A Nacogdoches woman has filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas against a former San Augustine County deputy and the current sheriff. Attorneys representing the plaintiff describe the former deputy as “a sexual predator of the worst kind”.
The complaint filed by the plaintiff, Tasha Letney, says that the activities in question began in late 2017 or early 2018 and accuses former deputy Terry Fountain of repeatedly coercing her into sexual activity after she became a confidential informant for the department, and falsely telling her that she was wanted in Angelina County and he could keep her from getting arrested.
The lawsuit also alleges that Fountain repeatedly asked Letney to send him sexually explicit photos, and he sent the same to her.
The lawsuit also accuses Sheriff Robert Cartwright of knowing about Fountain’s behavior, but not doing anything to stop it.
The lawsuit goes on to allege that in late 2019, Fountain, who was on duty, set up a late-night meeting in a cemetery with Letney and another woman and all three drank alcohol. The lawsuit alleges that Fountain then forced Letney to perform a sexual act with him.
The lawsuit also says that Fountain would make Letney buy drugs for him and his wife, and a photo of a bag of drugs containing either methamphetamine or cocaine sitting in front of Fountain and his wife was seen in a social media photo.
The lawsuit states that Letney went to the Texas Rangers in January of 2023 and filed a complaint, which was followed by an investigation and eventually the arrest of Fountain on a charge of Official Oppression and his termination from the San Augustine County Sheriff’s Department. The lawsuit also says that the San Augustine County District Attorney’s Office has since filed multiple felony charges against Fountain.
Letney is represented by Jason Byrd of Beaumont and Tanner G.M. Franklin of Nacogdoches. Federal court records do not yet show who Fountain or Cartwright is represented by.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_38012264-ee02-11ee-a30d-67a9b346e276.html