Couple seeks $10M from man who had sex with their autistic son: suit
Couple seeks damages from Paul Hines
A Somers couple is demanding $10 million in a lawsuit against a former college professor who was convicted last year of having sex with their autistic son.
Paul S. Hines, 74, and his wife, Ann H. Hines, of Danbury, have been accused of trying to defraud the boy, who was 15 when Paul Hines had sex with him on Oct. 13, 2013, in the boy's home, according to a lawsuit filed by the boy's parents in U.S. District Court in White Plains.
Paul Hines was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual act, a felony, on Sept. 2, 2014, and is a registered sex offender, according to the Connecticut state sex offender registry. He was sentenced to 10 years probation, according to the federal lawsuit.
The boy's parents say their son should receive "no less than $10,000,000" in compensatory damages after Paul Hines intentionally caused their son "severe emotional distress," according to the lawsuit. The couple's attorney, Joe Tacopina of Tacopina & Seigel in Manhattan, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The couple says in the lawsuit that their son invited Paul Hines, who had impersonated a much younger person, to their house through a social media website, and that Paul Hines then forcibly raped their son.
The couple claims that on March 3, 2014, Paul Hines transferred his interest in his Danbury home to his wife "for no or nominal consideration," while his criminal case was pending. Paul Hines made the transfer to defraud the boy, his parents claim, because he had a right to sue Paul Hines for sexual battery.
Ann Hines was aware of her husband's intent to keep their home outside of the reach of the boy, his parents claim, and was complicit in her husband's efforts to defraud the boy. A phone message left at the Hines home was not returned.
The boy's parents want the title to the Hines's home to be restored to Paul Hines so it can be available for creditors, including their son. They also claim that Ann Hines is liable for monetary damages for her role in the transfer.
Twitter: @MattSpillane