**WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS**
TULSA – The plaintiff in the civil suit against former Sheriff Stanley Glanz took the stand Thursday to give her side of the story.
The lawsuit alleges that the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office failed to provide adequate housing, supervision and security to the plaintiff.
The plaintiff was called to the stand by her own lawyers and told jurors that detention officer Seth Bowers came into her cell more than fifty times and inappropriately hugged her, touched her breasts, head and rubbed her body.
She also described that they had intercourse five times and oral sex at least ten times. She said it would happen randomly during his night shift and that she did not ask him or manipulate him into doing the acts.
The plaintiff was extremely upset during the testimony –saying many times that she couldn't breathe – but she told her lawyers she was not giving the testimony in search of money or any kind of reward.
When asked why she never told anyone about the incidents, she replied, “I was scared to get in trouble. He said I would get in trouble.”
Tulsa County acting Sheriff Michelle Robinette was cross-examined by the defense team for several hours—she held the rank of chief and was in charge of the jail in 2010 at the time of the alleged assault.
They meticulously went over jail records, showing each and every time Detention Officer Seth Bowers checked into the medical wing where the plaintiff was housed.
They were able to show every check in that Bowers logged – from the pods he was assigned to, to the times he filled in during other officer’s breaks.
Robinette told jurors the female juveniles were placed in the medical wing because it had the most officer traffic and that’s where they were the safest. She concluded about one to two of those inmates were there on average. But she was told the defense staffers did not have any specialized training.
When the plaintiff’s attorney later asked her how many female juveniles will it take before the medical wing gets proper training, Robinette responded, “I don’t know if I can answer that.”
He also addressed Bower’s background check asking Robinette if she knew if a 2001 felony theft conviction came up at the time of his hire. She said it was impossible to know without the check in front of her.
Defendants say those background checks are not public record and aren’t admissible in court. Plaintiffs say they found that information through a basic internet search.
Earlier this week, Glanz discussed jail policies and testified that to the court that he violated several rules.
Testimony from the plaintiff herself will continue Friday morning as her lawyers continue to make their case. The defense will follow after that.
Earlier this week, Glanz discussed jail policies and testified that to the court that he violated several rules.
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