Sex Harassment Charges Against Fireman Revised

Members of a Los Angeles Fire Department board of rights opened a previously closed hearing Monday and disclosed revised charges that accused a veteran fireman of misconduct against a female firefighter but eliminated an earlier allegation of sexual harassment.

Anthony Morales, a member of the department for eight years, was accused of violating reasonable rules of behavior by “self-respecting citizens in a publicly operated place” in a series of acts involving Sharyl Plebuch at Fire Station 5, at 6621 Manchester Ave.

The revised charges included an accusation that Morales intentionally appeared in the nude before Plebuch, an allegation that had been characterized as sexual harassment by the media for months.

In addition, Morales was accused in Monday’s hearing of attempting to grab or touch Plebuch’s breasts, of slapping her on the buttocks at various times, of attempting to kiss her against her will and of trying to pull her into Station 5’s television room to view a TV program. Plebuch never filed a complaint against Morales.

Tavern Altercation

Two other allegations not related to Plebuch accused Morales of attempting to use the Fire Department’s name and influence “to receive preferential treatment” after a tavern altercation and of trying to make a social contact with a woman employee of a nursing center while he was engaged in departmental business.

However, the list of charges, apparently revised shortly before Monday’s hearing, did not accuse Morales of sexual harassment, as the original complaint had done.

“The city has reduced the charges from sexual harassment to horseplay,” Fire Capt. John Squire, who represents Morales, told The Times after Monday’s hearing.

“They’re talking about conduct unbecoming. I interpret that as horseplay. It’s interesting to note that in the new charges there is absolutely no mention of sexual harassment whatsoever, and that’s significant.”

The Fire Department’s community liaison officer, Battalion Chief Dean E. Cathey, said he did not know why the original complaint had been revised. He said the complaint will not be made public because it was disclosed when the board of rights was closed.

Won’t Be Made Public

Cathey insisted, however, that allegations about Morales’ conduct are essentially the same, except for the removal of charges relating to a departmental administrative bulletin on sexual harassment.

“They (the charges) are not in any form weakened and changed from the acts Firefighter Morales was originally charged with,” he said. “There has been no attempt to heighten or weaken the charges.”

A knowledgeable source who wished to remain anonymous theorized that it might have been difficult to prove the accusations of sexual harassment against Morales because Plebuch did not file a complaint against the fireman.

According to the revised list of charges, the Station 5 incidents took place mostly in January and February when Plebuch was completing the final weeks of a year’s probation. Both she and Morales were transferred to other stations after sexual harassment charges surfaced.

Plebuch was recently married to another firefighter who also served at Station 5.

Paramedic’s Complaint

Fire Department investigators uncovered allegations involving Morales while probing reports of a female paramedic that firemen at the station had been watching sexually explicit material on the station’s TV set. Morales’ departmental representative, Squire, called on the board of rights--composed of Battalion Chiefs William D. Lilly, John Mittendorf and Thomas B. Stires--to dissolve the board because Morales had not had an opportunity to respond to the revised list of charges in an administrative hearing.

The board denied Squire’s motion but granted his request for time to confer with Morales’ private attorney on a defense to what Squire termed “new charges.” The hearing is scheduled to resume Monday.