Brain-injured sex abuse victim left a paper trail

By Holly Fleming

Published on April 07, 2006

But the victim, Dale Karen Brown, had written three letters during the summer of 2004 to ask the county parks director for a transfer from her job cleaning toilets. The letters stated that she was being constantly sexually harassed by her boss, Michael Rand. She received no response.

Rand was arrested in June, 2005 on charges that he forced Brown to perform oral sex on him for years. He admitted to the sexual abuse in New Jersey Superior Court in January. Rand resigned from his job, pled guilty to official misconduct, and was placed on probation.

Brown sent letters in June, July, and August of 2004 to Parks Director Frank DeBari, describing problems she had with Rand, including the fending off of his sexual advances. She did not mention that she was being sexually abused.

Brown suffered a brain injury in a car accident when she was 18. Still, her lawyer states that she clearly remembers the sexual abuse and harassment.

Brown is still employed by the Parks Department and is suing the county.

County officials did not comment Thursday as to whether the parks director had received the letters. An internal investigation is being conducted.

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