Sex harassment rampant in this Valley law enforcement agency, including sheriff, lawsuit says
Four deputies and one ex-deputy have filed a lawsuit against the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office alleging sexual harassment by staffers — including Sheriff Mike Boudreaux — and a hostile work environment.
The plaintiffs have worked in the county’s jail system for seven to 14 years except for the former deputy, who says she was forced out of the sheriff’s office after five years, according to the lawsuit.
The women named in the suit — Claudia Rivera, Ruthimay Jordan Frick, Vanidee Quinonez and Denise Ramirez — say they were sexually harassed on multiple occasions, and were ignored or punished when they complained.
A couple of them who worked while pregnant were not afforded accommodations, the lawsuit says, and one endured a miscarriage after responding to a fight in the jail.
The fifth plaintiff, Jose Villasenor, said he has suffered retaliation for reporting other deputies for misconduct, unsafe practices and systemic favoritism, the lawsuit says. He also filed a complaint in October 2023 alleging a “law enforcement gang” operated within the agency.
Including Boudreaux, the lawsuit names 12 defendants who are all ranked in the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Boudreaux denied the allegations in the lawsuit in a statement provided to The Bee by a sheriff’s office spokesperson. The statement said Boudreaux takes all accusations of harassment seriously and they are fully investigated.
“While I believe the allegations stated in the complaint are misleading, I am confident that a thorough review of the facts will demonstrate that I adhere to my commitment to maintaining a respectful and professional environment for everyone,” the statement said.
Boudreaux said he would cooperate with court proceedings and he trusted the judicial process, according to the statement.
The attorney for the plaintiffs, Fresno-based Kevin Little, declined to discuss the lawsuit with The Bee but provided a written statement.
“Since this case was filed, we have had multiple current TCSO employees applaud our efforts to expose their highly dysfunctional organization, especially its leadership,” Little said in an email. “Law enforcement should reflect the best of our collective values, not the worst.”
Sexual harassment allegations against Sheriff Boudreaux
Claudia Rivera started her career in 2017, but had already experienced harassment from Boudreaux the previous year, the lawsuit alleges.
She says she caught Boudreaux “repeatedly staring” at her breasts during a union picnic in 2016, the lawsuit says. He encouraged her to apply to be a deputy and later sent her text messages updating the hiring process.
After she became employed , the lawsuit says, his advances escalated. He would ask her to meet him privately at work conferences and suggested the two stay together in one room during work trips.
He also requested pictures from her in text messages, the lawsuit says.
Rejecting the advances led to her being assigned to less desirable jobs and passed over for promotions, the lawsuit says.
Rivera was at a costume party in June 2021 when Sgt. Gil Rodriguez, who was named as a defendant in the court filing, made sexual comments about her body and touched her buttocks without consent, the lawsuit says. She complained to a lieutenant, but her concerns were dismissed.
Two years later, she filed a sexual harassment complaint against Rodriguez for ongoing harassment, and believes she was retaliated against by being passed over for promotions, the lawsuit says.
She “faced escalating retaliation, including unfair evaluations, fabricated allegations and exclusion from career-advancing roles,” the lawsuit says.
Rivera suffered from mental anguish and stress related to the harassment, the lawsuit says, and went on leave. A single parent, she eventually lost her home because of the effects the time off had on her income.
No pregnancy accommodations and miscarriage
Denise Ramirez, who was hired in 2015, continued to work in a detention center while pregnant, and was not given many of the accommodations she requested, the lawsuit says. She would pump breast milk in inadequate locations, like the bathroom, and was subject to prolonged standing.
She often faced retaliation for making pregnancy-related requests and says she was told, “Hey, you signed up for this,” the lawsuit says.
In 2022, a pregnancy ended in a miscarriage after Ramirez was injured responding to fight in jail, the lawsuit says. She underwent surgery and had a Fallopian tube removed.
Unwanted kissing and sexual videos
One of the other plaintiffs said a sergeant kissed her without consent in 2022. In June of the next year, she learned sexual photos and videos of her had been “widely circulated” throughout the agency, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit also names these members of the sheriff’s office management as defendants: Assistant Sheriff Joe Torres, former Assistant Sheriff Mark Gist, Capt. Harald Liles, Capt. Jesse Cox, Capt. Cory Jones, Capt. Buddy Hirayama, Lt. Javier Martinez, Lt. Megan Pinheiro, Sgt. Marco Martinez, Sgt. Michael Martin and Sgt. Santos Salgado.
The case filed in November is ongoing.
This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM.
