Judge Cichowicz files defamation lawsuit against Henry Davis Jr.

MGN

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- On Thursday, Probate Court Judge Jason Cichowicz filed a defamation lawsuit against former South Bend District 2 City Council member Henry Davis Jr. for remarks made to the South Bend Tribune, accusing him of stealing money. 

Cichowicz has faced scrutiny lately following the July 30 shooting death of Isaiah Walton-Davis after his alleged killer escaped during an outing for inmates at the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC). 

On Tuesday morning, a group of St. Joseph County Republican Party officials, including Party Chair Jackie Horvath and Davis Jr., held a press conference calling for the resignation of Cichowicz, who is up for re-election, due to the crime happening during his tenure. 

Davis Jr. is being sued for saying that "someone" had "stolen money" to give to the JJC. 

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, indicates that the Tribune article makes clear that the “someone” Davis was referring to was Cichowicz.

"The statement [Cichowicz] 'stole money' is false," the lawsuit says. "[The] Defendant published the statement to the South Bend Tribune with the understanding that the statement would then be published to the public at large."

"The communication is of a kind that tends to lower a person’s reputation in the community or to discourage others from dealing or associating with the person. It was highly probable that Defendant knew the communication was false or had serious doubts as to the truth of the communication."

On Friday, David Jr. spoke to ABC57 and reiterated his claims that Cichowicz stole money. 

Back in July, a few JJC inmates were taken on an outing to Four Winds Field for a South Bend Cubs game. During that outing, 18-year-old Cyjarron Odynski escaped, allegedly borrowing a phone and calling someone for a ride.

It was during this escape that he is alleged to have shot and killed Walton-Davis. Since that incident, local republicans have been calling on Cichowicz to resign.