Woman says correctional officer sexually harassed her

CHARLESTON -- A former Northern Regional Jail inmate is suing a correctional officer she claims sexually harassed her during her incarceration.

The West Virginia Regional Jail Authority and an unknown and unnamed individual were also named as defendants in the suit.

Shannon White was an inmate at Northern Regional Jail in Mason County when C.O. Farrell sexually harassed, abused and assaulted her, according to a complaint filed April 23 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

White claims the jail authority owed a duty to her to provide a reasonably safe confinement facility and failed to do so.

The defendants negligently breached their duties by allowing White to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment and sexual misconduct during her incarceration, according to the suit.

White claims the jail authority "maintained the confinement facility with deliberate indifference and disregard" for her welfare.

The jail authority also knew or should have known that placement in the Northern Regional Jail with Farrell exposed White to a substantial risk of serious injury, according to the suit.

White is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Matthew J. Woelfel.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-718