Park sex sting spurs lawsuit

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By KSEE 24 News

Story Published: Sep 27, 2007 at 9:09 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 28, 2007 at 12:46 AM EDT

A San Francisco attorney has filed suit against the Fresno County Sheriff's Department and several individuals, claiming civil rights were violated five years ago in a Roeding Park sex sting.

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Attorney Bruce Nickerson represents Martin Coldwell, one of dozens of people arrested in October of 2002.

While many of those arrested were prosecuted for "committing" sex acts, charges of "soliciting" a sex act against Coldwell were later dropped.

"The arrests were invalid; 1) They were arresting people for legal behavior; 2) the arrests were discriminatory in that they only arrested male-male solicitation, never for male-female solicitation,” Nickerson said during a phone interview with KSEE 24 News.

Nickerson says he's seeking $1 million in damages for his client.

Attorneys for Fresno County had no comment on the lawsuit.

The suit is not expected to be tried for at least two years.

Click on the video link to watch Bud Elliott's report.

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