Former inmate’s lawsuit alleges sex abuse at Sonoma County jail

Sonoma County jail officials are under fire in yet another federal civil rights lawsuit from a former woman inmate who says a correctional deputy made lewd comments to her and propositioned her for sex.

Charmaine Gray, 36, accuses former Deputy James Abrao of harassment and sexual assault in a Feb. 20, 2014, incident in which she alleges he asked her to show her breasts, exposed his genitals and made a late-night visit to her cell.

Gray, who was serving time in an identity theft case, alleges Abrao opened her cell door at about 3:30 a.m., but she hurried to shut it. It’s not clear what she alleges happened next.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claims the acts violated her constitutional rights. She names as defendants Sheriff Steve Freitas, Assistant Sheriff Randall Walker, the county and Abrao.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

“There’s no merit to it,” Abrao said Thursday.

He declined further comment, referring questions to his lawyer.

Abrao, 32, was employed as a correctional deputy from 2006 to April 28 of this year, human resources officials said. Details about why he left were not available.

Court records show a pending arrest warrant for Gray alleging a probation violation.

The Sheriff’s Office also did not return a call. Assistant County Counsel Sheryl Bratton denied the allegations but did not elaborate, citing the ongoing litigation.

The suit, transferred from Sonoma County Superior Court to federal court earlier this year, is one of three active lawsuits alleging civil rights violations against county jailers.

Two former inmates who claim they were among a group of 20 inmates beaten by guards May 28 filed a suit Monday. They say correctional deputies went cell to cell, pulling out handcuffed, high-security inmates for beatings spanning 5½ hours. The Sheriff’s Office denied the allegations in a written statement, saying deputies responded to a “coordinated mass disturbance” by inmates.

In another suit filed by the same attorney, a Forestville man who alleges he was shot multiple times with a Taser gun while being booked on drunken-driving charges is asking for $3 million to settle an excessive force claim.

San Francisco attorney Harry S. Stern, whose firm has represented police officers and correctional employees statewide, including Sonoma County Deputy Erick Gelhaus, said it is not uncommon for inmates to sue guards. But he said most complaints are “inflated to a fabulous degree” by people with lots of idle time who “don’t mind stretching the truth.”

Gelhaus shot and killed 13-year-old Andy Lopez in 2013 after he mistook an airsoft rifle the Santa Rosa youth was carrying for an assault rifle. No charges were filed against him. A civil lawsuit from the Lopez family is ongoing.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.