A former Oregon jail employee is seeking $900,000 for sexual harassment by a guard who was convicted of forcing a female prisoner to perform fellatio.

As we've previously reported, the 21-year career of Inverness Jail guard Eddie James Miller, 60, came to a premature climax when he forced a 34-year old female prisoner to perform fellatio on January 9, 2012. She immediately reported the incident and her DNA was found on Miller, sealing his fate.

Miller was immediately placed on leave and he was charged on February 29, 2012, with official misconduct in the first degree and custodial sexual misconduct in the first degree, both felonies, according to court records. He resigned in April 2012.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Miller was allowed to plead guilty on September 25, 2012 to a single misdemeanor official misconduct charge and receive just a two year term of probation. Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Don Rees defended the plea and lenient sentence by blaming the victim. He claimed Miller may have been the victim of the prisoner's scheme to milk the County for a big cash settlement. Miller's attorney, Lisa Ludwig joined the victim bashing at his sentencing, calling her a "con artist," suggesting that the evil prisoner forced poor Eddie to enter the bathroom she was using, free Willy and stick him in her mouth.

Fortunately, Portland attorney Jennifer Palmquist sees it differently, informing the County that she represents the woman and intends to sue. Palmquist found Miller's "victim blaming" particularly offensive, given that after he was placed on leave co-workers reported that Miller had kissed and touched them in a sexually aggressive, inappropriate and non-consensual way.

Now, at least one of Miller's former co-workers has brought suit against Multnomah County, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Aramark Correctional Services, and Aramark Supervisor Eddie Climer, for Miller's sexual harassment.

Soon after the woman began working for Aramark, at Inverness in September 2011, Miller went out of his way to be near her, the suit alleges. Within just weeks, he was making inappropriate comments, which she claims to have discouraged.

Hoping he would leave her alone, the woman ignored and resisted his advances, but Miller persisted and escalated things, she claims.

When Miller attempted to kiss and touch her, the woman reported the incident to Supervisor Eddie Climer. Her complaints were dismissed and ignored, however, and Climer destroyed a written sexual harassment complaint she lodged against Miller, according to the complaint.

Miller's unwanted advances continued, causing the woman to suffer panic attacks, depression and sleep loss, according to the suit. She began arriving late and missing work, due to Miller's conduct, the woman alleges. She was terminated in February 2012, just weeks after Miller's January 9, 2012 fellatio bust.

The woman seeks $900,000, for lost earnings, job opportunities, employment benefits and other damages. When asked about the suit on January 28, 2013, Miller declined to comment. We will report on any significant developments in the case.

Source: The Oregonian

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