By David Taube
Beaver County Times
HOPEWELL TWP. — A former Beaver County Jail guard has filed a federal complaint against the county, the jail’s warden and a former lieutenant.
The former guard, Sgt. Tom Fouse, suggested in the complaint his civil rights were violated because county employees allegedly retaliated against him, causing his termination at the jail without due process, the complaint stated.
The issue stems from a June 2013 incident in which $2,800 went missing that belonged to a female inmate being booked.
Mario Monac, the lieutenant named in the lawsuit, made statements during an Oct. 23, 2013, county prison board meeting, where comments damaged Fouse’s reputation and included false statements and sensitive personnel information, the complaint said.
A week after the money was discovered missing, the county also changed a policy about depositing money for people being booked, the complaint said. Deputy Warden Carol Steele sent a memo July 17, stating money must be immediately placed in a safe, regardless of whether a person would be incarcerated or not, the complaint said.
Assistant county solicitor Andrea Cantelmi said Wednesday the county had not yet been served with the complaint.
The incident caused the county to fire Officer Daniel Fleishman, Fouse and Monac. Fouse also lost his position with another local police department, the complaint said. The inmate was repaid through the Inmate Welfare Fund, funded through phone and commissary revenue, Warden William Schouppe said previously.
The complaint said Fouse was entitled to a hearing to defend himself and a full evidentiary hearing.
The county prison board voted Nov. 1, 2013, in a special meeting to fire Fouse and Monac, given Schouppe’s recommendation. Fleishman was fired after a Nov. 18, 2013, disciplinary hearing.
Fouse is seeking $75,000 or more in damages in addition to punitive damages.