A request has been made to broaden the Delaware County jail investigation

JAY, Okla. - There are still no arrests after allegations of sexual misconduct at the Delaware County Jail.

The district attorney overseeing the case, Brian Hermanson, says he has requested an expanded investigation from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Hermanson says originally only one person was investigated, but now it will be expanded to more.

The county now owes a total of $13.5 million to 15 female inmates who say they were sexually assaulted inside the jail, but criminal charges are still hanging the balance.
 
"Like to see someone answer for this other than the taxpayer," said Robert Collins, a Delaware County Resident.

Collins has been a barber in Jay for more than 20 years.

He says the investigation and lawsuit are a part of daily conversation. Delaware County Sheriff Rick Littlefield agrees.
    
"People are asking continuously, how can there be a $13.5 million settlement and no one arrested and no one charged directly with the wrongdoing?" Littlefield said.

Littlefield just took over the job after the settlement in November, when his predecessor Jay Blackfox resigned.

The jail administrator was also fired. Littlefield says things have come a long way in the last few months.

"I'm not sure which direction they're going to expand the investigation, but I would be surprised if there were any still working here," Littlefield said.

As far as paying back the $13 million, taxpayers will vote on a half cent sales tax hike in April. If the sales tax increase doesn't pass in April, the money will automatically come from Delaware County residents property taxes.

That also has residents talking.

"Not everybody can afford an 18 percent raise on their property taxes," Collins said.

Even though a criminal charge will not change the civil settlement, Sheriff Littlefield says it will help residents see what they are paying for.   

"They're just demanding that there be some resolve come to this, that someone is held accountable and that's the direction hopefully this investigation will go," Littlefield said.

The sales tax vote will be April 3.

There is no timeline on when more information will be released on the criminal investigation.