Ex-Daybreak counselor's trial reveals love letters, alleged sex with teen rehab patient
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A former counselor for vulnerable teens faced a jury in Clark County for the first time Tuesday after a multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct with one of her young patients.
Prosecutors accuse Alicia Kaye Stowe of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a boy in and outside the now-closed Daybreak Youth Services in Brush Prairie when she was 32 and he was 16.
The victim, now 20, claims he was abused by Stowe during his second 90-day rehab stay in March 2021.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed love letters and crafted gifts the now-adult victim gave his counselor over the course of his stay — some sexually graphic in nature.
"That relationship changed over the course of his second stay to unprofessional and sexual,” said Clark County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda McMahon. “Alica Kaye violated her position of authority to have sex with [the victim]."
The alleged victim testified that Stowe of performed oral sex on him in the bathroom of an unused wing on the day of his discharge.
The prosecution shared text messages with the court that appear to show the pair exchanging “I love yous” and coordinating plans to meet at a Lacey hotel in the weeks after the boy left the facility. He said she drove more than an hour to have sex with him on more than one occasion.
Meanwhile, the defense has questioned the alleged victim's memory given his admitted meth use as a teen.
"He doesn't always know when he's telling the truth and when he's not telling the truth, because he's lied on a number of occasions to law enforcement about this case,” defense Attorney Jon J. McMullen said.
He now admits he was not initially forthcoming with police when questioned about the relationship in 2022, because he wanted to protect her.
Daybreak Youth Services declined to comment on the case. However, attorney David Smith, who represents the organization told KOIN 6 News the victim never contacted Daybreak about alleged misconduct.
According to records from the Washington State Department of Health, Stowe was fired from Daybreak for unrelated reasons in 2022, but her counseling license wasn’t suspended until February 2024.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.