Pena v. Mattox

In 1991, Ruben Pena (plaintiff) was 19 years old when he started dating Amanda Mattox, who was 15 years old. Both Ruben and Amanda lived in Illinois. In 1992, Amanda became pregnant with Ruben’s baby and her parents ordered her to stop seeing Ruben, but she continued to do so. On the evening of December 8, 1992, unbeknownst to Ruben, Amanda went into labor and her parents took her to Indiana, where she gave birth. The baby was placed for adoption in Indiana, which did not require the father to consent to the adoption if the mother was under 16 when the child was conceived. Amanda’s father, Mr. Mattox (defendant), later arranged to meet Ruben at a restaurant, and when Ruben arrived, he was arrested and charged with felony sexual intercourse based on Amanda’s age and the age difference between her and Ruben when she became pregnant. After learning of his arrest, Ruben’s sister called Amanda’s home and spoke with Patricia Schneider (defendant), Amanda’s aunt and an Illinois state judge. Schneider told Ruben’s sister that Ruben’s bail would be raised the next day. The next day the bail was raised by $10,000. Ruben’s charges were later downgraded to misdemeanor sexual assault, and he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor. Eighteen months after the baby’s birth and Ruben’s arrest, Ruben filed suit and sought damages against Mattox, Schneider, and the prosecutor who charged him, alleging they had conspired to deprive Ruben of his parental rights under color of state law. The trial court dismissed Ruben’s complaint, and Ruben appealed.