More charges against Pugh
By Kelly Youngcountybeat@jasonvilleprogress.com
TYLER - A civil lawsuit has been filed Thursday in Tyler federal court by six Cherokee County women accusing former Jacksonville Police Officer Larry Pugh of sexually assaulting them while on duty.Former Jacksonville Police Chief Mark Johnson and the city of Jacksonville are also named as defendants in the case.The new suit, the third filed against Pugh in the past year, brings the total number of sexual assault allegations against the former officer to eight. In September 2006, Pugh admitted to forcing two women to have sex with him while on duty, and to retaliating against one of these women when she began cooperating with the authorities. The retaliation charge was added after Pugh supposedly placed his belt around the victim’s neck and attempted to drag her to his van, before his belt snapped and she escaped.Pugh accepted a plea deal that ensures he won’t spend more than 12 years in prison. He is still awaiting sentencing for these three charges. The six complainants, five of whom claim to have been assaulted repeatedly by Pugh, allege that he would use arrest warrants to threaten them into having sex with him, and that he always appeared in uniform. The lawsuit alleges that the city and the JPD were negligent in allowing Pugh’s misconduct to occur and continue. Pugh was suspended from active duty in October, 2005.Jacksonville City Attorney Joe Angle would not comment on the newest suit, as it has yet to be served to the city.
http://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com/archivesearch/local_story_166164212.html
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