PRISON GUARDS GET $410,000 IN SUIT

A Kern County jury found that two former correction officers were fired for
filing sexual harassment complaints and awarded them $410,000 in damages.

Bonita Weaver and R. Keith Williams, formerly employed at North Kern State
Prison in Delano accused their bosses of firing them after they accused
colleagues and supervisors of sexually harassing female employees.

According to Angus MacLeod, an Oakland attorney who represented Weaver and
Williams, his clients filed their complaints in 1995 accusing their boss,
Sgt. Kurt Chambers, and others of making derogatory comments to female
employees.

MacLeod said Chambers retaliated in 1996 by accusing Weaver and Williams of
misconduct that allegedly occurred in 1993.

Weavers and Williams were fired in 1996 after they had transferred to
Corcoran State Prison.

"The jury in this case was very critical of the Department of Corrections
for not smelling a rat under these suspicious circumstances," MacLeod said.

Chambers was also fired in 1996 for harassment and dishonesty, MacLeod said.

During the trial, which lasted from Aug. 31 to Oct. 7, jurors heard two
lieutenants and a sergeant from North Kern State Prison testify it was
common to hear gender slurs.

"It would be hard to get through a day" without hearing correctional
officers use the offensive terms in referring to woman, one lieutenant
testified.

Since being fired, MacLeod said Williams completed police academy training
and is looking for a job in law enforcement. Departments, however, are
reluctant to hire him pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

Weaver completed her college education and is now teaching.

Checked-by: Don Beck