Woman claims disabled daughter sexually assaulted in League City

GALVESTON - Claiming her mentally disabled adult daughter was sexually assaulted, a Pasadena woman has filed suit against a Galveston County adult day care facility, a Houston taxi company and several individuals.

Marta Cruz alleges that Gabriel Baraka Mwancha, an employee of Lone Star Cab who was contracted by St. Jude's Home, raped her daughter on Nov. 11, 2008.

The incident allegedly occurred at the League City home of the mental health care agency's owner, Virginia Onuorah, a lawsuit filed Nov. 10 in Galveston County District Court says.

Named as defendants are St. Jude's, Able Working Angels, Lone Star Cab, Mwancha, Virginia Onuorah and their colleagues Chinwendu Judith Onuorah and Vickie Armstrong.

The original complaint states that St. Jude's sent Mwancha to pick up and take Cruz's daughter, who has Down syndrome, to the main facility, but instead drover her to Virginia Onuorah's residence where he molested her.

"Following his depraved behavior, Mwancha drove [Cruz's daughter] to the facility on Houston Ave. where she was delivered disheveled, upset and frightened," the suit states.

Grimaldo reported the attack in question to St. Jude's staff members, who contacted Virginia Onuorah and Armstrong.

The two women took Cruz's daughter to another location and persuaded her not to tell her mother about the assault, the suit states.

According to the suit, Virginia Onuorah and Armstrong did not say a word to Cruz about her daughter's situation, however, a St. Jude's employee "took it upon herself to call her" two days later.

Cruz immediately sought medical care for her daughter and contacted the authorities. Mwancha was later indicted for aggravated sexual assault of a disabled person.

The suit claims that Cruz's daughter has dizzy and fainting spells when she recalls the incident, and suffers from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Consequently, the plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

They are represented by The Kelly Law Firm P.C.

Galveston County 405th District Court Judge Wayne Mallia is presiding over the case.

Case No. 10-cv-4133