Lawsuit Claims CYFD Failed to Protect 14-Year-Old Girl After Assault

Teen alleges she was drugged and assaulted by Uber driver after Hope House workers failed to intervene.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:55pm

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A 14-year-old girl living at the Hope House group home in Albuquerque, New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the state's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), claiming the agency failed to protect her after she was drugged and sexually assaulted by an Uber driver. The lawsuit alleges that Hope House workers did not try to find the girl when she went missing one night, and then locked her outside the facility as 'punishment' after the assault, instead of getting her medical attention.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the oversight and management of New Mexico's child protective services system, which has faced numerous lawsuits in recent years over allegations of mishandling cases and failing to protect vulnerable youth. The lawsuit also raises questions about the safety and supervision protocols at group homes like Hope House, which are meant to provide a safe environment for at-risk children.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the 14-year-old girl was living at the Hope House group home in Albuquerque in January 2025 when she went missing one night. When she returned, an Uber driver had allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her. Instead of getting the girl medical attention, the lawsuit claims Hope House workers locked her outside 'as punishment' with only a blanket. The girl's CYFD caseworker was eventually called and took her to the hospital, but the lawsuit alleges CYFD failed to follow up with police to charge the suspect or ensure the girl received proper medical care.

  • The alleged assault occurred in late January 2025.
  • The Hope House group home opened in January 2025.

The players

Benjamin Gubernick

The attorney representing the 14-year-old girl in the lawsuit against CYFD.

CYFD

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, the state agency responsible for child protective services.

Hope House

A girls group home in Albuquerque opened by CYFD and Youth Development Inc. in January 2025.

Youth Development Inc. (YDI)

The organization that co-operated the Hope House group home with CYFD.

Robert Chavez

The CEO of YDI and a spokesperson for Hope House.

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What they’re saying

“These are kids. They need supervision. You can't just have this, like, Lord of the Flies, let nature take its course mentality. It's a dysfunctional, broken agency. This is just the latest example of that.”

— Benjamin Gubernick, Attorney

“This stuff is not normal. I mean, I don't know if there's a state that has a worse Child Protective Services Department than New Mexico. We do cases all over the country. You don't see this other places. It just doesn't happen.”

— Benjamin Gubernick, Attorney

What’s next

The judge will decide on whether to allow the 14-year-old girl's alleged attacker to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This lawsuit is the latest in a string of cases highlighting systemic issues within New Mexico's child protective services system, raising concerns about the safety and oversight of group homes tasked with caring for vulnerable youth.