CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A fired Kanawha County sheriff’s deputy no longer faces criminal charges in state court but now Cass Close is charged in federal court.
Close, 55, was set to go on trial on state charges later this year for allegedly sexually assaulting a female inmate earlier last year while working as a court bailiff in the Kanawha County Judicial Building.
The state charges were dismissed Friday two days after the FBI filed criminal charges against him.
Close is now charged with violating the civil rights of the female inmate while working under the color of law.
Kanawha County Prosecutor Debra Rusnak said a conviction on federal charges carries more prison time that a conviction on state charges.
“We made the tactical decision to bow out, allow the federal government to take the case, move forward, and hopefully get the justice in this case that we deserve,” Rusnak told MetroNews Monday.
The federal criminal charge said Close’s acts included aggravated sexual abuse. It’s alleged he physically forced the woman to engage in a sexual act.
According to the criminal complaint filed in federal court, the woman was transported to the judicial building on July 29, 2025 for a court hearing. She was placed in a holding cell not far from Close’s office away video surveillance.
The charge alleges Close brought the woman into his office both before and after her hearing and that he performed oral sex on her and forced her to do the same. She was shackled at the time. He also took a cell phone photo of the woman’s private area.
The complaint says Close admitted to the acts in an interview with state police on July 30, 2025 and then a bodycam video from the day he was arrested, July 31, 2025, allegedly has audio of Close admitting to what happened.
A civil lawsuit alleges Close did this more than once. Several other alleged victims have come forward as part of the civil suit.
Rusnak said no blame should be placed on the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office for what happened.
“I do not attribute any fault to the sheriff’s office at all,” Rusnak said. “They had a bad employee. They had a rogue employee. I don’t believe anything that occurred is attributable to the sheriff’s department.”
Rusnak said steps have been taken at the judicial building to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.
Close remains in custody.