PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A federal judge has ruled that parts of a lawsuit against a former Letcher County court security officer can move forward.

The case involves Ben Fields, who pleaded guilty in state court to sex crimes while supervising women on home incarceration. 

One of the plaintiffs, Sabrina Adkins, claims Fields coerced her into a sexual relationship by threatening her freedom if she didn’t comply. The judge found there’s enough evidence for a jury to decide whether the encounters were consensual, allowing her Fourteenth Amendment and assault-and-battery claims to proceed.

However, the court dismissed claims brought by another woman, Jennifer Hill, ruling they were filed too late. 

Claims against the sheriff’s office for failing to train or supervise Fields remain under review.