Written by Former Undersheriff Fernando Mendoza was accused of sexually harassing three female dispatchers between 2016 and 2017. The women reported that Mendoza made inappropriate comments about their bodies, sent suggestive text messages, and touched them inappropriately. In November 2017, Mendoza was fired following these allegations. Subsequent investigations revealed that Mendoza had also attempted to commit aggravated incest and invasion of privacy for sexual gratification involving his stepdaughter. In December 2018, he was convicted on these charges and sentenced to 15 months in jail in April 2019. Additionally, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office agreed to pay $875,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the three dispatchers who alleged sexual harassment and retaliation. The settlement did not include an admission of guilt or liability from the county commissioners, the sheriff’s office, or Mendoza. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/lake-county-undersheriff-mendoza-settlement/?utm_source=openai), [9news.com](https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/lake-county-sheriffs-office-reaches-875k-settlement-with-dispatchers-who-say-they-were-sexually-harassed-at-work/73-e86e1703-be67-4dad-a7cc-7ab698035b6d?utm_source=openai), [cpr.org](https://www.cpr.org/2020/01/22/lake-county-dispatchers-settle-undersheriff-sexual-harassment-suit-for-875k/?utm_source=openai))
## Officer Forum Links:
– [Fernando Mendoza](https://watchaudits.com/forums/topic/fernando-mendoza/)