Wilmington, DE – Wednesday — A federal judge has dismissed a civil rights lawsuit filed by Delaware inmate Steven Hickman, who alleged he was sexually assaulted and raped during a strip search in 2020, ruling that there was no evidence to support his claims against Correctional Officer Richard Donovan.

Hickman, who was incarcerated at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) at the time, filed the suit under 42 U.S.C. §1983, accusing Donovan of falsely claiming he saw a “ball of crack cocaine” in Hickman’s body cavity, which led to multiple invasive searches—including a final search at a hospital conducted without his consent.

In a memorandum opinion issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika granted summary judgment in favor of Donovan, denying Hickman’s motion and dismissing

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