Former Sheriff's Deputy Accused of Sexual Abuse in Civil Lawsuit

Latisha Lenius alleges Darin Viken committed multiple acts of sexual misconduct while overseeing the county's 24/7 Sobriety Program.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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A civil lawsuit has been filed against former Cass County sheriff's deputy Darin Viken, alleging he sexually abused and assaulted Latisha Lenius while she was under his supervision in the county's 24/7 Sobriety Program between November 2023 and July 2024. Cass County and Sheriff Jesse Jahner are also named as defendants in the case, which includes nine counts and seeks up to $100,000 in damages.

Why it matters

This case highlights issues of abuse of power and authority by law enforcement, as well as the need for robust oversight and accountability measures in programs like the 24/7 Sobriety Program. It also raises concerns about the county's potential liability for failing to prevent or address the alleged misconduct.

The details

Lenius alleges that Viken, who was overseeing the 24/7 Sobriety Program, "used and abused his position of authority" to commit "multiple acts of sexual intimidation, sexual abuse, and sexual assault" against her. The lawsuit claims this conduct "was consistent with that of a sexual predator" and deprived Lenius of her constitutional rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.

  • Lenius alleges the abuse occurred between November 2023 and July 2024.
  • Viken is scheduled to stand trial in the civil case on October 26, 2027, with the trial estimated to last 5-7 days.

The players

Latisha Lenius

The plaintiff in the civil lawsuit, who alleges she was sexually abused and assaulted by former sheriff's deputy Darin Viken while under his supervision in the 24/7 Sobriety Program.

Darin Viken

The former Cass County sheriff's deputy accused of sexually abusing and assaulting Latisha Lenius while overseeing the county's 24/7 Sobriety Program.

Jesse Jahner

The Cass County Sheriff, who is also named as a defendant in the civil lawsuit.

Cass County

The county government, which is named as a defendant in the civil lawsuit.

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What’s next

Viken is scheduled to stand trial in the civil case on October 26, 2027, with the trial estimated to last 5-7 days.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for strong oversight and accountability measures in programs like the 24/7 Sobriety Program, to prevent abuse of power and authority by law enforcement officials. It also raises concerns about the potential liability of county governments for failing to prevent or address such misconduct.