Ex-PD Admits Sex Harassment, Agrees to License Suspension

The former public defender for Durham, N.C., has admitted that he sexually harassed three women who worked for him and has agreed to a five-year suspension of his law license.

Bob Brown Jr., who was public defender from 1990 until his resignation in 2006, agreed to the suspension in a consent order, the News & Observer reports. He was accused of harassing an assistant public defender and two legal assistants, according to WRAL.com.

The order (PDF posted by WRAL) claims Brown told assistant PD Danielle Bruno that she had “three days to be his friend” if she wanted a permanent job she was seeking in the PD’s office, according to the News & Observer account.

“The order portrays Brown as a public defender who repeatedly made sexual advances toward women who worked for him, wrapping an arm around them, massaging their shoulders and stroking one’s stomach,” the News & Observer writes. “He questioned them about their sexual preferences, commented on their figures and asked their bra sizes.”