Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis is being sued personally over the deputy who used his badge to prey on women — and a federal judge has refused to dismiss him from the case.

Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis is being sued personally over the deputy who used his badge to prey on women — and a federal judge has refused to dismiss him from the case.

In a memorandum opinion signed September 14, Judge Julie R. Rubin consolidated the two related lawsuits and denied the motions to dismiss filed by Lewis and the State of Maryland. The county's motion was granted without prejudice. That ruling is not a verdict, but it means the civil case against Lewis moves forward.

The lawsuit alleges Lewis bears responsibility through negligent hiring, training and retention, and through personal supervisory liability under Section 1983. The claims are tied to his responsibility for hiring, training and retaining former Deputy Steven Abreu.

Abreu's crimes are no longer allegations. He was sentenced to life plus 30 years for sexually assaulting women while on duty in October 2022. Wicomico County State's Attorney Jamie Dykes said Abreu “used his position as a law enforcement officer to isolate and sexually assault women while he was on duty.”

DelmarvaNow's reading of the federal docket says the consolidated complaint was filed September 21, Lewis and the state answered October 16, and Lewis and the state filed a joint status report October 23.

Abreu is already in prison for what he did. The question still moving through federal court is whether the office that employed him also failed the women he was sworn to protect.

Photo: Wicomico County Sheriff's Office.

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