Woman, ex-boss dating after harassment suit
(Editor's note: Having grown tired of people who can't seem to fathom that DUMASS is a literary device, I have decided to rename one of the most feared and least coveted awards on the Internet. Henceforth, say hello to the "DUMB@$$ AWARD". Any questions?)
It would appear that SOMEONE has been thinking with the wrong head again, and now he and his main squeeze are begging our forgiveness and asking for us to respect their privacy. Sure, once their behind bars I'l be happy to respect their "privacy"....
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Seen dating again, a woman and her ex-boss have paid back $35,000 in taxpayer funds she received after accusing him of sexual harassment.
Julie Dalton resigned as chief deputy of Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson in March 2002 after her affair with Wilkinson became public.
Dalton claimed in her harassment complaint that Wilkinson pursued the sexual relationship then dumped her after the press found out.
Wilkinson, she said the complaint, "clearly used his position as my boss to influence me to have a relationship with him. When he no longer desired to have this relationship he wanted me to resign."
Dalton was paid the settlement out of taxpayer funds, with $10,000 compensating her for what was described as "mental anguish, injury to reputation ... and stigma." The rest went to her attorney.
She also got back a job in the office, not directly supervised by Wilkinson.
When a reporter told Wilkinson Tuesday that he and Dalton had been seen together on Christmas Eve, Wilkinson said: "I've atoned for my sins. It cost me a marriage."
On Wednesday, Wilkinson and Dalton sent checks of $23,100 and $13,100 respectively to Lee County Risk Management, the county's self-insurance fund.
"We jointly request the press respect our private life," read a message attached to copies of the checks sent to the Fort Myers News Press.
OK, then, I guess that makes it all better now, eh? You engage in criminal behavior, get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, and now we're supposed to respect your privacy? How about taking responsibility for your behavior and the consequences that should logically accrue from it?
What Wilkinson and Dalton did was a felony, and felons, when caught and convicted, generally go to jail, which is exactly where these two DUMB@$$es should go posthaste. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to jail. Abusing the public's trust in such an egregious manner should buy both of these DUMB@$$es some hard time in the state pen as someone's $&*@#.
