Assistant Sheriff Named in 3rd Harassment Suit

A third sexual harassment lawsuit was filed Wednesday against a top official in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, this one accusing him of groping, insulting and propositioning a female employee.

The suit filed in Orange County Superior Court on Wednesday by Mary Ann Hoyt, 37, adds to the array of allegations facing Assistant Sheriff Dennis LaDucer, who oversees all patrol operations and investigations for the county’s largest law enforcement agency.

Hoyt claims in her suit that LaDucer, 52, would linger at her desk and leer at her and that he insisted on touching her and made threatening or hostile comments when she rebuffed his advances. The suit also claims LaDucer once threatened to hit her.

The suit says Hoyt was humiliated when LaDucer told co-workers she was the “only woman I would leave my wife for” and made explicit comments about his desire to have sex with her.

The suit claims the veteran lawman’s ongoing activities earned him the office nickname “LaDucer the seducer.”

LaDucer could not be reached for comment Wednesday. His attorney, Bruce Praet, said the accusations are groundless. Praet said his client has been blindsided by the claims that have wrecked his reputation and endangered his career of more than three decades.

Praet said his client has been “saddled” with the “seducer” nickname since his youth, but for no reason beyond an unfortunate rhyme. “It’s convenient and inflammatory to include it in the suit, but it doesn’t speak to the merits of the case.”

The Hoyt suit was the third in three weeks against LaDucer, all filed by clients of Los Angeles attorney Pat Thistle. Each suit also names Sheriff Brad Gates as a defendant, contending that Gates gave tacit approval to sexual harassment in the workplace.

Gates has said he has never seen LaDucer harass or demean female employees but has pledged to investigate.

LaDucer remains on paid administrative leave during that internal investigation, which should be competed this month, according to Lt. Ron Wilkerson. LaDucer was questioned for the first time last week in connection with the allegations, Praet said.

After listening to several hours of questioning, Praet said he was “even more confident and convinced” of his client’s innocence.