Lawyer News

North Carolina Department of Corrections Probation Officer Indicted

North Carolina Department of Correction Probation Officer Willie James Steele Jr. has been indicted on civil rights charges for violating the constitutional rights of a female probationer. Steele, 47, is accused of  coercing the woman into sexual acts on two separate occasions.  Steele was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  

According to the indictment, Steele supervised the victim, who had had her probation transferred from another state, and had the authority to recommend to a court or other agency that the victim be incarcerated or otherwise sanctioned if she violated the conditions of her probation. 

The indictment alleges that Steele engaged in acts that resulted in bodily injury to the victim and constituted aggravated sexual abuse, and that Steele used and carried a firearm during and in relation to that offense. It also alleges that Steele deprived the victim of her constitutional right to bodily integrity on a second occasion. 

The Justice Department Press release noted that charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.   

Civil Rights and the Workplace

Many people do not realize the important role that civil rights play in the workplace. Examples of civil rights violations include discrimination, harassment, invasion of privacy, racial profiling, failure to accommodate, and more. The federal government has been many laws and acts in place to protect employees from these types of violations from affecting them. However, even though years have passed since they have been in force, these offenses are still occurring across the country.

One all-too-common type of discrimination is based on race and color. It does not matter where you were born or what color you are, racial discrimination can affect anyone. If you feel as though you were denied a job or passed over for a promotion based on your race, you could have the right to file a lawsuit against the offending party. This extends outside of work duties and includes social interactions as well. Derogatory remarks or slurs that are directed at humiliating the individual because of their race are in direct violation of civil rights law.

Civil rights and employment law also intersect when it comes to gender. In the past, it was not uncommon for a woman to be paid less based on the fact that she was not a man. This did not have anything to do with skill or job performance, but was based on the false fact that men deserved to earn more. Although the Equal Pay Act has outlawed this behavior since 1963, it does not mean that it has stopped. If you are being given an unfair salary and you believe it is due to sex discrimination, the offending party should be held accountable for their blatant disregard for the law and the rights of others. If you have more questions, please contact a Los Angeles employment law attorney from the team at Moody & Warner, P.C.