Arraignment was held Monday morning in Todd District Court for former sheriff and deputy jailer Billy Stokes, who is accused of forcing an inmate to perform a sex act on him last month inside the jail.
Court officials say a not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Stokes and Judge Ken Williams scheduled a preliminary hearing for May 30. Stokes is represented by Hopkinsville attorney Bill Deatherage.
As previously reported, Stokes was served with a warrant last week for third-degree sodomy and first-degree official misconduct relating to the alleged April 26 incident.
Kentucky State Police allege Stokes was observed on video in a hallway with two inmates. Stokes is reportedly seen pointing for one of the inmates to go toward a laundry room and he then goes into a maintenance room without cameras with the male victim.
That’s where Stokes is accused of forcing the victim to perform the sex act. The victim said to investigators Stokes told him he’d never see his family again if he told anyone.
Stokes, who served as Todd County sheriff from 2007 through 2010, was terminated from the jail on May 1.