FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) – Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton resigned his position on Tuesday evening following accusations from a former city employee of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed in Floyd Circuit Court.
During a meeting of the Prestonsburg City Council, Councilman Shag Branham read a prepared statement from Stapleton saying he was resigning his position after suffering a "life-altering" injury he had sustained last week while working on the roof of his home.
Stapleton, who was not present at the meeting, addressed the sexual lawsuit in his statement saying the suit had, "absolutely zero-bearing" on his decision to resign.
Councilman Rick Hughes was chosen to finish out Stapleton's term until November, when the position of Mayor will be added to the ballot along with other city council members.
A former female employee of the Mountain Arts Center is accusing Stapleton of sexual harassment in the lawsuit.
A copy of the lawsuit obtained by WMDJ indicates says Stapleton, "sexually harassed her both verbally and physically by engaging in severe, pervasive, inappropriate, and unwelcomed sexual conduct.”
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Mark Wohlander, claims the incidents took place during work hours at City Hall and the MAC. The woman also claims, “her job security and job benefits were conditioned on her submission to his sexual advances and request for sexual favors.”
