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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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LINCOLN, Neb. (CN) - A deputy claims in court that his journal describing six years of corruption in the Sheriff's Office was taken from his home, and that the sheriff then tossed it onto a table in front of him and fired him.

Shane Monthey sued Kearney County, its Sheriff's Department and Sheriff Scott White, in Lancaster County Court.

Monthey says he worked for the Kearney County Sheriff's Department from April 2000 until he was fired in August 2011.

"From approximately 2005 through June, 2011, plaintiff maintained a written journal regarding alleged corruption, theft and/or other illegal and/or inappropriate activities (and/or knowledge of said alleged activities) by current or former employees and/or elected officials of the defendant County of Kearney, Nebraska Sheriff's Department," the complaint states. "The plaintiff's journal was removed without his permission from his home in approximately June 2011.

"On August 16, 2011, plaintiff met with defendant White. Deputy Sheriff Ryan Gibbins was present at said meeting. During the course of the meeting, defendant White threw a folder on a table that contained plaintiff's personal journal. Said journal contained information regarding alleged corruption, theft and/or other illegal and/or inappropriate activities (and/or knowledge of said alleged activities) by current or former employees and/or elected officials of the defendant County of Kearney, Nebraska Sheriff's department. After throwing the plaintiff's journal on the table, defendant White terminated the plaintiff's employment with the County of Kearney, Nebraska."

Monthey claims his journal was constitutionally protected expression.

He seeks reinstatement, lost wages and punitive damages for retaliation and due process violations.

He is represented by Kathleen Neary with Vincent M. Powers and Associates in Lincoln.

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