Sedillo-Messer was assigned to Roe in 2010 when she was living in group homes managed by the county. What initially began as unusually long hugs and inappropriate telephone conversations, eventually turned into sexual abuse, according to the lawsuit.

Sedillo-Messer would pick the victim up and engage in unlawful sexual intercourse with her at various places including his county-issued vehicle and various motels, according to the lawsuit.

The abuse occurred between June 2010 and January 2012 while Sedillo-Messer was in his mid-30s and the victim was between 16 and 17 years old. The relationship continued through her 18th birthday, according to the suit.

The lawsuit notes the victim was a dependent of the system and Sedillo-Messer used his knowledge of her history and vulnerabilities to exploit her.

The complaint describes Sedillo-Messer’s actions as “so outrageous in character and so extreme in degree as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and should be regarded as despicable, atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized society.”

The former social worker is now serving his sentence at Valley State Prison and must register as a sex offender for life. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims, the amount of which was not immediately clear Friday.

The lawsuit notes the victim has and is continuing to experience extreme emotional distress and suffering, and asks for an unspecified amount of damages, according to the lawsuit. An attorney representing the victim did not return a request for comment.

The lawsuit also alleges the county is liable as it employed Sedillo-Messer and operated the San Mateo County Children’s Receiving Home as well as the Canyon Oaks Youth Center, two residential facilities where the victim lived at the time of the abuse. Staff members who work at the county’s residential facilities are mandated reporters and should have reasonably suspected the victim was being abused, according to the lawsuit.

The first victim initially sued the county in 2015, and the second victim later joined that lawsuit. While the matter related to the first victim was dismissed without prejudice in 2016, the case related to the second victim is still pending, according to court records.

County Counsel John Beiers said in an email Friday his office had not yet been served with the new complaint. He noted the county only learned of the victim when Sedillo-Messer was being investigated during the criminal case, which occurred after his employment ended.

“The county had no knowledge of Mr. Sedillo-Messer’s criminal conduct while he was employed with the county,” Beiers said, while condemning the abuse. “Mr. Sedillo-Messer is now a convicted felon for his horrific actions involving the county’s most vulnerable minors.”

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