ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A woman is suing Orange County because she said a jail guard groped her. Former Orange County Corrections Officer Michael Combs was sent to jail for the attack.
Now, the victim told WFTV why the jail should have known better.
Combs admitted to touching female inmates, not once, but four times, four different women in less than four days.
Brittany O'Neal was one of those women.
"He smacked me on my bottom and asked me if I needed another spanking like my daddy never did and if I was going to be good," O'Neal said.
Combs was fired, his license was revoked and he served 60 days in jail.
He worked as a corrections officer for Orange County for 25 years.
"You would think with a track record like that, there are literally hundreds of women he's abused or assaulted in the past," attorney Howard Marks said.
Combs had been suspended in the past for inappropriate behavior around female inmates, which is one reason why O'Neal is suing Orange County civilly.
O'Neal says had the county done more, this would not have happened to her or the other three women.
"To have an officer which they know or should have known, sexually assault your female inmate, I can't think of anything more egregious. I don't care what you're in jail for," Marks said.
In part, O'Neal is going after the county for negligent rehiring and retention, and violation of civil rights.
"How far has he taken it with other women that were afraid to say something or come forward?" O'Neal said.
Combs retired during the investigation and collects his pension because he took a plea deal on a misdemeanor charge.
County employees lose their pensions only if they're convicted of a felony.
WFTV
