Did Pierce County enable probation officer’s sexual misconduct with client?
A woman claims Pierce County enabled a probation officer to sexually abuse her while she was vulnerable and under his authority after a misdemeanor driving offense.
In a recently filed lawsuit, Pierce County is accused of failing to protect the woman from probation officer Mario Tropiano, who was sentenced in January to a year in jail for his actions with her after pleading guilty to second-degree custodial sexual misconduct.
Tropiano, who’s no longer working for the county, admitted to having a sexual relationship with a client assigned to him through Pierce County District Court between July 2022 and August 2023, The News Tribune previously reported.
The complaint alleges that Pierce County had a duty to care for the woman but failed to enforce its own policies and procedures designed to protect individuals in a custodial relationship and didn’t train or supervise its employees.
“When Pierce County assigns a probation officer, it empowers that officer with frequent, unsupervised access to the probationer, as well as the power to facilitate or completely derail their rehabilitation process,” the suit said.
Adam Faber, a spokesperson for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which represents the county in legal matters, declined to comment on the lawsuit on April 29.
Tropiano allegedly often reminded the woman that he controlled the future of her probationary status, according to the complaint.
Attorney Jack Connelly, who’s representing the woman, said in an interview on April 29 that his client was incredibly fearful about jeopardizing her probation.
“She doesn’t know where to turn or where to go at that point,” Connelly told The News Tribune. “It’s an incredible abuse of authority.”
The inappropriate activity began in October 2022. An investigation was launched after the woman’s criminal attorney told a judge about the relationship. The attorney said that the woman’s experience with Tropiano, who was replaced when he had to move out of state for unrelated reasons, made it difficult for her to meet with her next assigned probation officer, court records show.
The two had sexual contact through text messages, at the woman’s home, in hotels and occasionally at Tropiano’s office, The News Tribune previously reported. Tropiano allegedly wanted the victim to complete probation so he could date her without consequence.
The woman said that Tropiano was a “predator” who took advantage of her during an emotionally troubled period in her life and made it appear as though he wanted to help her, Tacoma Police Department records show. She told investigators that he let her borrow $1,500 for rent after she lost a large sum of money through gambling and threatened to reveal their sexual relationship.
She was reliant on Tropiano, 40, to successfully complete probation and ensure her children’s well-being, according to the lawsuit, which was filed April 22 in Pierce County Superior Court. The woman, who’s around the same age as Tropiano, is named in the legal complaint but The News Tribune generally doesn’t identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.
“During their first meeting, Plaintiff confided in Tropiano that she was struggling with numerous traumas in her recent past. She was vulnerable and her life was in the County’s hands,” the suit said. “Rather than provide proper and professional support, Tropiano used this information to groom Plaintiff and build a false sense of trust as the foundation for his future sexual harassment and abuse.”
The woman completed probation in April 2024.
The suit seeks unspecified damages to be proven at trial, legal fees and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
