JUDGE RULES TO KEEP TASK FORCE CASE IN COUNTY

The director of the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force in Hopkinsville
must face a sexual harassment lawsuit in Christian Circuit Court, a
judge has ruled. Judge Edwin White on Wednesday denied a motion filed
in October by the Bowling Green law firm of English, Lucas, Priest and
Owsley requesting that the case against task force director Cheyenne
Albro be dismissed and transferred to Muhlenberg County.

"You all aren't serious about changing the venue are you?" White
asked, eventually ruling the case must heard in Christian County,
where the allegations occurred.

"Well, judge, I wouldn't have filed this motion otherwise," Albro's
attorney, Cravens Priest, responded.

Priest argued unsuccessfully that the lawsuit should be filed in
Muhlenberg County because Albro resides there. Under state law,
lawsuits must be brought in the county in which the defendant resides
or in the county in which the allegations occurred.

Hopkinsville attorney Andrew Self, who is representing plaintiff
Teresa Cannon in the case, said some of the allegations raised by his
client took place in Christian County.

"It is proper to have this here," said Self, with Cannon watching from
the audience. "We brought this claim. We can file this here because
the damage occurred here. It's our choice, not theirs."

White concurred.

"I agree. Motion is denied," the judge declared.

White also informed the attorneys that a special judge will most
likely be sought to preside in the civil suit. He cited a policy that
recommends Christian County judges not rule in cases involving local
law enforcement agencies.

"I think I want to follow it in this case," White said.

Following Wednesday's hearing, Priest, with Albro by his side, said
his client continues to deny the allegations, and that his firm is now
considering motions to move the case to another court venue because of
pre-trial publicity.

Cannon filed the lawsuit against Albro and the task force, which
represents only one side of the issue, earlier this year. She claims
Albro sexually harassed her until early this year, alleging that he
"engaged in numerous and repeated acts of sexual harassment" directed
at her while employed with the law enforcement organization.

The sexual harassment continued until Jan. 27 of this year, when Albro
fired Cannon from work, the suit claims.

However, the task force has denied that it employed Cannon. Muhlenberg
County Judge-Executive Rodney Kirtley, who oversees task force
operations, said in defense interrogations that the plaintiff only
helped to conduct seminars and was not hired by Albro.

According to Albro's interrogation, Cannon also "briefly cleaned the
Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force office," which is located in
Hopkinsville but funded through Muhlenberg County.

The plaintiff is seeking compensation for punitive and actual damages,
including humiliation and embarrassment.

According to a January Associated Press story that appeared in the
Kentucky New Era, Cannon was hired by the task force to assist with
training law enforcement officers about methamphetamin-cooking culture.

Albro, a Greenville native, became director of the regional task force
in November 1998. He remains employed by the task force, pending the
outcome of the case, agency officials have said.