WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A lawsuit filed in Mingo County this week alleges a female prisoner was forced to have sex against her will with a civilian court bailiff in the courthouse boiler room.

The lawsuit, filed against the bailiff and the Mingo County Commission, alleges the bailiff had a weapon on him back in June, when he took the woman to the boiler room in handcuffs and leg irons, and forced her to have sex with him.

The lawsuit goes on to allege that Mingo County’s bailiffs have a long history of taking female inmates to the boiler room, where they provide them with contraband in exchange for sexual favors. The complaint describes the illicit actions of the Mingo County civilian court bailiff system as evidence of “virulent political factionalism and pervasive dysfunctional relationships among elected officials.”

The defendants have not filed a response to the allegations.