YMCA seeks more time to respond to lawsuit

Defense attorneys for the Edwardsville YMCA are asking for 45 more days to respond to a lawsuit filed by the parents of a minor girl who was sexually assaulted at the facility.

Heidi Eckert and John Gilbert made the request citing the need for additional time to investigate.

“Defendants are unable to file a responsive pleading within the allocated time period," the motion states. "Specifically, defendants require additional time in which to investigate the allegations of the complaint and respond appropriately."

The perpetrator, then 28-year-old Kassidy Kueper, worked part-time at the YMCA. He was accused of abusing two young girls on April, 20 2011.

Kueper was arrested a week after the complaint was made, then indicted on criminal sexual abuse charges.

Before trial was scheduled to begin on June 11, 2012, he pleaded guilty to having inappropriate sexual contact with children, according to court records. Kueper was sentenced to two and a half years of probation, was required to register as a sex offender, and was ordered to undergo sex offender counseling and treatment while having no contact with the victims.

He had no criminal history when he was accused of abusing the children.

Attorney Barbara L. Sherer of Edwardsville represents the parents in the Madison County suit.

The case, filed on Dec. 21, is assigned to Chief Judge Ann Callis.

Madison County case number 12-L-2066.