Prisoner sues over treatment
A state prisoner claimed in a federal lawsuit that he was treated poorly while being held in the Fayette County Prison. Thomas Woods, 42, was in the prison from Nov. 24 through Dec. 10, 2004, and claimed he was housed in a darkened, garbage-strewn cell, denied medical treatment and had to drink from a toilet to get water.
He filed suit in federal court Wednesday. The suit lists as defendants Warden Larry Medlock, Deputy Warden Barry Croftcheck, Sheriff Gary Brownfield, commissioners Vincent A. Vicites, Joseph Hardy III and Angela Zimmerlink and seven John or Jane Does. Among the Does are the members of the county’s prison board, prison contracted medical services and other prison officials.
Woods was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1996 shooting death of Leroy Durant of Brownsville. He claimed at his trial that the shooting was in self-defense, but prosecutors successfully argued the shooting was premeditated, one of the elements needed for a first-degree-murder conviction.
Police said the shooting stemmed from a drug deal gone awry. Woods, Alfred E. Riley Jr. and Herbert Green went to Durant’s home the night he was killed to buy crack cocaine, according to police. While Woods testified at his trial that he shot Durant in self-defense during a struggle, Green and Riley testified against him.
Green was sentenced to five to 10 years for third-degree murder, and Riley was given immunity for his testimony.
Between Nov. 24 and Dec. 10, 2004, he was in the county for a post-conviction relief hearing. Woods claimed he was put inside a darkened cell that was flooded by a broken sink and had garbage in it. When he complained, Woods claimed that a corrections officer laughed and walked away.
He also claimed that, although he was supposed to have a cell to himself, a mentally disturbed inmate was put into the cell with him.
While that other inmate was in the cell, Woods claimed he slipped on water and fell, hitting his head and injuring his back.
Although he asked for medical attention, Woods said he was denied it.
Woods claimed he was “deprived of recreation and fresh air, showers and soap and cleaning supplies for the time of (his) arrival to the Fayette County Prison. Thus, plaintiff was even forced to drink out of the toilet for a little over a week due to being deprived of drinking water,” Woods wrote.
Woods claimed Medlock and Croftcheck were aware of his conditions and that the commissioners were aware and “turn(ed) blind eyes.”
Woods asked for $1 million in compensatory, or actual, damages and $500,000 in punitive damages.
He also has asked a federal judge to give him a free lawyer to litigate the suit, claiming he makes only $15.40 per month as an inmate worker.