An Arkansas inmate’s lawsuit accusing prison officials of failing to stop years of sexual abuse by a chaplain is moving toward trial, nearly a decade after she first spoke up.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 3 that Carolyn Arnett’s claims against three former administrators at the all-women’s McPherson Unit in Newport can proceed, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Arnett is serving a life sentence for her role in a 1997 Greene County killing.
Judge Duane Benton wrote that a “reasonable jury” could find the officials had authority over chaplain Kenneth DeWitt and failed to supervise him. Arnett alleges DeWitt sexually abused her weekly for nearly four years under the guise of counseling and ministry work.
Arnett sued several prison officials in 2021, claiming they were aware of DeWitt’s behavior and failed to protect her. A federal judge dismissed some defendants but allowed claims against three supervisors to continue. The appeals court upheld that ruling.
DeWitt pleaded guilty in 2016 to three counts of third-degree sexual assault and was sentenced to five years in prison. Prison officials named in the lawsuit have denied knowing about the abuse or failing to act.
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