Harassment Case Job Demand Made
The attorney for a top Orange school administrator, who was placed on temporary paid leave pending an investigation of sexual harassment allegations, demanded Tuesday that his client be allowed to return to his workplace immediately.
In a letter to the Orange Unified School District, attorney Dale Gronemeier said that the district should immediately permit deputy Supt. Richard L. Donoghue to return to his district headquarter offices. The demand follows the return to work on Monday of Chief Fiscal Officer Joyce Capelle. Gronemeier represents both administrators.
Capelle, 39, and Donoghue, 48, were placed on what officials describe as “home assignment” Nov. 23. The administrators were barred from their workplace to encourage district employees to speak more openly about allegations, according to attorneys for the school district.
Donoghue is accused of inappropriate touching of employees and using sexually offensive language, while Capelle is accused of tolerating sexual banter in the workplace.
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