Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Redmond a no-show at mediation for sexual-harassment suit; case now moves to court

It appears the sexual-harassment civil case against Iredell County Sheriff's Deputy Ben Jenkins is headed to court, after mediation yesterday proved unsuccessful.

In fact, apparently Sheriff Phil Redmond - who is named in the suit - didn't show up.

Two women - Suzanne Wick and Lisa Mangiardi - say that Jenkins sexually harassed them after they turned to the sheriff's office for help when they found themselves victims of domestic abuse.

They are suing Redmond for failure to investigate Jenkins, who is still employed by the sheriff's office.

A trial could begin as early as January 2014, said Joshua VanKampen, attorney for Wick and Mangiardi.

For more, read this from WSOC-TV.

Meanwhile, an online petition has been created in an effort to garner enough support to move Iredell County's board of commissioners to investigate the Domestic Violence Unit of Iredell County's Sheriff's Department. So far, the petition has more than 4,000 signatures, though it is unclear how many of those are specifically from Iredell County residents.

A Facebook group - "Stop Sexual Abuse of Domestic Violence Victims" - has also been formed.

Former commissioner hoping for return to town board

Does the name Frank Owens ring a bell?

The former Mooresville commissioner - who served two terms on the town board before losing his seat to Frank Rader in 2005 - wants back in.

Owens announced yesterday he plans to seek Mac Herring's Ward 3 seat this November.

You can bank on the town's purchase of MI-Connection being a major talking-point in Owens' campaign. Not only was the former police captain ousted in 2005 by Frank Rader, who became MI-Connection's loudest cheerleader (and was later voted out of office himself), but Mac Herring - who currently holds the Ward 3 seat - voted in favor of the town's purchase of the system. Herring was re-elected to his seat four years ago, despite his vote.

For more on this news, check out the Mooresville Tribune.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Ex-wife of accused deputy to help case against him

The ex-wife of Iredell County Sheriff's Deputy Ben Jenkins is helping the women who have filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against the deputy:

Read more by WSOC-TV here:

WSOC story