A federal trial is underway in San Francisco to determine if Sonoma County is responsible for the 2020 fentanyl overdose death of inmate Amber Marcotte.
According to the Press Democrat, the lawsuit, filed by Marcotte’s family, claims a “culture of lawlessness” allowed drugs into the jail. Her attorneys argue deputies failed to properly search inmates or monitor activity, and that a body scanner was not working.
The county’s attorney countered that deputies followed all jail rules and found no drugs. The trial is expected to include testimony from former Sheriff Mark Essick.