 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Sex offender's suit claims harassment
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer INVERNESS -- A man convicted of sexual assault on a child filed a federal lawsuit last week claiming he has been harassed by Sheriff Jeff Dawsy. James Couch, 50, of Beverly Hills filed the suit April 17 in U.S. District Court. In the suit, he claims Dawsy spread rumors about him, had him followed and illegally had his home searched. Couch pleaded guilty in 1993 to sexual assault while living in Keene, N.H. Couch said the charge stemmed from an incident when he grabbed a 12-year-old boy who he thought was bothering his cat. Couch accepted a plea bargain in the case rather than face a potential 11-year prison sentence, he said. Under Florida law, Couch had to register as a sex offender when he moved to Citrus County in 2000. He said he moved here to care for his ailing 80-year-old mother. Couch registered and had no problems until March, when his Beverly Hills neighbors filed a complaint with the Sheriff's Office after Couch gave their son a free compact disc he received on the Internet. According to the lawsuit, Dawsy heard about the complaint and began notifying the public about Couch's status as sex offender. The lawsuit, prepared by Ocala lawyer and former Citrus County judge candidate Charles Horn, said Dawsy approached members of the press and told them Couch was convicted of molesting young girls and passed out fliers in the community. Dawsy could not be reached for comment Thursday. Couch said he has been the object of ridicule since Dawsy made his neighbors aware of his sex offender status. "Now I'm getting rocks thrown at my house, I'm being egged and I'm receiving hate mail," he said. Horn said he is still in the process of serving Dawsy with the lawsuit. Couch said his ultimate goal is to be left alone. But he thinks his civil rights have been trampled and Dawsy should be held responsible. "He should pay for this," Couch said. -- Times researcher Kitty Bennett contributed to this report. Crime reporter Carrie Johnson can be reached at 860-7309 or cjohnson@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
Citrus Times |
