Federal court dismisses ex-deputy's suit against county

From Staff Reports

   A lawsuit filed by a former Carter County Sheriff's Department deputy against Sheriff John Henson and Carter County was dismissed by the U.S. District Court judge, according to the Court Clerk's office.
   The lawsuit was dismissed Nov. 19 following a motion from the county to dismiss because of the lawsuit's failure to state a claim, according to the U.S. District Court Clerk's office in Greeneville.
   Ex-deputy Gregory H. Depew sued the county and Henson for $500,000 one year after felony counts of official misconduct against him were dismissed.
   The original suit was filed in August through Carter County Circuit Court by attorney Lisa D. Rice. The case was moved to federal court in September, according to the Federal Court Clerk's office.
   Depew's complaint stated that he was fired from his position as a jailer in October 1999 for allegedly making false or misleading statements about contact with female inmates.
   His lawsuit alleged Depew was denied his constitutional right to counsel when he was terminated from his job after he requested an attorney be present while he was being interrogated by CCSD investigators about the incident.
   The Sheriff's Department officially stated that Depew was dismissed for not showing up for work.
   Depew was indicted by a grand jury on charges of official misconduct in March 2001 after a female inmate alleged that Depew had sex with her while she was incarcerated at the county jail.
   Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation into the charges.
   All criminal charges against Depew were dismissed after the district attorney's office chose not to prosecute the case in August 2001.