A federal judge has awarded $6.5 million to a former Hollis resident who says the Harmon County Sheriff and others failed to prevent her rape by the former assistant police chief.
Tiffany Ann Glover, who has since moved out of state, says that she became the victim of unwanted sexual advances by Hollis assistant police chief Jayson Vest, after he responded to a domestic violence call involving her in October 2012.
Glover says that approximately two months later, Vest pulled up behind her as she parked her car at a relatives home. She says the policeman asked her out on a date, and when she declined, he arrested her on complaints of DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In the lawsuit, Glover says that she was booked into the Harmon County jail, where she remained for more than a month. During that time, Vest continued to sexually harass the woman. The lawsuit alleges that Glover told jail staff and Harmon County Sheriff Joe Johnson that she was being sexually harassed and targeted for abuse by Vest; however, her concerns were ignored.
Eventually, in January 2013, Vest sexually assaulted Glover in the police chief's office at the jail. In June 2013, Vest pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Upon Vest's conviction, the DUI and paraphernalia charges against Glover were dropped.
Sheriff Joe Johnson, who has been Harmon County Sheriff for more than 20 years and who is up for re-election this year, says that Glover never told him about unwanted advances, sexual harassment, or any other issues with Vest.
However, a federal judge ruled that the sheriff failed in his duties to prevent the sexual assault of an inmate at the Harmon County jail. The judge awarded the plaintiff $6.5 million.
The lawsuit also named Vest, Hollis Police Chief David Leathers, and the city of Hollis as defendants. However, settlements were reached with those defendants prior to trial.
Defense attorneys for Sheriff Johnson are expected to appeal the federal judge's decision.
Image credit: InmateAid.com
