Video: Previous coverage of the third lawsuit filed against Cass Close.
KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) – A fourth lawsuit has been filed against a former Kanawha County deputy who was accused earlier this year of sexually assaulting an inmate.
Attorney Jesse Forbes announced the lawsuit Wednesday, Nov. 5. As with the three previous lawsuits, former deputy Cass Close, the Kanawha County Commission and a Kanawha County deputy identified only as John Doe are listed as the defendants.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff, an inmate at the South Central Regional Jail, had been arrested earlier in the year and had a circuit court hearing in July 2025, the same month Close was charged with sexually assaulting another inmate. The lawsuit says Close was acting as baliff at the time of the plaintiff’s hearing.
The lawsuit states that while the plaintiff was in the holding cell area at the Judicial Annex Courthouse, she requested to use the restroom, and Close escorted her. The lawsuit accuses Close of entering the restroom with her rather than waiting outside to allow her privacy.
New lawsuit filed against ex-Kanawha County deputy charged with sexual assault by second accuser
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges that Close then proceeded to make “a series of inappropriate sexual comments” to her before ordering her to take down her pants. According to the lawsuit, he then allegedly proceeded to touch her inappropriately before stepping out and watching her through the window as she used the restroom.
According to the lawsuit, Close allegedly resumed making inappropriate comments after the plaintiff used the restroom. The plaintiff also accuses him of sexually assaulting her, inappropriately touching her and taking inappropriate photos of her. The lawsuit says Close stopped and took her back to her holding cell when it sounded like someone was approaching the restroom area.
The lawsuit says the plaintiff was in handcuffs and shackles during the encounter.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of:
- Violation of Civil Rights – Cass Close
- Violation of Civil Rights – John Doe
- Negligent Training – Kanawha County Commission
- Negligent Supervision – Kanawha County Commission
- Negligent Retention – Kanawha County Commission
- Monell Liability for Violations of the U.S. Constitution – Kanawha County Commission
- Negligence – Kanawha County Commission
- Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress – Kanawha County Commission
- West Virginia Human Rights Act Violations – Kanawha County Commission
Close was arrested and fired in late July after allegations that he had sexually assaulted an inmate in custody. He is charged with “imposition of sexual acts on persons incarcerate, detained or under supervision,” and waived his preliminary hearing on Aug. 11.
Third lawsuit filed against ex-Kanawha County deputy charged with sexual assault
The KCSO says that, according to court documents, West Virginia State Police received a complaint on Tuesday, July 29, that an inmate had been sexually assaulted at the South Central Regional Jail. The WVSP is conducting a criminal investigation, and the KCSO has started an internal investigation into the allegations, as well.
Forbes and diTrapano filed a lawsuit on behalf of the inmate in early August.
Then, in late August, a second accuser came forward with allegations against Close, prompting a second lawsuit from the attorneys. Close, “John Doe,” and the Kanawha County Commission are also named as the defendants in the two previous lawsuits.
A third lawsuit was announced on Oct. 1, in which the accuser, a female Kanawha County resident, claims that she was in custody at the regional jail and was brought to the courthouse for a circuit court hearing, where Close was acting as the bailiff. She alleges that while in the first-floor holding area, the elevator and after the hearing, Close made “sexually charged statements and threats” toward her, among other accusations.
