Historic Lehigh County Courthouse
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A Lehigh County amusement park is accused of hiring a man who was previously charged with sexual assault and then committed the same crime on a young customer.
A plaintiff referred to as J.B. in court documents sued Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom and Six Flags this week in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. The case concerns the actions of Anthony Casio, who has pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault and corruption of a minor.
It is alleged the girl met Casio in September 2021 when she was 15 years old at the park’s Haunted Halloween. Casio allegedly told her he was 17 years old and pursued a friendship with her.
“On multiple occasions, the perpetrator inappropriately touched and/or groped the plaintiff and manipulated her into thinking that those interactions were harmless fun,” says the lawsuit, filed by Veronica Hubbard and Haley Kyllonen of Andreozzi + Foote.
The two met in a hotel room, where Casio is accused of taking her clothes off against her will. He “violently raped her,” the suit says.
His actions were foreseeable to Dorney Park, the lawsuit claims, citing a “known and documented history of sexual misconduct.” That includes the prior charge of sexual assault.
“Despite this history, Defendants hired the perpetrator and placed him in a position of trust and allowed him to work in close proximity to minors,” the suit says.
Dorney Park and Six Flags were negligent by failing to establish adequate child abuse prevention policies and failing to adequately screen and supervise employees with access to minors, the suit argues.
The defendants are charged with negligent hiring, supervision and retention.
