SALINE COUNTY —
The admission of guilt of former Saline County Chief Deputy Todd Fort has resulted in a lawsuit naming as defendants Fort, Sheriff Keith Brown, the Harrisburg school system and Saline County.
Announcement of the filing of the lawsuit was made in a prepared release from the Womick Law Firm.
The filing was on behalf of Chris and Karla Carrigan and their daughter, Bobbi Jo Carrigan.
Karla Carrigan is a member of the Saline County Board.
The law firm said, “The case arises out of the criminal sexual abuse of Bobbi Jo by Todd Fort while she was a high school student and an employee of the County Sheriff’s Department under the supervision of Chief Deputy Todd Fort.”
At the time of the incident for which Fort has been imprisoned, he was president of the school board and the victim was an intern with the Sheriff’s Department.
Court papers contend Brown hired Carrigan while she was a student at Harrisburg High School to perform clerical work. He then assigned Fort to supervise her.
"(Fort) began a course of conduct designed and intended to sexually abuse Bobbi Jo, who was a minor, and who could not legally consent to sexual activity with the Defendant Fort," the suit states.
The action uses both presidency of the school board and chief deputy to contend Fort was in a position of authority over the girl.
The civil suit, citing two counts, asks damages of more than $100,000 and demands a jury trial.
An amount in excess of $50,000 is sought as damages by Bobbi Jo Carrigan, saying she suffered injuries that include loss of income and “a decrease in the enjoyment of life of a permanent nature.”
Her parents seek damages in excess of $50,000, citing “a loss of their daughter’s society and were required to incur medical care for their daughter.”
Fort, on Sept. 16, just days before a jury trial, entered a guilty plea to an amended bill of information charging him with fondling the intern.
According to the charge, Fort held “a position of trust, authority or supervision” over the girl who was 17 years old at the time of the incident.
Judge Walden Morris sentenced Fort to a three-year term in a state institution and sentenced him to pay fines in excess of $10,000. In addition, Fort must register as a sex offender for life.
Numerous charges were dismissed in exchange for the plea to the charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and Fort was given credit for time served in the Jackson County Detention Center.
The admission of guilt of former Saline County Chief Deputy Todd Fort has resulted in a lawsuit naming as defendants Fort, Sheriff Keith Brown, the Harrisburg school system and Saline County.
Announcement of the filing of the lawsuit was made in a prepared release from the Womick Law Firm.
The filing was on behalf of Chris and Karla Carrigan and their daughter, Bobbi Jo Carrigan.
Karla Carrigan is a member of the Saline County Board.
The law firm said, “The case arises out of the criminal sexual abuse of Bobbi Jo by Todd Fort while she was a high school student and an employee of the County Sheriff’s Department under the supervision of Chief Deputy Todd Fort.”
At the time of the incident for which Fort has been imprisoned, he was president of the school board and the victim was an intern with the Sheriff’s Department.
Court papers contend Brown hired Carrigan while she was a student at Harrisburg High School to perform clerical work. He then assigned Fort to supervise her.
"(Fort) began a course of conduct designed and intended to sexually abuse Bobbi Jo, who was a minor, and who could not legally consent to sexual activity with the Defendant Fort," the suit states.
The action uses both presidency of the school board and chief deputy to contend Fort was in a position of authority over the girl.
The civil suit, citing two counts, asks damages of more than $100,000 and demands a jury trial.
An amount in excess of $50,000 is sought as damages by Bobbi Jo Carrigan, saying she suffered injuries that include loss of income and “a decrease in the enjoyment of life of a permanent nature.”
Her parents seek damages in excess of $50,000, citing “a loss of their daughter’s society and were required to incur medical care for their daughter.”
Fort, on Sept. 16, just days before a jury trial, entered a guilty plea to an amended bill of information charging him with fondling the intern.
According to the charge, Fort held “a position of trust, authority or supervision” over the girl who was 17 years old at the time of the incident.
Judge Walden Morris sentenced Fort to a three-year term in a state institution and sentenced him to pay fines in excess of $10,000. In addition, Fort must register as a sex offender for life.
Numerous charges were dismissed in exchange for the plea to the charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and Fort was given credit for time served in the Jackson County Detention Center.
