Former Sullivan County prisoner assaulted by corrections officer files $3M civil suit

A former Sullivan County correctional officer and Sheriff Jeff Cassidy have been named in a $3 million civil suit filed in federal court in Greeneville tied to October 2018 assault in the county jail.

Attorneys for former inmate Travis Bellew said the county and sheriff provided an unsafe environment due to overcrowding and violated his civil rights among other claims. Officer Christopher Sabo was terminated from his job and charged with an assault on Bellew following an internal investigation.

Sabo was found guilty in Sessions Court in January and was given pre-trial diversion along with 50 hours of community service.

(PHOTO: SuperTalk 929 Archive)