By Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel
11:47 p.m. EDT, September 28, 2010

SANFORD — A jury Tuesday awarded $100,000 to a Winter Park woman who accused the Seminole County Sheriff's Office of keeping her locked up overnight, even though employees knew she was innocent.

Jurors deliberated about two hours before ruling in favor of Kimberly Shields Hesketh, 32.

A Southwest Florida car thief had stolen Hesketh's identity and violated probation, prompting Charlotte County authorities to issue a warrant for her arrest. It named Hesketh and used her date of birth and Social Security number.

Hesketh was arrested and taken to the Seminole County Jail on April 24, 2002. Within two hours, according to evidence, jail employees realized she wasn't the person wanted by Charlotte County, but they didn't free her.

They held her overnight, subjected her to a strip search and took her to a judge after lunch the following day, encouraging him to set her free.

The judge ordered her released, and she was set free about three hours later.

Jurors on Tuesday ordered the Sheriff's Office to pay Hesketh $75,000 for holding her overnight and another $25,000 for the strip search.

"We're very happy," said Hesketh's attorney, Crystal Eiffert.

Hesketh broke into tears after the verdict was read.

Defense attorney Tom Poulton said he would file paperwork, asking a judge to set aside the verdict.

Hesketh filed suit in 2005, and the case took five years to come to trial, in part, because it was transferred to federal court then back to state circuit court.

Rene Stutzman can be reached at rstutzman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6394.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-09-28/news/os-wrong-inmate-verdict-20100928_1_crystal-eiffert-defense-attorney-tom-poulton-jurors-award