CHARLESTON - The sister of an inmate at the Anthony Correctional Center has filed a suit against the center, claiming her sister was sexually harassed while incarcerated.
Tammy Todd filed the suit Aug. 29 in Kanawha Circuit Court on behalf of her sister, Julie Wyatt.
The suit is against the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Commissioner Jim Rubenstein and Dave Masters, a correctional officer at the center.
According to the suit, Wyatt was an inmate at the Anthony Correctional Center in 2006 and 2007, when she was allegedly sexually harassed and abused by Masters.
More than half a dozen suits have been filed against Masters by inmates and former inmates of Anthony who claim Masters sexually assaulted them.
Todd claims her sister was a victim of unwelcome touching, harassment, solicitations for sexual favors, battery, assault, infliction of emotional distress and other outrageous and atrocious conduct.
According to the suit, Wyatt suffered humiliation, annoyance and inconvenience, invasion of privacy, emotional distress, pain and suffering, mental anguish and other damages.
Todd claims the state Division of Corrections breached their duties to provide a reasonably safe facility. She claims Masters exhibited cruel and unusual behavior toward her sister, which was caused by the DOC's failure to train and supervise their employees.
In the 10-count suit, Todd seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Wyatt and herself.
Attorney Kerry Nessel is representing Todd. The case has been assigned to Judge Charles King.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1664
Woman says inmate sister was sexually harassed
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