Woman awarded $100,000 for wrongful arrest

By The
Published: September 29, 2010

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SANFORD --

A woman whose identity was stolen and kept overnight in the Seminole County jail has been awarded $100,000.

Someone stole the identity of 32-year-old Kimberly Shields Hesketh and violated probation, prompting Charlotte County authorities to issue a warrant for her arrest. It named Hesketh and used her date of birth and Social Security number.

Hesketh was arrested on April 24, 2002. She was held overnight and underwent a strip search. She remained in jail until the following day when a judge ordered her released.

Jurors ordered the sheriff's office Tuesday to pay Hesketh $75,000 for holding her overnight and another $25,000 for the strip search.

Defense attorney Tom Poulton told the Orlando Sentinel he will file paperwork, asking a judge to set aside the verdict.