Sedgwick County authorities and two Wichita lawyers are investigating allegations that a county deputy raped a male inmate in his cell in early June.

Sheriff Robert Hinshaw confirmed a rape allegation is being investigated. He said the deputy has been reassigned to a job in which he has no contact with inmates.

The lawyers, Kurt Kerns and Mark Schoenhofer, say they plan to file a notice with the county. That’s the first step toward a possible lawsuit alleging multiple civil rights violations and negligence.

Kerns says the inmate is a younger man who was jailed on a non-violent drug offense.

The Wichita Eagle reports the rape allegation comes at a time when the jail has been sued in federal court over treatment of mentally ill inmates.