A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the Nye County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Tony DeMeo by the family of Vincent Zucchero, an inmate in the Tonopah jail who hung himself to death last January.

Zucchero was found in his cell last January, where he had hung himself using a bed sheet he had tied into a makeshift noose.

According to DeMeo, Zucchero was arrested in Pahrump in November 2006 and booked on a domestic violence charge.

In addition, Zucchero was facing charges of burglary, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and larceny.

Although the domestic violence charge was ultimately dismissed, while conducting a background check on Zucchero, the sheriff's office discovered that he was also a wanted felon in California.

DeMeo said Zucchero was awaiting extradition to California at the time he committed suicide.

Although he was originally incarcerated in Pahrump, Zucchero was later transferred to the Tonopah detention facility.

The lawsuit alleges that the sheriff's deputies at the Tonopah jail failed to implement suicide prevention measures despite other inmates telling jailers they saw Zucchero preparing for his death.

According to the complaint filed by Zucchero's family this week, "The inmates noticed that Mr. Zucchero had secured the other end of the (bed) sheet through his cell door (by tying a knot and putting it over the top of the door). The inmates further observed that Mr. Zucchero was pulling on the sheet" as if to see whether it could take his weight.

The complaint alleges that although the other inmates informed the deputies of Zucchero's actions immediately, the deputies failed to act in such as way as to prevent his taking his own life, thus violating his Eighth and 14th Amendment rights.

DeMeo adamantly denied the allegation, emphasizing that not only are the deputies trained in addressing inmates with special medical and psychological needs, but that the Tonopah facility has a special incarceration room for the inmates who require specific care.

"Our deputies are trained in that," DeMeo said. "If there's a person with special needs, we have a policy in place to deal with that."

DeMeo further denied another allegation of the lawsuit, which claims that despite suffering several seizures and exhibiting various symptoms, Zucchero did not receive adequate medical treatment.

"This inmate was seen by a doctor on numerous occasions," DeMeo said.

In addition, the sheriff said that after Zucchero's suicide, he immediately contacted the Department of Justice to conduct an independent investigation.

This, according to DeMeo, is the reason behind yet another allegation in the suit, which is that Zucchero left behind a last will and testament requesting that he be cremated. According to the family, despite numerous efforts to obtain the will, along with other personal effects, the sheriff's office did not turn the document over to them.

As such, the family buried Zucchero not knowing of his wish to be cremated.

But DeMeo said that the will was turned over to the Department of Justice and was evidence in the investigation.

Furthermore, DeMeo said he did not receive any letters from the family requesting the will but had met Zucchero's father and explained the investigation procedure.

In addition, the sheriff said his office made arrangements to transport the body as quickly as possible because "we were aware of the tragedy of what occurred."

"My detention staff is excellent," DeMeo maintained. "The facility in Tonopah is excellent."