The families of two male high school students who were strip- searched and photographed nude by a female Jefferson County sheriff’s employee have settled threatened lawsuits with the county.
Derek Riley, 19, and his family accepted a $20,000 payment Wednesday in return for not pursuing the claims of violations of constitutional rights and state law. Terms of the other victim’s settlement were not disclosed.
The incident took place at the Jefferson County sheriff’s interrogation room in Golden on Feb. 16 following an altercation in the Conifer High School parking lot. Riley and Nicholas Motte, 18, surrendered to investigators on charges of second-degree assault, according to Riley’s attorney, David Lane.
During their questioning, a female deputy brought in a lab technician, Vicky Spelman-Lang, and each teen was ordered to disrobe. The teens said they were told that they would be photographed naked with their arms at their sides to document any injuries. They also were being videotaped by an overhead camera.
“I was embarrassed, humiliated. I mean, these two or three cops I don’t know are taking naked pictures and stuff like that,” Riley told 9News.
When Motte objected to the order to remove his boxer shorts, a Jefferson County investigator threatened to get a court order to force him to do so. And Spelman- Lang said, “It’s going to happen,” a remark captured on tape. Both teens reluctantly complied.
In response, Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink said his agency’s policy was amended on Aug. 8.
Mink said the new guidelines mandate that only persons of the same gender may photograph suspects.
Watch the full report of this story on 9News at 10 tonight.
