Chicago, IL - James Mayes, Former Captain of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Charged with Sexual Misconduct

Former IDNR Captain Accused of Sexual Harassment

According to KHQA Channel 7, a former captain has been charged with sexual harassment while employed at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources located at 1 Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702. 

Police have arrested 46-year-old James Mayes for sexually harassing a female coworker while a captain with the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement. The victim alleges that Mayes exposed his genitals while they were in the office. Mayes has also been accused of texting her pictures of his penis and asking her to perform sexual acts on him. 

Mayes has been charged with three counts of Class 3 felonies and could face two to five years in prison. 

Legal Options for Victims Sexually Harassed by Coworker

Attorney contributor Brian Kent represents victims of sexual harassment in civil lawsuits. During an interview, Brian shared some of his knowledge regarding the legal options available to victims sexually harassed by a coworker. 

“Corporations are legally obligated to ensure the safety of all of their employees within the office space. These businesses can offer a level of protection for their employees by implementing proper security and safety measures. Adequate security can include conducting background checks on employees, installing video surveillance, and utilizing an easy misconduct reporting system. If a sexual assault occurs at work, including sexual harassment, the victim has the legal right to inquire if sufficient security measures were provided. If there was not an adequate level of security or protection in place when the misconduct occurred, the victim could have grounds to pursue a lawsuit against the company for negligence.”

“The company must be deemed negligent in addition to the crime being foreseeable. An example may include ignoring reports of previous misconduct, allowing the employee to stay employed. In such cases, the company could be held responsible for the conduct as the crime was foreseeable, and the company was negligent. Victims are encouraged to consult a sexual assault attorney to explore their legal option fully.”

Sources:

KHQA Channel 7