FARGO, N.D. – A trial date has been set in a civil case against a former Cass County sheriff’s deputy.
In documents filed in the Federal Court of the District of North Dakota, Latisha Lenius was ordered to participate in the county’s 24/7 Sobriety Program as part of pretrial release conditions as well as other violations of criminal law. The program requires participants to report to the Cass County Jail to demonstrate compliance.
The 24/7 Sobriety Program, in Cass County, was overseen by then-Deputy Darin Viken.
Lenius alleges that, between November 2023 and July 2024, Viken ‘used and abused his position of authority over plaintiff Latisha Lenius to commit multiple acts of sexual intimidation, sexual abuse, and sexual assault against her.’
She went on to say the conduct ‘was consistent with that of a sexual predator.’
Cass County and Sheriff Jesse Jahner are also listed as parties in the case.
According to court documents, ‘As a direct and foreseeable consequence of defendant Viken’s conduct, plaintiff Latisha Lenius was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment while she was in the official custody, care, control and supervision of defendants Viken, Jahner, and Cass County, thus depriving her of rights protected under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.’
Violations of the 14th Amendment also are alleged.
A total of nine counts are listed in the documents.
She’s asking the court to grant her a total of up to $100,000 in past and future non-economic and economic damages; punitive damages as decided by the court; award of attorney and expert fees and an award for the costs, expenses and interests in pursuit of the civil suit.
Viken will be back in court on October 26, 2027 for a trial, which the court estimates will take five to seven days.
