A former Hillsdale County Sheriff’s deputy, who pleaded guilty to misconduct in office for engaging in a sexual relationship with a woman whom he had arrested, is now facing a federal lawsuit filed by the same woman. The lawsuit alleges that Todd Barkley used his position as a law enforcement officer to engage in sexual activity with Ariane Duby and stalk her and her family and friends.
Barkley was fired by Sheriff Scott Hodshire in September 2021 after it was discovered that he used his badge to remove Duby from a drug rehab facility in Kentucky for an afternoon meetup.
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office charged Barkley with one count of misconduct in office, to which he pleaded guilty.
He will be sentenced on December 14th and faces three years of probation and a lifetime ban from serving as a police officer.
The lawsuit also names the County of Hillsdale, the Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Scott Hodshire as defendants.
The Sheriff’s Office had placed Barkley on paid suspension in August 2021 after being tipped off about his trip to Kentucky. The results of an internal investigation were sent to the Attorney General’s office, leading to Barkley’s termination and subsequent arrest.
Duby is seeking in excess of $75,000 in damages plus other awards to be determined at trial.