A former detainee at the Madison County jail has filed a lawsuit claiming he was sexually assaulted by a member of staff.
Billy Clark, in a filed Aug. 26 in Madison County Circuit, names as defendant an individual deputy, Sheriff John Lakin and the county.
The plaintiff claims he reported the alleged assaults to other deputies and guards, but that several days passed without any action being taken. During those days, the assaults continued, it is alleged.
"As with any pending litigation, we will not be commenting on this situation," Major Jeff Connor, of the Madison County Sheriff's Office, told the Record.
Clark, who was in the jail until his release in March this year, claims he was repeatedly assaulted by the individual.
The lawsuit alleges the assaults happened while under the supervision of the deputy while the inmate was doing scrubbing and cleaning work at the jail.
It was the routine for deputies to pat down inmates to check for weapons, the lawsuit states.
The suit claims that the individual defendant "would put his hands down the plaintiff's trousers" and rub and caress his bare skin.
This caused the plaintiff to suffer severe embarrassment and anguish, along with emotional distress, according to the claim.
It is further claimed the deputy would stand or sit "unreasonably close" to Clark and rub his leg against him.
The plaintiff, who is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, is represented by Edward Moorman of Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 2020-L-1221.