New Ellenton denies allegations in lawsuit

The City of New Ellenton has responded to a legal demand for compensation from an area resident who railed against police policies and local ordinances and claimed officers have targeted him.

In its response to a lawsuit brought by James Bouknight, the City has denied all charges. Bouknight has accused the City of false arrest and false imprisonment in relation to charges brought against him that a jury dismissed, as well as slander and other violations.

Though a jury found him not guilty of the alleged assault on a New Ellenton police officer, the City disagrees.

"Notwithstanding the acquittal and favorable termination of the criminal proceedings referred to in plaintiff's complaint, plaintiff was, in fact, guilty of the offenses charged," the City claims in its response.

Bouknight filed a civil suit in Aiken County in February, demanding compensation related to claims that he was subject to a pattern of harassment from the tiny, rural municipality. He is demanding damages from the City of New Ellenton, Mayor Vernon Dunbar, New Ellenton Police Department Chief Alicia Parks and other New Ellenton police officers, as well as the estate of Johnny Hamilton, the late former police chief.

In his filings, Bouknight describes what he sees as a pattern of intimidation and harassment against him "to prevent him from exercising his constitutional rights of voicing opposition against the policies and actions of the City."

The Aiken County resident claims he has been the target of a campaign because of his gruff protests surrounding the policing of certain portions of the city and where they meet boundaries.

The campaign includes acts from the obscure - a police officer hiring a teen to throw eggs at Bouknight - to breaches of law that led to a police officer filing false assault charges against him, Bouknight's suit claims.

In its response, written by attorney Sidney Jones of the Aiken law firm Jones and Lynn, the City denies all allegations and states that the lawsuit is frivolous.

"Defendants ... acted reasonably and in good faith and did not violate any clearly established right of the plaintiff, and therefore they are qualified immune from suit," the filing states. "(Officials) did not perform any acts or fail to perform any acts in bad faith, in a malicious manner or with corrupt motives."

Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.