BATON ROUGE — An Iberville Parish man is suing the Plaquemine Police Department police chief, alleging false arrest.
David Jones of Iberville Parish filed a lawsuit April 14 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against Kanny Payne, chief of the Plaquemine Police Department, alleging the chief of police violated the Civil Rights Act, including false imprisonment, defamation and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
According to the complaint, on June 3, 2013, Jones was arrested on charges of aggravated rape after his estranged wife alleged he raped his 7-year old daughter, although medical records on the minor's vagina showed no trauma consistent with rape.
Despite evidence showing his innocence, the suit says, Jones remained in Iberville Parish Prison until Dec. 22, 2015. The complaint states because of this incident, the plaintiff he lost his job, his home and other movable and immovable properties.
The plaintiff alleges Kanny violated his right to life and liberty by misrepresenting essential facts of the alleged rape of his daughter in order to secure an arrest warrant and a bond amount that would make it improbable for Jones to post.
Jones seeks a trial by jury, judgment in his favor, plus all costs, expenses and fees. He is represented by attorneys Ronald S. Haley, Jr. of Haley & Haley LLC in Baton Rouge, and Dedrick A. Moore of Dedrick Moore & Associates in Baton Rouge.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana Case number June 3, 2013