Oops. Placer County says lawsuit in jail abuse case named wrong officer

Placer County officials say a lawsuit filed against one of its officers in an alleged jail abuse case targeted the wrong officer, and is moving to notify the attorney who filed the suit.

The lawsuit filed in federal court last week in Sacramento on behalf of former inmate Nana Yeboah names correctional officer William Lukenbill as a defendant in the case, which is one of at least seven filed in recent months alleging abuses at the Auburn jail.

But the county counsel’s office says the officer originally named in the claim against the county was Brandon Lukenbill, not William Lukenbill. Officials say both men remain employed with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and said they do not believe they are related.

Yeboah attorney Sarah Garvey, who is based in Los Angeles, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

William Lukenbill was named in an earlier jail abuse complaint filed by former inmate Joseph Charles Golden. William Lukenbill denied the allegations of abuse in court documents filed in November.

The lawsuits are part of a series of complaints filed since Placer County Sheriff Devon Bell announced last May that three officials had been arrested in connection with abuse and cover-up charges at the Auburn jail.

The three have pleaded not guilty and the cases are pending.

Officials have agreed to settle one of the lawsuits – filed by former inmate Derek Conner – for $100,000, but have said the settlement “should not be interpreted as a statement as to the legitimacy of his claim.”

This story was originally published November 30, 2017 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Oops. Placer County says lawsuit in jail abuse case named wrong officer."