Federal judge rules Lake County Jail didn't violate man's rights by denying use of chapel

HAMMOND | A Gary man's rights were not violated by Lake County Jail officials who would not schedule Jehovah's Witness services in the jail chapel, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

Kevin D. Roy filed a civil lawsuit in 2009 against then-Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez and former jail Warden Benny Freeman, claiming the jail violated his civil rights by denying him the right to practice his religion in the jail's third-floor chapel. Other religions were allowed to use the chapel, he said in a complaint filed in Hammond federal court.

Roy claims he was forced to press his ear against the crack of a steel door of a day room to hear his minister give spiritual counsel from the other side.

Jail officials argued the number of inmates requesting Jehovah's Witness services was too small to justify using the chapel. They claimed they "provided Roy with religious visitation and services by Jehovah's Witness ministers, and provided him with private visitation booths and holding cells."

Federal Judge James Moody ruled Tuesday that Lake County officials did not violate Roy's rights by refusing to schedule services for him in the chapel.

"It is 'not constitutionally impermissible for defendants to consider the demand and need of the group requesting the chapel, along with space and staffing limitations, when deciding where religious groups will conduct their services,'" Moody said in his opinion, citing a different case.

However, Moody allowed part of Roy's suit to continue. Moody said Roy's claim that jail officials "made it unreasonably difficult for his minister to give him spiritual guidance" can proceed in federal court, records state.

Neither John Kopack nor Casey McCloskey, the attorneys representing Lake County officials, could be reached Tuesday for comment.

Roy, who is representing himself, also could not be reached Tuesday for comment. He is seeking $5 million in damages, court records state.