Ivan Jovahnni Anaya was arrested and charged with molesting two 4-year-old girls at the Renton church day care where he worked.
Now, the 22-year old Auburn man is suing the alleged victims’ parents for $22.5 million in damages.
Anaya was arrested on June 29 after a two-week investigation into allegations that he molested the two children while working at the Orchards Childcare at the Church of the Nazarene in Renton.
According to documents filed in King County Superior Court, one little girl told police “Mr. Ivan” taught her to kiss with her tongue. The other said he put his hands down her pants and hurt her.
In July, Cmdr. Dave Leibman, of the Renton Police Department, told KIRO 7 that investigations involving such young children are difficult, but “we have enough to believe” the children's accounts. “We also have allegations of other victims and we’re following up on that right now,” Leibman said.
Writing by hand from his jail cell, Anaya filed legal complaints against the four parents of the two alleged victims last month.
He claims that “these false reports caused me serious irreparable injury,” caused him to lose his job at the day care center and his home. Anaya also claims “mental and physical stress.”
He is seeking $22.5 million in damages from both families.
The executive director of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center has sympathy for the girls’ families. “I’m sorry this is happening," Mary Ellen Stone told KIRO 7 on Friday. “It seems absolutely unfair.”
Stone has worked with sexual assault victims and their families for decades. In her opinion, there is no way a 4-year-old child who has not been sexually assaulted could give police as much detail as both girls did.
Kids of that age “don’t have the information to make up these kinds of allegations,” Stone said. “And when there is misinformation, confusing information, that shakes out very quickly.”
“It’s very difficult for something to be fabricated and then result in criminal charges,” Stone said.
Anaya was charged within days of his arrest with one count of first-degree child molestation and one count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Both are felonies.
In those documents, prosecutors and police were careful not to identify the girls, or their families. They’re referred to by first names and initials only.
However, Anaya’s complaints have made their names public record.
KIRO 7 is not identifying the families because their children are alleged victims of sexual assault.
Anaya has also filed a petition asking that he not be required to pay legal fees for his lawsuit because he claims to be indigent; a request that was granted by a judge.
Stone hopes the case “doesn’t go very far.”
“Anyone can sue,” she said.
Anaya is still behind bars at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center.
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