Ex-Deputy District Attorney Files Sexual Harassment Suit

A former deputy district attorney alleges in a lawsuit against Orange County that she was forced to quit her job because her supervisors ignored her complaints that she was being sexually harassed by another deputy district attorney and a county investigator.

Karen Wetmore, 34, of Laguna Hills charges in a suit filed last week in Orange County Superior Court that during her five-year tenure, she was transferred to several county courts, often after she informed her bosses about unwanted sexual advances.

Maury Evans, chief assistant district attorney for the county, said he does not know why Wetmore resigned and that an internal investigation of her sexual harassment complaints found no wrongdoing.

“While employed at the district attorney’s office, a complete administrative review was conducted concerning Ms. Wetmore’s allegations,” Evans said. “Our review found no misconduct. The results of our review were provided to Ms. Wetmore’s counsel.”

A separate investigation conducted by the county risk management office also found that “the county was not responsible,” said Dennis Bunker, claims manager.

Wetmore contends the deputy district attorney harassed her while she was working in the juvenile court in 1989 and 1990. She said she complained to her immediate supervisor and was told to ignore it.

Shortly afterward, the suit alleges, she was transferred to the Harbor Court Division. Two years later, she was reassigned to the West Court Division.

At West Court, Wetmore alleges, a long-time county investigator asked her to meet him in motels, requested to see her at home and tried to hug and kiss her in her office. Again she complained, according to her suit.

Her supervisor assured her the harassment would stop, but it didn’t, she contends.

In October, 1992, Wetmore requested a transfer to North Court in Fullerton. According to the suit, “her immediate supervisor informed her that he did not want her in his court and that he had heard about her prior sexual harassment complaints.”

After some poor performance evaluations, which Wetmore call “retaliations,” Wetmore resigned in January, 1994.

She could not be reached for comment Wednesday.