Former prosecutor alleges harassment
From Staff Reports, N&O Nov. 6, 2006
DURHAM - A former Durham prosecutor said Sunday she filed a complaint with the state court system, alleging that she was sexually harassed by a co-worker and that her complaints were ignored by District Attorney Mike Nifong.
Ashley Cannon, who was a District Court prosecutor, said she made the complaint verbally to the Administrative Office of the Courts in Raleigh on Friday. She made the complaint on her last day with Nifong's office after resigning to accept a new job as a prosecutor in Orange and Chatham counties.
Cannon said in an interview Sunday that she reported the sexual harassment allegation to Nifong. "Nothing was done about it," she said.
Nifong declined to discuss Cannon's allegation on Sunday, saying it was a personnel matter.
Ken Williams, human resources officer with AOC, said he had not heard about the complaint but would not have been the one to take it. He said if human resources receives a complaint, the office typically will investigate and make suggestions or recommendations to a district attorney, but that his office has no authority over elected officials or their employees.
In Tuesday's election, Nifong, a Democrat, faces a challenge from an unaffiliated candidate, County Commissioner Lewis Cheek, and from Durham County Republican Party Chairman Steve Monks, who is campaigning as a write-in candidate.
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