Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
By Ena Sellers
Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Luciana Barksdale, who had signed up for public comment at the March 18 County Commissioners meeting appeared in front of the board to express concerns about the neglectful care her nephew Dyson Fryer, who is diabetic, received at the Duplin County Jail.
“He stayed from [February] 18th to the 21st on charges that he had been cleared on previously,” Barksdale told the board. “During his time at the facility, Dyson repeatedly requested access to his prescribed diabetic medication. Despite his urgent pleas and alarming readings [on] the facility glucose monitor, he was denied proper treatment… Dyson wears a pump that distributes his diabetic medication to him. He was made to remove the monitor from him when he was arrested.”
According to Barksdale, Dyson was administered insulin, however it was not in accordance with his normal dose, and he was not provided insulin with his meals as required by his medical regimen.
“By Tuesday, his condition had deteriorated significantly. He was experiencing vomiting and unable to consume food. Despite [the] worsening state, his request for medical attention outside the jail was constantly denied. Instead of receiving the necessary care, he was placed in isolation when a period unwell, only to be returned to the general population when the nurse deemed him better,” said Barksdale. “The denial of proper medication and care had severe repercussions on his health. When his mother retrieved him from the facility, he was visibly weak and unsteady.”
Barksdale added that his condition did not improve at home even after the proper medication was administered and he had to be taken to the hospital.
“At the hospital, he was treated for dehydration and administered insulin and IV, gradually stabilizing his glucose level,” said Barksdale, adding that he is doing better now, but the family is deeply dissatisfied with the treatment that Dyson received.
“He was in DKA when he got to the hospital, meaning that he was near comatose status whenever he got to his medical physician,” said Barksdale, adding that the family is not asking for compensation, but for better awareness of the medical needs of someone dealing with diabetes so the person can receive the adequate medical treatment.
“Dyson could have lost his life. He asked several times to be sent to the hospital and he was denied that. His sugar level was over 500 during his stay,” Barksdale said.
The Board acknowledged her concern adding they will “definitely take this information forward.”
In other business:
The Board approved the funding plan for the Duplin County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Program Fiscal Year 2024-25. The budget of $212,657 remains the same, with some minor adjustments made to the amounts each program receives based on the enrollment according to Jason McGuirt, JCPC chair.
Niccoya Dobson, Chief public defender for District 5 and a native of Duplin County, appeared in front of the board to ask for office space. Dobson shared that Duplin was chosen as the home base for the district because of its location between Jones and Samson counties.
“I come asking for space that would accommodate our future needs as well as our immediate need… I would ask that the board consider one office in the courthouse,” said Dobson, explaining that the request is because their network must be secured, and the courthouse is already in compliance.
Dobson asked the board to consider an office to house their legal assistant until they can get an office with sufficient space for the entire staff. She added that once they hire the attorneys, they will be able to serve in the courtrooms daily. Dobson explained that the public defender’s office will serve criminal cases, child support cases, commitment hearings, among others.
“Our attorneys that we have here in Duplin County are phenomenal. Many of you know them. Many of you have worked with them. Many of you have grown up with them but they are general practitioners, therefore most of them practice in more than just one county… With the public defender’s office, we will have three dedicated attorneys in that courthouse… They will be ready to be in court to be at first appearances …so that hopefully we can resolve those cases on a faster basis. We can have the efficiency that we all love to hear about, but we can actually see that efficiency at work in the courtroom,” said Dobson, adding that will alleviate the added expense of keeping them in jail any longer than absolutely needed.
County Manager Bryan Miller explained that they are currently looking at three different options for office space.
“When we get those fully vetted, we’ll bring a recommendation as well as the two other options to the board,” said Miller.
Attorney Reginald Kenan, who was also present, explained to the board that few court appointed lawyers take serious felonies.
“There’s probably only two or three lawyers in this county that take the high-class felonies. I stay on the list because I think a poor person deserves adequate representation too. I particularly got 60 or 70 cases of felonies just by myself… the defendants need lawyers that can spend the time to adequately prepare their defense,” Kenan told the board adding that the public defender’s program was “the best thing that can happen to the indigent system as far as defendants in court who can’t afford a lawyer.”
Miller informed the board that the transportation department has moved into their new building and the Animal Control facility went through their final inspection and after they go through some fixes on their list, they will be able to move in.
The board went to recess until March 22 at 9 a.m., when they will conduct their yearly retreat.
