Lake correctional officer resigns after inquest

A Lake County Jail correctional officer resigned after he was notified that allegations of inappropriate touching and comments toward another female staffer would result in his firing, a sheriff ’s spokesman said Tuesday.

Sgt. William “Tony” Tabor was accused of unseemly comments and trying to kiss a nurse who works at the Lake County Jail on March 8, and again March 12, when he made comments along with “touching her inappropriately,” Lt. John Herrell said.

“She then reported this and the other incident immediately, at which time an investigation was opened and Tabor was suspended,” he said.

Tabor, who quit Monday, has twice before been accused of sexual harassment during his time at the jail. He had worked there since 2002. Last year, Tabor was in central control at the jail when he told a female co-worker “watch where you point that thing,” in reference to her butt, a report said.

“I replied, ‘excuse me?’ and he made no comment,” said the coworker, whose name was redacted in the report. “Just a few seconds to a minute later he grabbed my side (ribs area) and I jumped and asked him to stop since I am extremely ticklish.”

Several other deputies witnessed the event and corroborated her story. Tabor was given a verbal warning by his supervisor, who mandated he watch a “training video on sexual harassment in the workplace.”

“Further actions of this nature will result in harsher punishment,” the supervising captain wrote.

In 2003, Tabor was again the result of a complaint — this time from an inmate. He reportedly asked a female inmate to “flash” him, tapped on her cell window repeatedly and stared at her in the showers, according to the report.

“As the officer put me in the holding cell, I asked him where I could get dressed. … He said, ‘Come on, just a little flash,’ ’’ the inmate wrote. “As he took me to the showers, he stood there watching me … he said, ‘I just want to see you naked.’ ’’ she said. “I once again said, ‘No.’ ”

The supervising officer concluded at the time that there was “insufficient evidence” to prove the 2003 allegations against Tabor.

Herrell said that the most recent case is being investigated as a crime.

The nurse is employed by Armor Correctional Health Services.