Former Game & Fish Chairman Husted Accused of Sexual Harassment

[bowsniper]

I did a search, but I did not find this topic. Hard to believe that it hasn't been posted yet.

 

Former Game & Fish Chairman Husted Accused of Sexual Harassment

 

I especially like the part about the prairie dog case was eventually dismissed by prosecutors. Big Surprize!!! In May, 2010, Husted voted to suspend a hunter's license for 5 years for shooting a prairie dog out of season. Then in August, 2012 he shoots prairie dog out of season, and whines about being issued a citation. Now, he can't keep himself from touching the female G&F employees. (At least it wasn't the male G&F employees.) What a Loser, just like the rest of the commission.

 

http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/former-game-fish-chairman-accused-of-sexual-harassment/article_740f2c48-dfa5-5384-a586-2f2b1a5f436b.html

 

April 19, 2013 12:00 am • Associated Press

PHOENIX - Jack Husted, who recently resigned as chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, was the subject of multiple allegations of sexual harassment by state employees.

The Arizona Republic reported that records indicate that Game and Fish Department workers told a human-resources supervisor that Husted gave them surprise hugs and made inappropriate suggestions.

Husted unexpectedly resigned as commission chairman last week, saying in his April 11 resignation letter to Gov. Jan Brewer that he had decided to "embark on a new chapter" in his life.

Husted didn't return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

However, the Republic reported Husted said in a statement that he apologized for any misunderstanding resulting from what he called his "personal style of communication."

"I am just a man from rural Arizona where a handshake and a hug and the trading of a joke are part of normal human contact," Husted said in the statement.

Husted's resignation letter didn't mention the allegations, but department officials said he was told of them days before and was cautioned at that point by agency Director Larry Voyles against untoward conduct with female employees.

Gary Hovatter, special assistant to Voyles, said no formal harassment complaints were lodged against Husted.

The human-resources supervisors looked into the matter because rumors were circulating, but Hovatter said no further investigation is planned because Husted is no longer a commissioner.

The five-member Game and Fish Commission establishes policies for guiding the management and preservation of wildlife. That includes the state's hunting and fishing rules and regulations for watercraft and off-highway vehicles.

Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson said the governor did not ask Husted to leave but accepted his resignation and is comfortable with the inquiry and outcome.

"This was handled with great speed and handled appropriately by Game and Fish," Benson said.

Brewer appointed Husted in April 2009 to a term that was to expire in January 2014.

Husted gained notoriety last year after he took a friend's 13-year-old son out shooting in Springerville and let him kill a prairie dog.

He self-reported the out-of-season kill but pleaded not guilty and complained about getting a misdemeanor citation. The case was eventually dismissed by prosecutors.

A biography recently removed from the Game and Fish website said Husted is married and serves as a deacon of his church in Springerville.

It also described him as a former Eager Town Council member and as a former Pima County sheriff's deputy.

 

Here are a couple of threads about his prairie dog poaching.

 

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/34635-commissioner-husted-suspends-hunters-license-for/?hl=husted

 

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/34529-commissioner-pleads-not-guilty/?hl=husted

[AZLance]

This was all over the news down here in Tucson a few days ago... Another black eye for G&F, and hunters.

 

It's that, were above you attitude that makes this even more insulting to hunters.

[sjvcon]

I don't know what gets into these bozos ... they think they are above the law.

[SirRoyal]

Let's not forget a person is innocent until proven guilty .I dont care who he is or how much you dislike him!

[huntjunkie]

Let's not forget a person is innocent until proven guilty .I dont care who he is or how much you dislike him!

+1

I hate "media trials". Let the facts come out.

[AZLance]

Facts? Like the fact that CWD is not a problem here in AZ, even though G&F passed it off as a fact to ban baiting?

[huntjunkie]

Trust me I'm NOT a fan of AZGF! Look, let the investigation run its course. Just because you don't like him doesn't mean he's guilty. Hey we all know the CWD claim was a joke. If he's guilty then throw stones.

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

Investigation is over... that is why the press has it now... He is accussed of Nothing because he walked away.... that is how the big boys do it! He will pop up later somewhere else... And he is certainly not guilty until proven so... however it does smell bad.

[bonecollector777]

Always gotta be watchin' out for the AZGFD. Never know what the dirty little snakes are gonna do. . Great to see he went down for what he did! Now if they could just get rid of the rest of them.