Attorney for woman suing for sexual abuse in Letcher County home detention program says system leaves women vulnerable
By John McGary
December 10, 2024 at 1:14 PM EST
The attorney for a woman whose testimony led to a prison sentence for a Letcher County deputy who ran the county’s home detention program said the system puts women at risk of sexual exploitation. Ned Pillersdorf represents Sabrina Adkins, who filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Deputy Ben Fields and others in the Sheriff’s office.
“They know a simple phone call to the judge that you violated a term of the ankle bracelet or drug court, you're back in jail, which is exactly what happened to Sabrina Adkins and at least two other women we know about in Letcher County.”
Adkins alleged she couldn’t afford the $85 weekly fee charge for her ankle bracelet and Fields provided favorable treatment for sex. Pillersdorf said he hopes publicity from the suit and criminal case provide a wake-up call.
“What went on in Letcher County, we don't think was an isolated incident. And you know, a lot of my practice is representing women who, for better, for worse, have drug problems and they’re placed in drug courts, which is, we've had a huge expansion of, or an ankle bracelet, and how easy they are to sexual extortion.”
Two days after Adkins’ suit was filed, then-Sheriff Mickey Stines fired Fields. On September 19, three days after Stines gave a deposition in the suit, he allegedly murdered Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins.
After the Fields scandal became public, Task Home Incarceration and Court Ordered Services took over the home detention program in Letcher County. The company’s owner says representatives only meet with inmates when a camera is present.
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“They know a simple phone call to the judge that you violated a term of the ankle bracelet or drug court, you're back in jail, which is exactly what happened to Sabrina Adkins and at least two other women we know about in Letcher County.”
Adkins alleged she couldn’t afford the $85 weekly fee charge for her ankle bracelet and Fields provided favorable treatment for sex. Pillersdorf said he hopes publicity from the suit and criminal case provide a wake-up call.
“What went on in Letcher County, we don't think was an isolated incident. And you know, a lot of my practice is representing women who, for better, for worse, have drug problems and they’re placed in drug courts, which is, we've had a huge expansion of, or an ankle bracelet, and how easy they are to sexual extortion.”
Two days after Adkins’ suit was filed, then-Sheriff Mickey Stines fired Fields. On September 19, three days after Stines gave a deposition in the suit, he allegedly murdered Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins.
After the Fields scandal became public, Task Home Incarceration and Court Ordered Services took over the home detention program in Letcher County. The company’s owner says representatives only meet with inmates when a camera is present.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.