LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST FORMER BURLESON CO. JUDGE, ALLEGES REPEATED SEXUAL ASSAULT

  

A lawsuit has been filed against former Burleson County Judge Mike Sutherland by a former county employee, who claims she was repeatedly sexually assaulted while he served as county judge.

The lawsuit, which did not name the former county employee, was filed in a Burleson County District Court. It claims Sutherland used his position and influence to continually abuse the victim mentally and sexually, and eventually resigned his position due to “overwhelming evidence and clear violation”.

In the 12-page lawsuit, the plaintiff claims Sutherland began to get “touchy-feely” with her while she worked as a county employee, and made inappropriate comments. The suit says “everyone was forced to ignore his sexual harassment”.

In November 2017, the plaintiff alleges Sutherland invited her to Funky Junky, his café and collectibles store in Caldwell. The plaintiff accepted Sutherland’s invitation, saying in the lawsuit that she believed she was being recognized by one of her superiors for her work ethic.  The lawsuit says she did not know the restaurant would be closed at the time of their meeting.

The lawsuit alleges Sutherland stopped the plaintiff from leaving the restaurant, and proceeded to sexually assault her in the kitchen. The lawsuit describes another alleged instance of forcible sexual assault in Sutherland’s county office, and claims she was assaulted several more times through mid-January 2018.  At that time, the suit says she lashed out at Sutherland, who then left her alone.  The suit then says she was fired from her position soon after.

Sutherland abruptly resigned in June from his position as county judge. His resignation came as part of an agreement with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, who reportedly received two complaints alleging that Sutherland “sexually harassed a woman and/or engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman employed by Burleson County."

The agreement says, in exchange for Sutherland stepping down, the commission would not seek disciplinary action on the matter. It also says he is forever prohibited from any judicial service in Texas.  Sutherland denied any wrongdoing.

The victim in the lawsuit is being represented by Houston attorney U.A. Lewis, who is also representing Chester Jackson, Jr. of Somerville. Jackson was hospitalized after a brief stay in the Burleson County Jail in April, following his arrest outside his home on a public intoxication charge.