Woman sues Merced Rescue Mission, claiming sexual abuse

A woman has filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually assaulted repeatedly at the Merced County Rescue Mission and that administrators failed to protect her, despite knowing of the alleged abuse.

Cheryl Foursha, a formerly homeless woman, claims she was groped, forced to show her breasts and harassed verbally by the mission’s staff, according to the civil complaint filed Nov. 9 in Merced County Superior Court.

The lawsuit names Elden McDaniel, an ex-employee of the mission, as responsible for the harassment. It goes on to name the mission and CEO Bruce Metcalf as defendants, claiming they had knowledge of the abuse and didn’t do enough to right the situation.

She is seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress.

Darryl Young, a member of the mission’s board of directors, declined to discuss the lawsuit. “Unfortunately we cannot comment on (pending) litigation and cannot comment on personnel issues on the advice of the attorney,” he said.

Foursha, a 38-year-old Merced resident, spoke about the allegations in January during an interview with the Sun-Star. She said at the time she had battled a methamphetamine addiction and counted on meals at the mission to get by.

In the complaint, Foursha said she told mission leaders she was being abused as far back as November 2013.

She claims she was groped and forced to bare her breasts to get food from McDaniel, who she also claims physically restrained her and refused to let her leave.

Foursha suffers from fear, distress, humiliation and other side effects, the complaint says, because of the abuse.

Metcalf told the Merced Sun-Star on Wednesday he had no knowledge of any abuse happening at the mission while he was at the helm. He said he only became aware of the allegations after the Sun-Star report in January.

Mission staff looked into the claims of abuse, staff has said, but police were never called.

Adam Benkoski, Foursha’s Fresno-based attorney, said his client was “vulnerable” and he worries that other women seeking help could be subjected to abuse. He said his client still lives in the Merced area in temporary housing with the assistance of homeless advocates.

Benkoski said it is too early to determine the exact amount of damages his client will ask from the mission, but said she will need treatment and counseling.

“Right now, my concern is of course Cheryl, but also prevention and awareness for other possible victims,” he said.

The first hearing is scheduled for April, according to court records.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Woman sues Merced Rescue Mission, claiming sexual abuse."