DEL VALLE, Texas — Nearly three dozen anonymous "Jane Doe" and "John Doe" plaintiffs are suing Del Valle ISD and a former custodian who worked in the district after they say the custodian hid cameras in restrooms at a district facility.
The lawsuit states that on Dec. 7, 2022, a contractor installing vape detectors in the district's restrooms discovered a pouch hanging from the ceiling of a restroom at the Del Valle Opportunity Center. The pouch contained four USB drives and three micro-SD cards.
An investigating officer reviewed the materials and discovered they contained private images and video footage of district employees using the restroom. The materials spanned from April 2, 2020, through Dec. 2, 2022.
Back on Dec. 13, 2022, KVUE reported that DVISD police and the FBI were investigating after a recording device was discovered in a faculty restroom at the Del Valle Opportunity Center. At the time, a district spokesperson said as soon as the information was reported to district officials, DVISD police "immediately started an investigation" and were working with the FBI. The spokesperson said the individual, a non-teaching staff member, had been terminated and all recordings had been turned over to authorities.
The lawsuit now accuses Juan Manuel Del Toro, the former head custodian at the Del Valle Opportunity Center, of placing recording devices in as many as six total restrooms. The lawsuit states investigating officers found evidence of camera mounting materials had been present in the restrooms and that "a magnetic strip, plastic camera mount and a charging dock" were found at Del Toro's workstation.
The plaintiffs are suing Del Toro for privacy violations and sexual harassment, but they also allege DVISD failed to properly investigate and address previous complaints about Del Toro's inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, as far back as 2018. The lawsuit alleges that DVISD moved Del Toro to different locations within the district instead of firing him following these complaints.
The plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million in damages for emotional and mental distress, humiliation and damage to reputation, as well as attorneys fees.
KVUE reached out to DVISD for a response to this lawsuit. A spokesperson said the district only just received the filing on Wednesday and cannot comment on pending litigation.
