Wilmington, DE – Wednesday — A federal judge has dismissed a civil rights lawsuit filed by Delaware inmate Steven Hickman, who alleged he was sexually assaulted and raped during a strip search in 2020, ruling that there was no evidence to support his claims against Correctional Officer Richard Donovan.
Hickman, who was incarcerated at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) at the time, filed the suit under 42 U.S.C. §1983, accusing Donovan of falsely claiming he saw a “ball of crack cocaine” in Hickman’s body cavity, which led to multiple invasive searches—including a final search at a hospital conducted without his consent.
In a memorandum opinion issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika granted summary judgment in favor of Donovan, denying Hickman’s motion and dismissing all pending motions related to the case, including four discovery requests for subpoenas.
According to court documents, Hickman alleged that Donovan’s initial claim triggered four subsequent searches, including visual inspections in front of other officers, a search involving a drug-sniffing dog, and ultimately a camera-guided anal cavity search at a hospital. Hickman claimed he was handcuffed during the hospital procedure and denied medical treatment afterward, causing lasting physical and psychological harm.
However, the court found no direct evidence implicating Donovan in the actual hospital search or in orchestrating the sequence of searches beyond the initial comment. Hickman acknowledged during deposition that Donovan was not present for the hospital procedure and that the officer’s remark may have been sarcastic rather than literal.
The judge noted inconsistencies in Hickman’s account and pointed out that the plaintiff was under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the incident, as admitted in his filings. The court also found that Hickman’s grievances lacked sufficient clarity or corroborating detail to support his $200 million damage request.
Court records revealed that SCI installed a body scanner following the incident, though there was no evidence directly linking that policy change to any wrongdoing by Donovan.
This decision closes the latest chapter in a lengthy legal battle that began more than three years ago, with no further recourse remaining in the federal court unless Hickman chooses to appeal.
Key Points
- Federal judge dismissed Steven Hickman’s lawsuit alleging sexual assault during a prison strip search.
- The court found no evidence linking Correctional Officer Richard Donovan to the hospital search or misconduct.
- Hickman sought $200 million in damages but admitted the officer may have been sarcastic in his initial comment.
A Delaware inmate’s explosive prison abuse claims collapsed in court after failing to back them with evidence.