Myles McMillin has taken a bold stand against alleged misconduct by local law enforcement, filing a lawsuit that accuses officials of violating his constitutional rights. On February 7, 2025, McMillin filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against Sheriff Toney Edwards and Deputy Ben Adams. The case centers around allegations of retaliation following McMillin's social media posts criticizing Edwards' conduct.
The complaint outlines a series of events beginning on March 1, 2024, when McMillin posted on Facebook about rumors involving Sheriff Edwards allegedly sending sexually explicit photos to a minor. These posts led to his arrest on March 4, 2024, for one hundred counts of cyberstalking under Louisiana law. McMillin claims this arrest was an act of retaliation for exercising his First Amendment rights. He argues that the charges were baseless and intended to silence his criticism of Edwards' alleged misconduct.
McMillin's lawsuit asserts that the actions taken by Sheriff Edwards and Deputy Adams violated multiple constitutional protections, including those guaranteed by the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The plaintiff seeks declaratory relief affirming these violations and demands compensatory damages for emotional distress, lost wages due to suspension from work, and legal fees incurred as a result of the arrest. Additionally, McMillin requests punitive damages against the defendants and an injunction preventing future retaliatory actions against individuals exercising free speech.
The case also highlights procedural missteps in obtaining warrants for McMillin's arrest and property search. Allegations include false statements made by Deputy Adams in affidavits used to secure these warrants. Furthermore, it is claimed that Judge John Reeves issued an arrest warrant based on these false statements before recusing himself from the case due to potential bias.
Represented by attorney Malcolm X. Larvadain from Alexandria, Louisiana, Myles McMillin continues to fight not only for personal justice but also for broader protection of free speech rights within Catahoula Parish. The case is presided over by Judge Jerry Edwards Jr., with Magistrate Judge Perez-Montes also involved in proceedings under Case ID: 1:25-cv-00150.