Friday, October 11, 2019

D.A.-Elect Might Have EEOC Problem

Incoming Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens might have his own share of #metoo problems.  The Appeal, a website dedicated to criminal justice issues, reported an EEOC complaint was filed against Mr. Owens:



This WAS Victor's theme music but maybe.......

Multiple women who have worked with Jody Owens, who is running unopposed for district attorney in Hinds County, Mississippi, say he sexually harassed them while he led the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Jackson office. Their allegations include claims that Owens, who was the office’s managing attorney until June, commented on some women’s appearances, discussed their dating lives, made unwanted advances, or touched them inappropriately.

One woman, who worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as recently as the spring, filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the summer. The Appeal has obtained a copy of the complaint, which details both specific interactions she allegedly had with Owens and a culture in the office in which, she said, his behavior was allowed to continue unchecked. 

Asked about these allegations, Owens wrote in an email, “I have never condoned nor participated in any unwanted behavior or touching of any kind with an employee.”....

 In total, The Appeal spoke with 17 people who worked in the office or considered working in the office since Owens became managing attorney in 2011. Most would only speak anonymously, citing concerns about their professional reputations.

Some praised Owens as a strong leader and caring supervisor. “He was overall a good boss, a good mentor,” said Alesha Judkins, who worked in the office for almost eight years. “It was a crucial part of my career that I’m forever grateful for.”  Rest of article.  But the majority of those interviewed described a toxic work environment under Owens’s leadership.

Will the EEOC complaint become public? Will the alleged victim be able to sue Mr. Owens after 180 days? Stay tuned. 

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

The women MUST be believed. #MeToo

#MeToo said...

The complaint alleges, according to The Appeal, "that by the time the woman started at the SPLC’s Jackson office in late 2018, the organization 'had long been on notice of complaints that Mr. Owens was a sexual predator who targeted subordinate female employees.'”

Anonymous said...

Owens needs to withdraw from the election. This is damning.

#MeToo said...

Roughly eight months into her employment, during a discussion of her work performance, she said Owens told her: “You’re hell on wheels.”

“Oh Jesus, Jody, what does that mean?” she responded, according to notes she took at the time and referred to during her phone interview with The Appeal.

“You’re a dynamo,” he said, according to her notes. “You’re a white, attractive, liberal woman. You have a shape that is attractive to people of all races. People talk about what white men and black men like. You have a shape that everyone likes.”

#MeToo said...

“While at dinner, Mr. Owens reached under the table and touched [the woman]’s thigh and calf,” the complaint says. “[The woman] recoiled, but he persisted; Mr. Owens continued to touch her leg under the table throughout the meal despite her attempts to shift away.

After the meal, Owens allegedly approached the woman, grabbed her upper arms, and commented on her muscles, saying she must work out. When Owens left the restaurant, he immediately called the woman’s cellphone under the guise of discussing work, she said, but asked about her dating life. Owens advised her to be careful on dating apps. “This is a small town,” he said, according to the complaint.

That conversation was the first of many Mr. Owens would have [with the woman], in which he sought to control and limit her interactions with other men in Jackson,” the complaint says.

On another occasion, the complaint states, he told her she has “a body that Mississippi men appreciate,” and that she was “not white girl skinny, but not fat.”

Anonymous said...

BOMBSHELL. BOOM!

Anonymous said...

Smells like ass in here!

Anonymous said...

Well, Owens' opponents pointed out that he had zero experience as a prosecutor, nor had he ever really been IN a courtroom. I guess the jokes on them, because he'll have that sex crime docket locked down!

Anonymous said...

Wiill George soros seek a refund-

Anonymous said...

Womp womp

Anonymous said...

He should run for Sheriff of Rock Ridge. "Hey, where da white women at?!?!?"

Anonymous said...

sexually harassing a bunch of yankee liberal white women? Not very smart Jody! You are about to get #metooed lol

Anonymous said...

Exactly what can be expected from a George Soros-funded, social justice puppet

Anonymous said...

Crickets at the JFP while Donner figures out how to smear the women leveling the charges against Owens.

Anonymous said...

Good job Hinds county voters on another magnificent candidate y’all have/will elect.. One day you will learn you get the government you ask for. Don’t complain when they suck at life...

Anonymous said...

Just look at how many times in the past two years they have advertised for a paralegal

Anonymous said...

Done got to where you can't even tell a female coworker she lookin' hot. Hell, 20 years ago, that was the way you got a date. And they usually appreciate it. And if they didn't, they didn't cause no trouble with it. And you move on along, no problem. Now here come the govement and have to protect everybody from each other. I call bull shit.

Anonymous said...

WTF did everyone expect from a DA that ran a campaign out of his nightclub? SPLC isALL about sexual harassment. Morris Dees...we don’t know him.

Don’t worry Jacktown decarceration will commence shortly.

Anonymous said...

Morris Dees and most of the staff at SPLC were shake down artists with fealty ONLY to money. They are perhaps the most venal collection of people on planet Earth. Anyone connected with SPLC must be viewed with a great degree of skepticism and should never be put in a position of responsibility.

Anonymous said...

these allegations are weak. boo hoo someone said i’m attractive.

Anonymous said...

Apparently, being a sexual harasser is a job requirement for all males at SPLC. Been hearing about how bad it is for 30 years.

Anonymous said...

1. Southern Poverty Law Center
2. Never tried a criminal case
3. Serial "johnson" problems

What could possibly go wrong?

Anonymous said...

"...zero experience as a prosecutor, nor had he ever really been IN a courtroom".

Sounds like he should have run for State Attorney General.

Anonymous said...

So let me see if I understand the situation. Once this fellow gets in office and the sexual harassment allegations start to fly the tax payers of Hinds County will be on the hook for the settlement funds or, at minimum, the legal fees to pay for his defense.


Do I have this right?

Anonymous said...

12:49, aren’t all the DAs technically state employees? I think they are paid by the state. Not every county even has a DA.

So get your wallets out Madison. :)

Anonymous said...

I find it interesting the EEOC complaint was filed after he left SPLC. I may not agree with Owens on some policy issues but this seems like a reach.

Kingfish said...

I removed all Trump references in comments. Take your Trump fetishes somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

If these women think they will soar by twisting words snd scenarios against Owens, shame on them. They fail to understand the law on sexual assault and the depravity of their own conduct, Clearly an attack to tarnish his reputation.

Anonymous said...

‘dynamo’. nice.

Anonymous said...

They fail to understand the law on sexual assault and the depravity of their own conduct.

You're right. The woman at the dinner should have allowed Owens to run his hand from her thigh up under her panties. She was depraved for not allowing him to go further.

Anonymous said...

JFP article recently written by Seyma Bayram did not mention any of this!?!?

Anonymous said...

"Owens needs to withdraw from the election. This is damning. October 11, 2019 at 2:57 PM"

This behavior is not 'damning', it's cultural. It will get folks a lot of votes much more cheaply than commercial advertising.

Anonymous said...

SPLC-Do as I say, not as I do.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.