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Woman Who Claimed Jail Abuse Arrested; New Video Released

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

The sheriff's office released the DUI arrest video after media inquired about it, Chief Deputy Jose Docobo said.

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By RAY REYES of The Tampa Tribune and SAMARA SODOS of News Channel 8

Published: June 9, 2008

TAMPA - A woman who accused Hillsborough County detention deputies of abusing her when she was jailed in November 2006 was arrested again last week on a charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Marcella Pourmoghani-Esfahani, 40, of Tampa, went on a 30-minute tirade when she was arrested June 1, verbally abusing the female deputy who took her into custody and threatening more lawsuits against the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Chief Deputy Jose Docobo said Monday.

Pourmoghani-Esfahani did not resist arrest and "she was treated properly," the chief deputy said.

Her attorney, Virlyn B. Moore, said that on Nov. 11, 2006, his client was shown on a jail video being struck by a deputy in the holding area of the jail. Moore has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the deputy, the sheriff and the county.

On Monday, Moore said he did not see the point of the sheriff's office releasing Pourmoghani-Esfahani's June 1 arrest video other than as a tactic to "pollute the jury pool" when the case goes to trial.

"To bring in other incidents to besmirch her character is fundamentally unfair," Moore said.

The sheriff's office released the DUI arrest video after media inquired about it, Docobo said.

"It provides a different perspective on how she conducts herself," Docobo said. "I don't know of too many people who have their attorney on speed dial. But given her history, she probably needs it."

Hillsborough County Jail records show Pourmoghani-Esfahani was arrested three times in 2006 on charges of DUI or driving with a suspended or revoked license. Moore said his client "never said she was Mother Teresa" and that her June 1 arrest has nothing "to do about what we're suing about."

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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