Inmate sues over “fight night”

Monday, May 15, 2017

On Monday morning, local attorney, Dustin W. Dunfield electronically filed a lawsuit in Vernon circuit court, on behalf of Alexander Trexel, a local inmate in the Vernon County Jail. According to the filing, Trexel claims “that on no less than nine (9) occasions he has been forced to take part in what is being called ‘Fight Night’ by inmates and staff at the Vernon County, Missouri Jail.”

The suit seeks judgment in the amount of $100,000 and his costs as well as punitive damages in the amount of $25 million.

Injuries claimed include “a cut requiring stitches above his right eye, and fear and anxiety for his personal safety.”

Further, the suit claims “deliberate indifference and wonton disregard to inmate safety” despite “on April 20, 2017, the Vernon County Sheriff being informed of the acts of violence against the Plaintiff and other inmates by Vernon County Associate Judge Neal R. Quitno.”

According to the filing, although “jail officials were placed on notice that the victim faced a substantial risk of serious harm,” they “created the substantial risk by deliberately placing the Plaintiff in a cell in which they knew he would be assaulted by another inmate, or by moving the inmate into an area where the VCSO staff knew an assault was likely to occur.”

The suit was filed against Jailer Joseph Housel; Former Jailer, Braley Gash; Sheriff’s Deputy, Ashley Alexander; Sheriff’s Deputy Lieutenant Eric Terry; Chief Sheriff’s Deputy, Shayne Simmons, as well as “individually and in their official capacities,” Joseph Hardin, Everette Wolfe and Cindy Thompson as well as Sheriff Jason Mosher.

Count I claims “assault” by defendants Housel, Gash, Alexander, Terry, Simmons and Mosher.

Count II claims a “Violation of Constitutional Rights” by the same six defendants. The suit claims the defendants “violated Plaintiff’s interest in his liberty, personal security and well-being, all under the Fourth, Fifth, Eight and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, Sections 2, 10, 15, 20 and 21 of the Missouri Constitution.

Count III makes a similar claim of violation of constitutional rights by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office and Jail and Vernon County.

On Monday afternoon, when contacted, Vernon County Sheriff, Jason Mosher, had yet to be served with a copy of the lawsuit and so was unaware of the claims of the suit.

While not able to comment on the specifics of the suit the sheriff did make several general comments.

“When you arrest people and force them to be detained behind bars, they are not happy,” began Mosher.

Asked about fights he said, “Yes there are fights, but we have multiple cameras and we put a quick stop to them. I and my staff in no way promote, condone or turn a blind eye to any violence, even inmate on inmate.”

The sheriff said the greatest number of inmates in the Vernon County jail are from Vernon County and “they generally know each other before they ever meet in jail,” said Mosher. “Fights are generally over claims of money owed or stolen drugs.”

As to having been “placed on notice” by Judge Quitno, Mosher said his conversation was about another prisoner and a completely separate issue.

The case has yet to be assigned to a judge or given a hearing date.

Comments
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: