Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Controller accused of harassing worker

In federal lawsuit, former employee alleges that Kathy Augustine sexually stalked him

CARSON CITY -- Nevada Controller Kathy Augustine, already facing an ethics complaint for allegedly making her office staffers do campaign work, also has been accused of sexual harassment in a federal court complaint filed by a former chief deputy.

The complaint against the state and 10 unnamed defendants by Art Ingram, now an Army lieutenant colonel on duty in Germany, alleges Augustine hired him in February 2003 and soon started "a course of sexual harassment and sexual stalking or pursuit."

The attorney general's office -- which filed the ethics complaint against Augustine -- represents her in the federal court case and denied the sexual harassment claims in a July 12 response to Ingram's lawsuit.

Augustine didn't return calls requesting comment on the complaint, filed June 17 by Ingram's attorney, Mark Mausert.

The complaint states that Augustine told Ingram he had to escort her to various social functions, and made sexual advances by trying to kiss him and touch him "in an overtly sexual manner that was not welcomed." The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including compensation for the loss of future pay and benefits, plus costs and attorney fees.

Augustine said last week that it's "business as usual in our office" despite the ethics complaint filed by the attorney general's office with the state Ethics Commission.

Attorney General Brian Sandoval has said Augustine intends to stipulate to a willful violation of the state's ethics code. If the Ethics Commission finds a willful violation, it must turn the case over to the Legislature for an impeachment procedure.

The proceedings could occur when the 2005 Legislature convenes in February, or in a special session.