County, jailer among defendants in suit

JENNIFER WALKER
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW October 20, 2008 12:26 pm

— A former prisoner at the county jail is suing a former deputy jailer, claiming he forced her to have sex with him.
Aurie Jones’ lawsuit claims former Barren County Deputy Jailer Ricardo Huffman had access to her alone in October 2007 while she was incarcerated at the Barren County Correctional Center.
According to Jones’ attorney, Brian Driver, she was jailed on “a drug court violation” at the time.
The lawsuit also names Barren County Jailer Leland Cox, Barren County and the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
A civil suit is one side of a legal argument and does not imply guilt or innocence. Criminal charges could be reintroduced against Huffman regarding this same alleged incident.
Huffman, who worked at the jail from Feb. 9, 2007, until Oct. 10, 2007, resigned two days before he was arrested for the alleged encounter with Jones. He pleaded guilty May 12 to criminal charges of sexual abuse, second degree; official misconduct, first degree; and tampering with physical evidence. His plea has not been accepted by the court and is subject to being rescinded when he comes before Barren/Metcalfe Circuit Judge Phillip Patton for sentencing in February.
Barren/ Metcalfe Commonwealth’s Attorney Karen Davis accepted Huffman’s plea and agreed to diversion of his sentence, meaning instead of facing a year in jail, Huffman could spend three years on monitored probation.
Jones’ lawsuit alleges that Huffman deprived her of her constitutional rights.
The lawsuit further states that each of the named defendants are liable for the actions of Huffman and that his actions were made possible because of his position at the jail and an environment that enabled his behavior.
Huffman’s attorney, Temple Dickinson, did not respond to numerous calls seeking comment. Barren County Judge-Executive Davie Greer, the Kentucky Department of Corrections and Cox all declined comment.
“My client, Ms. Jones, had a right to have been protected by Huffman, as a deputy jailer,” Driver said.
“Every defendant involved failed in their duty to protect her. One of the worst things that could happen to an inmate has happened and it is terrible that it has happened at the hands of a man who was supposed to protect her.”
Jones, 31, had previously been convicted and jailed several times on charges of identity theft, check fraud and being a persistent felony offender.
Jones’ suit against Huffman is the latest in a series of criminal investigations and lawsuits involving jail employees.
Cox was arrested July 25 by Kentucky State police and charged with 30 counts of sexual abuse. Six female deputy jailers have since combined to file three civil lawsuits against Cox since his arrest. He is slated for a pretrial hearing on the criminal charges on Wednesday.
Cox, an elected official, took leave of his post until the criminal case is resolved. Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton was appointed by the county magistrates to serve as a jailer in the interim.