By JEFF FARRELL

Staff Writer

An October date has been set for a federal jury to hear the civil complaint against Sevier County stemming from a sexual assault that occurred in the jail.

Five women have pleaded guilty to charges they held another woman down and groped her on Dec. 5, 2006, while they were being held at the Sevier County Jail on various charges.

The inmates allegedly believed the victim had smuggled drugs into the jail and were attempting to search her for the drugs, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing.

Kandi Arwood, Michelle Gunter, Megan Hudson, Krystal Kalwalksi and Vandy Morin were each charged with aggravated rape shortly after the incident.

Arwood, Hudson and Kawalski pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual battery July 7, 2008. Morin pleaded guilty to attempted rape Dec. 16, 2008, and Gunter pleaded guilty to attempted rape Aug. 17, 2009.

The victim also filed a federal complaint against the county and the five perpetrators, seeking $13.5 million. That complaint was held up in court while officials waited for the criminal proceedings to be completed.

Now that they have been, the civil trial has been set for Oct. 13. The deadline for filing motions, including those seeking dismissal or a summary judgment, is Aug. 18.

jfarrell@themountainpress.com