DA Faces 5 Misdemeanors re Alleged Misuse of Office to Get 'Sexual Gratification' & Claimed Cover-Up
An Oregon district attorney who has been on paid leave for months since an employee in his office reported him for a claimed sex crime to Pendleton police is now facing five misdemeanor charges concerning his alleged misuse of his office.
Umatilla County District Attorney Dean Gushwa, who has maintained that he did nothing wrong, was charged by the state attorney general’s office yesterday with unlawfully obtaining “sexual gratification” four times between late 2008 and last July 18, as well as trying to cover it up by obtaining another person’s silence and/or cooperation, the East Oregonian reports.
His unidentified accuser is now contemplating a civil suit, contending that Gushwa subjected her to physical, sexual and emotional abuse, both on- and off-duty, for two years, the East Oregonian reported in an earlier article. She also claims that the county and state failed to protect her and condoned retaliation.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Criminal Probe for ‘I Am the Prize’ Ex-DA Accused of Sexually Harassing at Work”
