A Mississippi sheriff is facing serious accusations of sexual harassment and coercion from multiple women, allegations he vehemently denies. Eddie Scott, the Clay County Sheriff since 2012, has been the subject of an extensive investigation by The New York Times and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today. The investigation, involving dozens of interviews, has brought to light several disturbing claims against the long-serving lawman.

One accuser, Amber Jones, alleges that Scott used his position of power to coerce her into a sexual relationship while she was incarcerated in 2017. Jones, then 21, claims Scott offered her a clerical job within the jail and subsequently manipulated her vulnerability, offering home passes in exchange for sexual favors. She describes feeling powerless and violated by the alleged encounters, which she claims continued for eight months.

Scott denies Jones's accusations, labeling her a "con artist." However, Jones's account is not isolated. A 2012 court case reveals another woman accused Scott of similar behavior, claiming he coerced her into a sexual relationship with promises of leniency in her own criminal case. Letters purportedly written by Scott to this woman, containing sexually explicit language, were presented as evidence. While the judge ruled against the woman at the time, the resurfacing of these letters adds weight to the current allegations.

More recently, a former employee of the sheriff's office, Caitlyn Wilson, filed a lawsuit in 2022 detailing sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Wilson alleges Scott made unwanted advances, sent inappropriate text messages to female staff, and used derogatory language towards women. She further claims she faced retaliation after filing an EEOC complaint, including isolation at work and the eventual termination of her boyfriend, also employed by the sheriff's office. Scott dismisses Wilson's allegations, attributing his alleged crotch-rubbing incident to illness and characterizing his text messages as harmless humor.

Adding another layer to the developing scandal, Jones claims she was targeted by law enforcement after Wilson's complaint, alleging a deputy planted drugs in her car. She believes this was retaliation for her involvement in the accusations against Scott. Wilson's lawsuit is scheduled for trial next year, while Scott maintains his innocence and expects to be re-elected. The sheriff’s office has not responded to requests for comment.