Ex-Cps Worker Loses Suit Against Detective

A former state Child Protective Services worker who filed a frivolous lawsuit must pay police detective Bob Perez $1,000 and attorney fees, a judge has ruled.

Okanogan County Superior Judge Jack Burchard ruled that Juan Garcia and two others did not have sufficient reason to sue CPS and Perez.

Garcia contended that Perez conspired to get him fired from CPS while he was investigating allegations of child sex abuse. But Perez filed a counter-suit against Garcia and two other plaintiffs in the case.

Burchard, who was assigned to preside over the case after Chelan County judges were disqualified or withdrew, issued a summary judgment in favor of Perez on Monday.

He agreed the claim was not filed with any factual basis. As a result, Garcia will have to pay Perez $1,000 in damages and reasonable attorney fees. No estimate of fees was given.

The lawsuits are an offshoot of the child sex rings cases, for which Perez was a key investigator. In 1994 and 1995, 28 Wenatchee-area people were charged with child rape or molestation in the sex-ring investigation. Of those, 14 pleaded guilty, five were convicted and charges were dismissed or greatly reduced against six others. Three people were acquitted.