County Jail Employee Arrested For Sexual Misconduct: Sheriff

CORNELIUS, OR — A corporal for the Washington County Sheriff's Office was arrested Thursday for alleged sexual misconduct against a male co-worker with whom he works in the county jail, according to sheriff's officials.

Kevin James Kearns, 45, was taken to the Washington County Jail for third degree sex abuse and harassment on Dec. 14. He was released later the same day.

Kearns is accused of making sexual comments and later uninvitingly touching his county jail co-worker on more than one occasion, officials said. He was reportedly placed on administrative leave Dec. 6, when detectives first began investigating the accusations against him.

Kearns' unwanted advances occurred while both he and the victim were on-duty at the jail, officials said in a statement. The sheriff's office will continue its internal investigation.

"The Washington County Sheriff's Office takes allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace very seriously," a sheriff's spokesman wrote in a statement. "Such conduct is not tolerated in any form. Employees are mandated to report sexual harassment to supervisors and every report is thoroughly investigated."

Image via Washington County Sheriff's Office