Idaho Department of Corrections Facing Discrimination Lawsuit

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former state prison employee is accusing agency administrators of gender discrimination and creating a hostile work environment after her relationship with a co-worker turned violent. The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday names Department of Corrections Director Brent Reinke and Henry Atencio, chief deputy of probation and parole.

The lawsuit was filed by 43-year-old Cynthia Fuller, who began working for IDOC in 2004 but quit in 2011. Fuller claims she left because supervisors failed to create a safe work environment after her relationship with co-worker Herbt Cruz ended. Fuller claims she was sexually assaulted by Cruz and obtained a restraining order. But she accuses IDOC officials of violating policy in the way they managed the office and staff after she returned to work. IDOC officials have not yet seen the lawsuit.