Businessman faces a second sex suit

A second lawsuit was filed Thursday against Marysville business owner Joseph Griesa, alleging that he sexually assaulted a female employee when she was 17.

Yuba City attorney Michael J. Trezza filed the suit in Sutter County Superior Court on behalf of the now-21-year-old woman.

Griesa, owner of Mitchell's Towing Service, became the subject of a criminal investigation by the Yuba County District Attorney's Office after he allegedly assaulted another female employee, starting when she was 16. The case is ongoing.

According to Griesa's attorney in the criminal proceeding, Charles Smith of Redwood City, a grand jury is expected to convene later this month to consider charges.

The first alleged victim also filed a lawsuit. A hearing in that case is scheduled Oct. 14.

Griesa could not be reached Thursday for comment.

According to the latest suit, Griesa began assaulting the girl soon after she was hired, even though he knew she was 17. The suit alleges he required her to wear skirts and high heels while working in his private office so she would look "pretty" and insisted on a daily hug.

"From the first day of employment, Griesa insisted on driving (the girl) home and if (the girl's) mother or any other person called the office and offered to give (her) a ride home, Griesa became enraged," the suit said.

Griesa allegedly assaulted the girl in his car and office, threatening her if she resisted or refused to have her picture taken partly undressed.

Griesa's "sexual assaults and batteries on (the girl) included forceful and repeated acts of touching and fondling plaintiff's intimate parts, and attempting to engage in, and/or engaging in forceful and/or repeated acts of non-consensual sex," the suit said.

Mitchell's Towing Service is also named as a defendant because others working there allegedly were aware of Griesa's behavior but failed to take action.

The suit said "each defendant was completely dominated and controlled by his co-defendants and each was the alter-ego of the other."

The suit seeks unspecified damages for the girl's alleged physical and mental injuries and to "punish the defendants and to deter such conduct in the future."

In the first suit filed against Griesa, the victim, who has not been named because of her age, and her guardian, allege sexual assault and battery, harassment, retaliation, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress.

The girl was 16 when hired in September 2006 at Mitchell's in Marysville. She told police that Griesa regularly masturbated in front of her, fondled her and struck her before she quit in November 2007, according to documents filed in Yuba County Superior Court.

The suit also said Griesa gave the girl a key to his Yuba City apartment, which contained a video/DVD player and dozens of pornographic tapes.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.