The police union on the hook for former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Wilkey’s legal fees is suing the county for roughly $348,000, court documents show.
Wilkey was accused of coercing a woman into a baptism during a traffic stop in 2019 and he went on to face 44 criminal charges, including six counts of sexual battery, two counts of rape, nine counts of official oppression and multiple counts of extortion, stalking and assault.
All 44 charges were dismissed in May 2013 due to missing case files. He has also faced multiple lawsuits. The county funded his defense in several lawsuits, but opted not to cover fees in two cases.
A lawsuit filed July 2 by the National Association of Government Employees, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and Wilkey argued the county is obligated under its employee liability plan to reimburse the money spent defending Wilkey in the two lawsuits.
The county this week responded to the lawsuit, saying Wilkey’s actions in the two lawsuits were outside the course and scope of his employment.