A former inmate filed a federal civil complaint against Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats and several deputies, alleging she was the victim of sexual abuse while she was in custody.
Krystal Jackson, the plaintiff, alleges she was sexually abused by at least two deputies while she was in custody between August and October 2023.
Other WRAL Top Stories
The complaint goes on to allege those in charge of the jail knew about a "pervasive custom, pattern, and practice of violating the constitutional rights of inmates." It also claims a lack of proper staffing and training at the jail led to abuse against inmates.
Harnett County Major Gary McNeill said the Sheriff's Office is aware of the complaint and cannot comment on it at this time.
One of the defendants at the center of the complaint is Johnathan Edwards, a former Harnett County deputy charged with sexually exploiting children. Edwards was first arrested in December 2023. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison last November.
The complaint alleges Edwards sexually abused Jackson multiple times and that the investigation into his abuse against Jackson resulted in the discovery that he engaged in child sexual abuse crimes.
The Harnett County Sheriff's office could not comment on the validity of that claim.
"The United States Constitution applies to everyone, including people who are in jail," said Jackson's attorney, John Taylor. "People in jail have a constitutional right to not be sexually abused by the guards who are supposed to be keeping them safe."