A 21-year-old man has initiated a lawsuit against former counselor Maya Hayes, alleging that she raped him more than 30 times during his stay at the Brookwood Youth Facility located in Staten Island. The complaint asserts that Hayes exploited her role to mislead the victim into believing that the sexual abuse constituted therapeutic intervention.
The lawsuit details that the plaintiff, who was 17 years old at the time, was admitted to the facility in 2021, where he received one-on-one counseling from Hayes, employed as a psychologist.
After approximately three months at the detention center, the allegations state that Hayes began to sexually assault the teenager, with the abuse persisting for several months, resulting in over 30 incidents.
The suit claims that Hayes manipulated her authority as a counselor to gain the trust of the victim, convincing him that the sexual encounters were integral to his therapy. The victim also accuses Hayes of “grooming” him, taking advantage of his vulnerable state.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that other staff members at the facility were aware of the misconduct. The victim reports that employees made inappropriate remarks, including questioning him about his interactions with Hayes in a manner that trivialized the situation.
Additionally, it is claimed that Hayes exploited the victim’s family by soliciting $100 through her CashApp account under the pretext of providing food and hygiene supplies for their son.
Maya Hayes, aged 47, was arrested in April by New York State Police and faces 65 counts of third-degree criminal sexual act and rape. She has pleaded not guilty to these charges and has been released while awaiting further court proceedings.
In addition to her, the victim is also pursuing legal action against other personnel at Brookwood Youth Facility, asserting that they failed to intervene and prevent the ongoing abuse, and is seeking unspecified damages for their lack of action.
