Warren and Issaquena counties, their sheriffs, boards of supervisors and others have been named in a civil lawsuit filed by a Vicksburg man who says he was held in jail for eight months without having an initial court appearance.

Dustin Lawrence, age and address unavailable, filed the $7.5 million lawsuit in federal court April 11 at the U.S. District Court’s Southern office in Jackson.

According to the suit, Lawrence was arrested by Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace and Deputy Mike Traxler on grand larceny charges July 29, 2009.

Lawrence claims he was initially booked into the Warren County Jail but was later transferred to the Issaquena County Correctional Facility, where he was held for 260 days before finally being released by Judge M. James Chaney.

Lawrence alleges he never saw a judge for an initial appearance.

Pace said commenting on the specifics of a case in which a lawsuit has been filed would be inappropriate.

“In general, when someone is arrested on a felony charge, and had bond set, if they have another detainer placed on them by the Justice Court, such as for unpaid fines, they would be transported to Issaquena County and housed there until bond has been posted and the fines paid,” Pace said.

State court rules mandate that anyone charged with a crime be taken before a judge within 48 hours.

Warren County officials declined to comment.

Records show Lawrence was released from the Issaquena County Jail on April 14, 2010.

Lawrence claims his case was reviewed by a Warren County grand jury and he was not indicted, but according to grand jury reports issued since his arrest, his name does not appear on the lists of defendants that were no-billed.