A Republican State Senator facing two counts of extortion was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond according to an unsealed grand jury indictment on Monday, February 19. Senate Minority Whip Nicholas Kettle, of Coventry, stood accused of using extortion to coerce a male page, part of the Senate’s page program, into performing multiple sex acts. Kettle pleaded not guilty to the charges.
While no official statement has been made about Kettle’s position as Senate Minority Whip, Democratic Senate President Dominick Ruggerio has called for the disgraced senator to resign with immediate effect.
Sexual Harassment and Abuse in the Workplace
The charges brought against Nicholas Kettle relate to events which took place on two separate occasions in 2011. The identity of the victim is, of course, being kept confidential, unless he decides to come forward of his own accord. Separately to these offences, Kettle was also charged by state police on Friday for video voyeurism. It is alleged that he sent photos of his then-girlfriend to another man, without her knowledge or permission, while discussing with this friend how to obtain stealthy video footage during sex. Kettle denies any wrongdoing.
As this case shows, sexual harassment can happen in any workplace. Although many of us would like to believe that, as people become more educated and enlightened about such matters, instances of sexual harassment at work would decrease, the truth is that it continues to pose a significant problem. No matter what excuse or reason is given for this behaviour, sexual harassment is never acceptable. You should be able to feel safe and secure when doing your job, as in all other aspects of your life.
As well as unwanted sexual advances, some of the common themes encountered by a Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney include:
- A hostile working environment, perhaps after advances have been rejected
- Employment benefits offered in exchange for sexual favors
- Threatening behaviour when sexual advances are deemed unwanted
- Receipt of notes, text messages and emails of a sexual nature
- Sharing or displaying images or excerpts from sexually explicit websites
- Inappropriate language
- Sexual assault
- Gender harassment
- Stalking
- Sexual gestures
The list could go on for much longer but, as you are hopefully now aware, you do not have to accept any of this behaviour.
Reporting Sexual Harassment at Work
Despite these behaviours being common, very few victims report their experiences. Perhaps this is due to embarrassment, fear of retaliation, or a misguided belief that they had been “asking for it”. In fact, an average of between 5% and 15% of sexual harassment at work is formally reported.
If you have experienced sexual harassment at work, and have not felt able to report it to your employer, or have reported it to no avail, a Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney could help. We understand how damaging this kind of behaviour is and that it occurs through no fault of your own. With extensive experience in representing sexual harassment victims in Los Angeles, we are highly skilled at acting in a compassionate yet determined manner and obtaining justice and compensation for people like you.
To discuss your case with a Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney, and learn more about how we could represent you on a contingency fee basis, call us today on 818-610-8800.
