Rutledge’s Lawsuit Dismissed With Prejudice

Roosevelt County inmate Richard Rutledge’s lawsuit against Roosevelt County detention officers has been dismissed.

Rutledge and defendants Troy Blount and Debra Collins have stipulated that the action be dismissed with prejudice as to all claims and causes of action.

On April 6, 2022, Rutledge’s motion for discovery was denied as being moot.

Rutledge also filed a motion requesting that counsel be appointed to represent him. The court denied the request because no one, including incarcerated prisoners, has a constitutional right to be represented by appointed counsel when they choose to bring a civil lawsuit.

Rutledge is facing the charges of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of incest. He has been in the county jail awaiting trial for about three years. The trial was moved to the week of July 18 during a scheduling hearing on Jan. 25.