Former Bexar County Inmate Receives Settlement for Discrimination

Beth Janicek

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 395

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Meoiniddin Ghavami was in Bexar County Jail on August 10, 2003 for a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass. Ms. Ghavami follows Islam and suffers from schizophrenia. During his arrest, he was pushed, kicked and forced to bathe by officers Juan Alanis and Jose Ledesma. They also ordered him to shave his beard even though he begged them not to because of his beliefs.

Scott Medlock of the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin, one of Ghavami's lawyers, contended his organization gets more complaints from inmates at Bexar County Jail than any other facility. The FBI acknowledged Tuesday that it is investigation individual complaints, but it declined to elaborate.

The settlement of $82,500.00 is on behalf of the officers individually and payment is to come from the county's insurer. The county was dismissed as a defendant.