Former jail employee files suit claiming harassment

BENTONVILLE — A former employee at the Benton County jail claims in a lawsuit she was sexually harassed and the culture created by Sheriff Shawn Holloway prevented female employees from speaking up in fear of retaliation.

Robin Heath filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Benton County Circuit Court against Benton County, the Benton County sheriff’s office and Holloway.

Lt. Shannon Jenkins, the spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said Holloway hadn’t been served with the lawsuit and she had no comment.

County Judge Barry Moehring said he hadn’t seen the lawsuit and wouldn’t comment.

Heath was the administrative jail lieutenant and worked at the Benton County sheriff’s office for 12 years before she was fired Sept. 9, 2019, according to her lawsuit.

Heath claims a female deputy complained in July 2019 that another deputy sexually harassed her and the sheriff’s office fired the accused deputy after an inquiry.

The lawsuit claims Heath reported she was sexually harassed and assaulted by the same deputy at a work Christmas party in December 2018.

The lawsuit says Holloway excused unspecified misbehavior by multiple male deputies, which created a culture of discriminating and intimidating female employees.

The lawsuit claims the sheriff’s office retaliated by firing Heath for her participation in the internal investigation concerning the sexual harassment.

Holloway told Benton County’s justices of peace at an August 2019 meeting the harassed employees didn’t wish to file charges and the complaints weren’t sent to the Benton County prosecuting attorney’s office, according to the lawsuit.

Heath claims she was never asked if she wanted to file charges and the culture created by Holloway prevented women from speaking up in fear of retaliation.

Heath was placed on administrative leave Sept. 4, 2019, and an internal investigation was begun about her disclosing information from another pending internal investigation, according to the lawsuit. Heath was fired five days later. She claims in the lawsuit two other male deputies disclosed the same information and weren’t punished.

Meyer Gilbert, chief deputy for the sheriff’s office, told Heath she was fired because Holloway and others lost confidence in her as an employee, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit says Heath was the highest ranking woman at the jail and she had never been formally reprimanded.