Three women are suing a former Colorado jail commander and several government agencies, accusing them of failing to prevent repeated, unauthorized viewing of inmate strip search videos. The federal class action lawsuit, filed Wednesday, alleges that La Plata County and its sheriff’s office failed to monitor who accessed sensitive footage and why.
According to the Associated Press, the suit centers on Edward Aber, the former commander at the La Plata County Jail. Aber is already facing criminal charges after a state investigation revealed he watched strip search footage of at least 117 female inmates over a five-year period.
The lawsuit claims officials were aware of previous accusations of sexual misconduct or harassment involving Aber when he was hired but failed to restrict or monitor his access to inmate video recordings. Investigators later found that between February 2019 and July 2024, Aber accessed body camera footage more than 3,000 times—mostly strip search videos—often late at night or from hotels and his home, without legitimate justification.
Aber was placed on paid leave in July 2024 amid allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with female inmates and harassment of sheriff’s office staff. Though a prior investigation resulted in no charges, it led to a review of Aber’s computer activity, uncovering the alleged misconduct.
Last month, Aber was charged with 117 counts of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification and one count of first-degree official misconduct, all misdemeanors. The lawsuit names the three women whose videos he allegedly viewed but seeks to include any other women affected. Because some footage was deleted, the actual number of victims may exceed the 117 identified so far.
The suit accuses Aber and the involved agencies of violating the women’s constitutional rights, including their right to privacy and protection against unreasonable searches.