Delmont-area McDonald’s sued over sex claims involving manager taking advantage of teen employee
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A lawsuit filed this week alleges the owners of the Delmont-area McDonald’s failed to adequately investigate the criminal background of a manager who was charged by police with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old employee.
According to a two-count lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County Court, the fast-food restaurant owners are accused of negligence for hiring the man, who had a criminal record, and for failing to properly investigate allegations of improper sexual contact with a juvenile employee.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 15-year-old girl who was hired in 2022 to work at the restaurant on Route 22 in Salem and, according to police, was sexually assaulted by the manager, Dezhane M. Amey, 24, of Delmont.
McDonald’s and franchise owner Star K.E. LLC of North Versailles were named as defendants in the lawsuit.
Star K.E. LLC representatives could not be reached for comment. A employee who answered the phone at the Delmont-area McDonald’s said Star K.E. no longer owns the franchise.
Amey is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond on charges of statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors.
The lawsuit claims McDonald’s should have discovered that Amey previously pleaded guilty to charges of harassment, a drug offense and unwarranted physical contact.
In another, unrelated case, Amey pleaded guilty in January to a charge of statutory sexual assault and was sentenced by Westmoreland County Judge Tim Krieger to serve nine months on house arrest as part of a two-year probation term. Police claimed Amey had improper sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl in that case.
According to the lawsuit filed this week, Amey supplied the 15-year-old McDonald’s employee with marijuana and vape pens and used his position to manipulate the teen. The lawsuit claims he then threatened her job if she reported the conduct.
Reports about Amey’s conduct with the teen were made to supervisors, who failed to properly investigate the allegations, according to the lawsuit.
“Amey’s sexual harassment, manipulation and abuse of minor female was reported three separate times to a McDonald’s corporate employee and rather than attempting to remedy the situation … scolded minor plaintiff and informed her that she was no longer allowed to return to work while continuing to employ Amey,” the lawsuit states.
Officials announced in February a $4.35 million settlement of a lawsuit filed against the owners of a Bethel Park McDonald’s involving claims that a 14-year-old employee was sexually assaulted by a different restaurant manager with a history of sexual crimes.