The lawsuit, which gained significant attention following its filing in October 2025, centers on a 2016 investigation that led to a 12-year-old victim being criminally charged with lying to police instead of her abuser being arrested.
Case Background
The legal action details a harrowing series of events from 2016:
- Initial Report: At age 12, Taylor Cadle reported years of sexual abuse by her adoptive father, Henry Cadle.
- Wrongful Prosecution: Rather than arresting the suspect, Polk County detectives accused Taylor of lying. She was forced to plead guilty to making false statements, placed on probation, and ordered to write letters of apology to both her abuser and the Sheriff’s Office.
- Continued Abuse: Because the investigation was closed, Taylor was returned to the custody of her abuser, where she was raped again.
- Self-Captured Evidence: In a desperate attempt to be believed, Taylor used a cell phone to record video and photographic evidence of the ongoing abuse. This evidence eventually led to Henry Cadle’s arrest and a 17-year prison sentence.
Current Status of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleges that the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) maintained a “pattern, policy, and custom” of failing to properly train detectives in child abuse cases. Key developments include:
- Legal Claims: The suit cites violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, specifically focused on malicious prosecution and substantive due process violations.
- Detective History: Records surfaced during the litigation showing that the lead detective had previously been reprimanded for separate failures in child abuse investigations but was not re-trained or disciplined significantly before Taylor’s case.
- Official Response: Sheriff Grady Judd and the PCSO have characterized the allegations as “baseless and fabricated,” stating that deputies made rational decisions based on the evidence available at the time. They have filed motions to defend against the suit vigorously.
- Policy Changes: While the Sheriff’s Office maintains its procedures were followed, the State Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit (which serves Polk County) has already changed its internal policies, now requiring administrative approval before any juvenile can be charged with lying about sexual abuse.
Note: The State Attorney’s Office has since vacated Taylor’s 2016 conviction and cleared her record, acknowledging she was telling the truth all along.
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Good … don’t want anyone thinking they have carte blanche.
Grady Judd is a big POS. I WOULD NEVER HAVE MY CHILDREN AROUND HIM.