Pubdate: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 Source: Kentucky New Era (KY) Copyright: 2004 Kentucky New Era Contact: http://www.kentuckynewera.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1628 Author: Melony Leazer DRUG TASK FORCE SETTLES SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE HOPKINSVILLE -- The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force has reached a settlement with a former employee who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the law enforcement agency and its director. Christian County assistant attorney John Soyars, who represents the task force, said an agreement has been reached among the plaintiff, Teresa D. Cannon; the task force; and the agency's director, Cheyenne Albro. Soyars, and Cannon's attorney, Andrew Self, both declined to release the terms of the settlement. The two lawyers said the agreement includes a "confidentiality provision" that prohibits either party from discussing the terms reached. No documents relating to the settlement have been filed with the Christian Circuit Clerk's office. "I don't know when that will be filed," Soyars said. Cannon was seeking compensation from Albro and the regional task force agency for punitive and actual damages. The settlement marks an end in the litigation, which was set to go to trial Sept. 21. Cannon filed the lawsuit against Albro and the task force early last year. She claimed Albro sexually harassed her until Jan. 27, 2003, and fired her from work at that time. She alleged that he "engaged in numerous and repeated acts of sexual harassment" directed at her while employed with the law enforcement organization. The task force has denied that it employed Cannon as a permanent employee. Albro testified during his deposition last November that Cannon was hired as a temporary employee to clean the task force office here and to assist with training law enforcement officers about methamphetamine. However, in a letter to Cannon, Albro wrote that she was terminated on Jan. 27, 2003. A copy of the letter is on file at the Christian County Justice Center. It is unknown whether Albro will remain employed by the task force as director. Soyars said he could not comment on the matter. Efforts to contact Muhlenberg County Judge-Executive Rodney Kirtley, who oversees task force operations, were unsuccessful. Telephone messages to Dan Bozarth, director of the Pennyrile Area Development Agency, were not returned as of Friday afternoon. Albro first met Cannon in the early 1980s when he attempted to arrest her husband at the time for drug use, according to the deposition, which also noted that Cannon is a convicted felon. In a story written by The Associated Press and published in the Kentucky New Era, Cannon credited Albro with getting her life back on track after serving more than five months in the County Jail on methamphetamine-related charges. However, Cannon is now faces drug and other charges. According to court records, Kentucky State Police arrested Cannon, 38, in late May and charged her with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (first offense), use or possession of drug paraphernalia (subsequent offense), possession of marijuana, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a police radio and manufacturing methamphetamine (first offense). She pleaded not guilty during a Christian District Court arraignment on May 26. Judge Arnold Lynch on Friday released Cannon from the County Jail following a preliminary hearing. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin