05/14/02

The City of Homewood has reached a secret settlement in a federal lawsuit filed by two women who accused jail guards of forcing them to perform sexual acts.

Wendy Crew, who represents Jynetta Ru Hodoh and April Christine Stagner in their suit, mentioned the settlement to U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon during a Monday civil trial for the only unsettled part of the 2-year-old claim.

Hodoh and Stagner filed suit Oct. 17, 2000, in U.S. District Court claiming that Homewood jail guards Douglas Crowder and Darrell Sykes forced them to perform sexual acts. They did not ask for specific damages.

The settlement covers Sykes and two jail supervisors named in the suit. Crowder, who no longer works for Homewood, is the remaining defendant. He is representing himself.

Crew and Homewood's insurance attorney, Tommy Yearout, said the settlement is confidential.

Mayor Barry McCulley said Monday evening that he was not aware of the settlement.

Crowder's trial is expected to finish today and go to the four-man, four-woman jury for a verdict.

Hodoh and Stagner testified Monday that Sykes and Crowder in 1999 coerced them into sex during the 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift in the Homewood jail, which did not have a female matron on duty.

"Fighting seemed to be a no-win situation," Hodoh said of Crowder, "because he's a prison guard."

Under questioning by Crew, Crowder denied making advances toward Hodoh, who claimed she had oral sex with him.

He testified that city police investigators confronted him with similar allegations in September 1999 but he also denied them then. He said he resigned after the investigation.

Stagner testified that she had sexual encounters with Sykes about 20 times during her 32-day stay in the jail.

The suit also named Sgt. James Franklin and Capt. Ed Kinnell of the Homewood jail, accusing them of failing to provide Hodoh and Stagner "a safe and secure environment."