Oakland Pays $1M to Teen in Police Sex Scandal

'I feel happy that I can close this chapter and move on'
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 2, 2017 12:34 PM CDT
Oakland Pays $1M to Teen in Police Sex Scandal
An Oakland, Calif., Police Department cruiser is seen in 2013.   (Anda Chu/San Jose Mercury News via AP, File)

A former teenage sex worker who claimed to have had sexual contact with more than two dozen Bay Area police officers, including while underage, is getting a nearly $1 million payout. The city of Oakland has agreed to pay $989,000 to settle a claim with the 19-year-old, who has asked to be identified only as Jasmine, reports the Los Angeles Times. Her allegations previously led to charges—including oral copulation with a minor and obstruction of justice—for five Oakland police officers, a former Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy, and a retired Livermore police officer. "It's taken its toll on me," Jasmine tells the East Bay Times. "I feel happy that I can close this chapter and move on with my life."

But the book is not yet closed: Jasmine's lawyers also have filed claims with five other Bay Area law enforcement agencies, including the San Francisco Police Department, and are looking at possible litigation. Still, the Oakland settlement is "in the best interests of Jasmine," and may help pay for her education, one of her lawyers tells the San Francisco Chronicle. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf adds it was also "in the best interest of the city to settle this matter quickly and fairly," noting the city remains "focused on rebuilding the public trust that was so damaged by this incident." The settlement was approved during a 7-1 vote at a City Council meeting on Wednesday. The lone dissenter wanted the city to pay more. Officers allegedly gave Jasmine information about prostitution stings in exchange for sex and protected her from arrest. (More Oakland stories.)

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