James Bruce DeStephens v. Sadie Darnell

Case: 19-11485 Date Filed: 11/19/2019 Page: 1 of 3
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
______________________
No. 19-11485
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket No. 1:17-cv-00011-MW-GRJ
JAMES BRUCE DESTEPHENS,
Plaintiff -Appellant,
versus
SADIE DARNELL,
Sheriff of Alachua County Florida,
DAVID DURDEN,
Deputy,
CHRISTOPHER DASHER,
Deputy,
JOHN DOE,
other Deputies,
Defendants – Appellees,
MICHAEL RICHARDSON,
Deputy, et al,
Defendants.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Florida
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(November 19, 2019)
Case: 19-11485 Date Filed: 11/19/2019 Page: 2 of 3
Before WILLIAM PRYOR, JORDAN, and NEWSOM, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Alachua County Deputies David Durden and Christopher Dasher separately
arrested James DeStephens on charges of domestic battery and strangulation
(Deputy Durden/Jan. 2013) and domestic battery (Deputy Dasher/Dec. 2013). The
arrests were based on the accusations of Jacqueline Weeks, who was Mr.
DeStephens’ girlfriend.
Mr. DeStephens sued Deputies Durden and Dasher for false arrest under 42
U.S.C. § 1983. The district court concluded that Deputies Durden and Dasher each
had probable cause (or at least arguable probable cause) to arrest Mr. DeStephens,
and granted summary judgment in their favor.
Mr. DeStephens now appeals. He disputes Ms. Weeks’ accusations, and
asserts that material issues of fact precluded summary judgment. Following a review
of the record, we affirm for the reasons set forth in the district court’s well-reasoned
order. See D.E. 117 at 6-13.
To summarize, there was probable cause for the two arrests. Deputies Durden
and Dasher each (1) had the statements of Ms. Weeks accusing Mr. DeStephens of
battery, and (2) observed visible bruising on Ms. Weeks which was consistent with
her allegations. Mr. DeStephens argues that the Deputies should have disbelieved
Ms. Weeks (because she had been Baker-acted, had alcohol-related problems, and
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Case: 19-11485 Date Filed: 11/19/2019 Page: 3 of 3
wanted revenge on Mr. DeStephens). He also contends that further investigation
would have shown that Ms. Weeks’ claims against him were false. But we agree
with the district court that, under the circumstances, the Deputies were entitled to
rely on Ms. Weeks’ statements and the physical evidence to establish probable cause.
See Rankin v. Evans, 133 F.3d 1425, 1441 (11th Cir. 1998). And because the
Deputies had probable cause for their respective arrests, there is no basis for the
liability of Sadie Darnell, the Sheriff of Alachua County.
AFFIRMED.
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