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| Lawsuit Claims Inmates Beaten by Orange County Sheriff's Deputies |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/01/2003 |
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A group of Orange County, Calif., sheriff's deputies known as the 'psycho crew' who allegedly harassed and abused inmates should be investigated by the FBI, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit. Attorney Richard Herman, who filed the suit Thursday, argues that the alleged beatings led to a three-day hunger strike earlier this month. The inmates' loss of telephone and day room privileges following the alleged attacks was a further violation of their rights, Herman contends. The attorney wants a hearing on the allegations and a judge to take further action, including an FBI investigation. The attacks are carried out by vestiges of the 'psycho crew,' an alleged group of racist guards that used to target black inmates but now carry out random beatings, Herman said. Herman maintains that the deputies' actions violate a 1978 federal court order aimed at stemming jail overcrowding. Herman contends that deputies are routinely disregarding jail policy, resulting in various abuses at the jail. U.S. District Judge Gary Taylor, who oversees jail conditions under the order to combat overcrowding, appointed Herman as ombudsman for plaintiffs in connection with the lawsuit. A jury last year recommended that Orange County and Sheriff Mike Carona pay $177,000 to a former jail inmate who said he was beaten repeatedly by sheriff's deputies in early 2000. This is at least the fourth case Herman has filed alleging wrongdoing by sheriff's deputies in recent months. |
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