THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 7, 1994 TAG: 9410050194
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Federal Judge Robert G. Doumar declared a mistrial this week in a lawsuit brought by a former inmate at Chesapeake City Jail who claims he was raped and beaten by fellow prisoners while deputies ignored his horrified screams for help. In calling a halt to the proceedings, the judge pointedly warned a defense attorney that he has ``a bad case'' that would best be settled before a new trial is convened.
The incident was a reminder that the citizens of Chesapeake are still awaiting some explanation from Sheriff John R. Newhart of the unspeakable acts of savagery that took place in the jail's T-block on Jan. 8, 1993.
The sheriff insisted at the time that all proper procedures were followed, saying that the pending litigation precluded further comment.
When the lawsuits are over, whatever their outcome, the sheriff owes citizens a thorough explanation of the conduct of his staff. If nobody made any mistakes, how did this awful thing happen?
Citizens need some reassurance that the sheriff and his deputies have more control over what goes on in the jail than they apparently did on that night in 1993. by CNB