A victim of former Menominee Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Helfert is suing Helfert, Menominee County, and former Sheriff Kenny Marks in Federal Court for damages. The suit was filed by the Schawba Law Firm on February 11^th on behalf of the plaintiff, identified only as T.W.

Helfert is currently in prison after being convicted of criminal sexual conduct in several cases. The lawsuit claims Helfert used his position as deputy and a School Resource officer to groom, assault, and rape Menominee County Children in a repeated systematic manner. The plaintiff, then a minor says he was subjected to repeated and longstanding rape and abuse from 2013 to 2019.

The lawsuit is being filed in Federal Court due to the allegations that the plaintiff’s Civil Rights under the fourth, fifth, and fourteenth amendments were violated.

The lawsuit alleges the plaintiff suffered injuries by assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. Other allegations include failure to comply with duties to report child abuse, negligent hiring, training, and supervision of Helfert by Sheriff Marks, and gross negligence.

The lawsuit asks for compensatory, special, exemplary, and punitive damages, plus costs and attorney’s fees.  The only dollar amount listed is $150,000 for actual or liquidated damages.