A Lexington, Ky., man who said that he was sexually assaulted by a guard at the Lawrence County is jail is suing the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Tim Sexton, the Lawrence County Commission and the county as a whole.

James C. Middleton filed his lawsuit Wednesday through his attorney, Chad Lovejoy of Huntington, W.Va. He is asking for

“an amount to fully compensate … for damages, plus interest, costs, attorney’s fees and such other and further relief as the court deems just.”

According to the lawsuit, Middleton was incarcerated in the jail during May and June 2004. During that time, the lawsuit alleges Middleton’s civil rights were violated by a corrections officer at the jail.

Although he was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, Paul L. Roach was fired as a corrections officer at the jail after he pleaded guilty on a bill of information to a charge of gross sexual imposition.

According to a judgment entry filed with the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts Office at the time of his termination, Roach admitted that he had “sexual contact” with a male inmate, “having purposefully compelled” the other person “to submit by force or threat of force.”

He was ordered to serve four years probation and required to register as a sex offender. That took place in June 2004.

Sexton said he was not aware that a lawsuit had actually been filed but said Middleton’s claim was without merit.

“The fact is, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and I as sheriff took immediate action. The individual is no longer employed at the jail. Criminal charges were filed and the individual was prosecuted. I don’t condone misconduct by any employee of the sheriff’s office,” Sexton said.

A phone call placed to Lovejoy was not returned as of press time.