Man sues Sacramento County for being held without charge

A man held for nearly a month in the Sacramento County jail has filed a federal lawsuit alleging financial loss and damage to his reputation.

Like all criminal defendants, Taylor Brophy was entitled to attend a hearing in a quick and timely manner after being arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence. But Brophy claims other inmates heard his case called during their hearings — and he was nowhere to be found.

Brophy says not only was his blood alcohol level not above the legal limit, he was apparently lost in the system — and now he’s suing.

Criminal defense attorney Mark Reichel said it’s unusual for someone to be held in custody for so long without appearing before a judge.

“Ordinarily in California, 99 percent of the time on a first time DUI, as soon as you’re sober enough, you’re out the door,” Mark told CBS13 News. “They don’t have places to hold you so they do want you out of there.”

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the agency that runs the central jail, didn’t comment when asked by a reporter about the lawsuit, but said charges other than DUI may have been at play and that the man may have owed jail time for a past charge, CBS13 reported.

Brophy is no longer in custody as of this writing.

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