PINE BLUFF, AR -- A Pine Bluff mother filed a civil lawsuit Thursday morning claiming a court employee at the Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center attacked and injured her 14-year-old son.
Attorneys filed the 10-page civil lawsuit in federal court. That mother, Karen Walls, is suing Sixth Judicial Court Judge Earnest Brown, court chief of staff Roderick Shelby, and parole officer Jose Doe.
The incident happened on April 18, 2011, as Shelby and Doe escorted 14-year-old Chadarious Avery and other inmates back to their rooms. The lawsuit says Avery mumbled something under his breath, and because of that, Shelby became offended and choked the teen, drove him into a nearby wall, and then bashed his head into the wall.
The parole officer is accused of restraining the teen so Shelby could continue the attack.
The lawsuit claims Shelby's blows were so powerful that he fractured one of his hands.
The civil lawsuit includes Judge Brown because he allowed Shelby to return to work after state police conducted an investigation. Shelby was also a part-time deputy until the Jefferson County Sheriff fired him following that state police investigation. Neither Shelby nor Judge Brown has returned my repeated calls.
The prosecuting attorney is reviewing the case to see if there is enough evidence to file criminal charges.
