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PARKERSBURG -- A Wood County Sheriff’s deputy is suing Sheriff Steve Stephens, accusing him of violating state human rights and whistleblower laws.
Filed this morning in Wood County Circuit Court, the suit by Sgt. Tim Allen names Stephens, the sheriff’s department and the Wood County Commission as defendants. It alleges Stephens “berated” Allen over his relationship with a female deputy and threatened to demote him and that a county commissioner did not respond to attempts by Allen and the other deputy to discuss the issues with the sheriff.
It’s the third lawsuit filed in the last month against Stephens, who informed commissioners Monday he plans to retire as of Dec. 1. The other suits claimed misconduct and inappropriate behavior toward two female deputies and that the sheriff caused emotional distress to a holding center employee over time the man had taken off while his wife was being treated for cancer.
In October, members of the Wood County Deputy Sheriffs Association issued a vote of no confidence in Stephens’ leadership.
Read more in the Sunday edition of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel.