PCSO alleges counselor may have mishandled case involving predator

PHOENIX — A probable cause statement filed in court by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office contains allegations a counselor may have erroneously reported an assault by Tyler Kost.

The detailed report gives graphic details in the assaults carried out by Kost, 18, over the course of several years.

In one particular case, a teenage girl claimed to have been raped and impregnated by Kost after a school event. The report, written by detectives who investigate sex crimes, describes the purported actions of a Planned Parenthood counselor after the girl — who was accompanied by her mother — went for care at the facility.

“The counselor intentionally miscoded the assault as a consensual encounter. The counselor told them that they did not want the hassle of having to report the assault to law enforcement as they were a mandatory reporter,” the sheriff’s office excerpt reads.

Planned Parenthood responded to the allegations with the following statement:

For 80 years, Planned Parenthood Arizona has been the leading provider of reproductive health care and sex education in our state. We provide high-quality preventive health care and a range of reproductive services to more than 60,000 patients each year, and patient health and safety is our top priority.

While we provide confidential care to all of our patients, we have strict policies in place that require all staff to report any illegal activity they learn about, including sexual assault. All patients are asked at least two separate times whether they consented to sexual activity; if a patient says she was sexually assaulted or displays signs of assault, our staff is required to report it immediately to law enforcement officials. We have zero tolerance for staff failing to meet our standards and policies.

Planned Parenthood Arizona learned about this case for the first time [Friday] from a member of the media, and we immediately contacted the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department to get more information. We have directed all of our health center managers and clinical supervisors to reiterate our strict policies for reporting any illegal activity.”

Meanwhile, PCSO continues to investigate all information received about Kost.