- A woman won a settlement of $350,000 after claiming Orangeburg County Deputy Dereck Johnson forced her into oral sex
- Johnson was on a call to the woman’s house after her boyfriend said there was a domestic issue
- The officer told the woman he would arrest her if she didn’t perform oral sex
- The woman was awarded $349,000 and $1,000 was awarded to her then 16-year-old daughter who was asleep inside the home during the incident
Dereck Johnson, 36, pleaded guilty earlier this month to misconduct in office
A woman who accused a former South Carolina sheriff’s deputy of forcing her into a sex act has settled a civil lawsuit.
The Times & Democrat of Orangeburg reports Monday that the woman received a $350,000 settlement earlier this year from the South Carolina Insurance Reserve Fund.
The newspaper obtained details on the settlement through an open records request.
Former Orangeburg County Deputy Dereck Johnson, 36, pleaded guilty earlier this month to misconduct in office and is serving three years probation and 100 hours of community service.
On June 12, 2016, Johnson and his training officer were responding to a call in rural Orangeburg County near Interstate 95 about a domestic issue.
The woman’s boyfriend called police after they got into a fight over a social media posting.
Johnson was fired last year after the woman accused him of forcing her to perform oral sex on him while her boyfriend was outside, threatening to arrest her if she refused.
The woman received a $350,000 settlement earlier this year from the South Carolina Insurance Reserve Fund (pictured, Orangeburg County Administrative office)
In the settlement, $349,000 was awarded to woman and $1,000 was awarded to her then 16-year-old daughter who was asleep inside the home during the incident.
The unnamed woman’s attorney Justin Bamberg told the paper: ‘Most officers and the departments in which they serve are amazing, and we should be grateful that they have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting us all.’
‘However, we must continue to fight against any abuse of power. And we will play an important role in addressing that issue.’
After the incident, the woman told The Associated Press she feared no one would believe the allegation.