EAST ST. LOUIS — A family alleges they were victims of harassment and illegal searches by their neighbors and Lawrence County deputies in an effort to force them out of the neighborhood.
Steven P. Lockhart, Donna Lockhart and Alicia Lockhart filed a complaint Aug. 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois Benton Division against Andrew Rotman, Russell Adams, Trenton Masterson, James White, Diane Brady, Karen Kensler, Billie Forsythe, Brenda Buchanan and Lawrence County, alleging civil rights violations.
The plaintiffs allege that in the winter and spring of 2019, Brady, Forsythe, Buchanan and Kensler began to harass and intimidate Steven Lockhart. They allege the defendants trespassed on Lockhart's property and made false police reports in an effort to force them out of the neighborhood. They claim that from June 26, 2019, to Nov. 21, 2019, Steven Lockhart lived exclusively in his camper and only returned to his property to visit his daughter and ex-wife but had security cameras in place for the safety of his family.
The plaintiffs allege Rotman, a Lawrence County deputy sheriff, observed the cameras and obtained a no-videos protection order and search warrant for electronic devices that had recorded or stored videos. The plaintiffs allege Rotman and Masterson, also a deputy, unlawfully carried out the search warrant and arrested Steven Lockhart.
The plaintiffs claim the defendants used illegal and harassing methods that were part of a conspiracy to force Steven Lockhart to sell his home.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, trial by jury and all other proper relief. They are represented by attorney Jude Redwood in St. Joseph.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois Benton Division case number 3:21-CV-01033-SPM