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February 3, 2012

Geeslin under fire

County employee alleges verbal abuse

Art Lawler The Athens Review

Athens — Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis, has asked the Texas Rangers to look into a complaint filed against Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ken Geeslin by one of his employees. 

Three witnesses agree that a verbal altercation occurred at the precinct barn on Jan. 11.

Geeslin is accused of using obscene gestures and sexual language, while threatening the future employment of 40-year-old heavy-equipment operator, Brad Skiles, a 15-year employee of the precinct.

Skiles filed the complaint on Jan. 13 in the Human Resources office at the courthouse. Skiles did not leave the premises, and remains employed with the precinct.

Skile requested that Geeslin be removed from office for his actions.

Davis replied in writing, “Henderson County does not have the authority or ability to remove an elected official from his office, based upon conduct alleged.”

Geeslin, who defeated long-time incumbent Democrat Jerry West for the Precinct 4 position in the 2010 election, said he was “flabbergasted” by the charges.

“I deny all allegations,” he said. “He made a derogatory remark to me, and I responded.”

Geeslin admitted that he did use foul language.

Both the county attorney and the district attorney made statements Friday concerning the incident:

“The county has received a complaint from a Precinct 4 employee against Commissioner Geeslin,” Davis said. “The county has investigated the issue from a human resources standpoint, and we have turned the matter over to the Texas Rangers, to have the Rangers make a determination, as to whether the allegations may rise to the level of being criminal.”

McKee didn’t mention the commissioner by name, but issued the following statement:

“I have been made aware of a complaint filed against a commissioner by a county employee. I have been in contact, and  in conversations with County Attorney Clint Davis, and I have learned that Davis has asked the Texas Rangers to look into the complaint.  County Attorney Davis and I will await the results of the Texas Rangers’ investigation, and take any appropriate action.”

The Rangers don’t make recommendations as to whether or not  a case should be sent to a Grand Jury, but if the evidence rises to the level of a Class A misdemeanor, this one may, or may not, wind up in front of a Grand Jury.

Skiles gave a written statement as to what happened, and turned it in to Davis.  The county attorney then sent investigators from his office to question four witnesses at the precinct, three of whom appeared to back Skiles.  One, Davis described as “neutral.”

The incident took place as workers gathered for a meeting on the morning of Jan. 11. Workers said a recent retirement of a worker had opened up an extra seat.

The employees apparently had a running joke about the chairs, and who should sit where. When one opened up, Skiles allegedly told Geeslin he wouldn’t have to look around for a chair anymore, like a whipped dog. He said Geeslin could sit right there with the rest of the group.

Geeslin was said to have taken offense to the remark. Witnesses say he then threw, or pushed a chair out of the way, saying he didn’t need a chair.

“I moved a chair up to the table from where I was sitting,” Geeslin said. “I came out of my office, and made another comment to him (Skiles), and then I went to another room.”

Geeslin was asked if the statement he made to Skiles was threatening.

“It depends on how you define threatening,” he said. “That’s pretty much it. The duration of this whole thing was less than a minute. The main thing is, I deny his allegations in their entirety.”

At this point, in an incident Geeslin now says lasted no more than one minute, employees accused the commissioner of telling Skiles he would have to perform a sexual act on him, if he wanted “politeness” out of him in the future.    

Geeslin said Friday that he had called Skiles into his office  after the Martin Luther King holiday, and apologized to him.”

When asked what Skiles’ response was, Geeslin said, “He didn’t have a response.”

Skiles said he did not wish to make a public statement on the controversy at this time.

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