Cameron — A former Milam County inmate sued the county in federal court Monday.
According to his attorney, Ty Clevenger, John L. Robertson filed the lawsuit Monday after Milam County Jail guards allegedly assaulted him in 2016.
In addition to the county, the lawsuit also names as defendants: Milam County Sheriff David Greene, District Attorney William Torrey, Chief Deputy Chris White, Former Captain and Jail Supervisor Katrina Douglas, Jailer Jonathan Mendoza, Jailer Cindy McBee, Jailer Joshua Hughes, Jail Nurse Stephanie Vargas, Inmate Physician Stuart J. Yoffe, and Milam County Sheriff's Captain Ryan Blankenmeyer.
The lawsuit states Robertson was on probation in 2016 for an assault charge when he informed his probation officer he wanted treatment for drug addiction. He told Channel 6 in 2016 he was in the jail voluntarily while awaiting transfer to a drug rehabilitation program.
In July 2016, Jailer Jonathan Mendoza ordered the inmates in Robertson's cell to go to the recreation yard when some of the inmates delayed saying they didn't want to go, according to the suit. It continued to state Robertson encouraged the inmates to do as the guard instructed when the guard confronted Robertson saying he didn't want him telling anyone else what to do.
Following the recreation period, Robertson said the aforementioned guard returned to his cell with Jailer Cindy McBee and Jailer Joshua Hughes. At that time, they allegedly handcuffed Robertson and dragged him out of the cell and down a hallway toward another cell, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states in spite of his willingness to walk, they dragged Robertson and threatened him with a taser. Upon arrival at the new cell, with Robertson still in handcuffs, Mendoza allegedly stood on the Plaintiff's back causing severe pain to which the guard allegedly replied, "Shut the f*** up," according to the lawsuit.
Then, Mendoza allegedly turned Robertson's head to one side and put weight on it, breaking one of Robertson's teeth, the lawsuit claimed.
Jail staff then allegedly left Robertson without treatment in a cell, despite requests for medical treatment. Then, the same three guards allegedly moved Robertson to a padded cell with feces on the walls and left him naked for 24 hours, still without medical attention.
"For clothing, they threw him a smock that was damp with urine and too small for him to wear," the lawsuit said. "The Plaintiff was unable to eat because they tried to serve him food through a portal that was stained with feces."
Robertson said two days later he was partially paralyzed when the nurse on duty, Jail Nurse Stephanie Vargas, said there was nothing wrong with him and he was faking his injuries, the lawsuit claimed.
Following a shift change, Robertson said the jail staff called an ambulance to take him to Baylor, Scott & White Medical Center in Temple. While at the hospital, a county sheriff's deputy allegedly told hospital staff the jail's medical staff said Robertson was faking his injuries, but hospital staff then responded by confirming the injuries.
The lawsuit claims Robertson was paralyzed from the waist down for more than two weeks because the injuries caused pressure against his spinal cord. The lawsuit alleges Robertson required neurosurgery and extensive physical rehabilitation.
As a result of his injuries, the lawsuit claimed Robertson was unable to work, so he could not afford to pay his probation fees and child support -- leading him to be arrested again for failure to pay child support. The lawsuit alleges Robertson was then held in the Milam County Jail for two months without being arraigned and without having a lawyer appointed to represent him.
The lawsuit even alleges Milam County Sheriff's Captain Ryan Blankenmeyer threatened to shoot him at one point.
"The Plaintiff still suffers from chronic pain in his back and from burning sensations in his legs as a result of the injuries," said the lawsuit.
The case was sent to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards in 2016, at which time they forwarded it to law enforcement agencies like the FBI, Milam County Sheriff's Office and Milam County District Attorney.
At that time, Milam County Sheriff David Greene said he could not comment due to a pending lawsuit, although District Attorney Bill Torrey said the Texas Rangers were investigating. When reached by phone Monday after the lawsuit was filed, Greene reiterated that he would not be making any comment now either.
It is unknown what the status of the Ranger investigation is at this time.
"The Ranger in charge advised that this is still an open and active investigation," DPS Spokesperson Dave Roberts said in an email. "No information is being released at this time in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation."
Channel 6 News reached out to the District Attorney's Office, which said it would not comment on ongoing litigation and had not yet been served with the lawsuit, as of late Monday morning.
This story will be updated if any other county or law enforcement officials decide to comment.
Robertson is suing for both actual and punitive damages, along with attorney fees.