March 25, 2000
Neff fires third of three on leave
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
The third of three Seneca County Sheriff's employees who were on administrative leave during the sheriff's intimidation and theft in office trial was dismissed Friday.
Nancy Porter was notified Friday afternoon that her employment had been terminated by Sheriff H. Weldin Neff.
Neff said the decision was based on a pre-disciplinary hearing report from a hearing conducted March 20 by Lt. Tom Reinhart. Porter had faced discipline for allegedly taking part in a document shredding incident in 1991. It also contained allegations that she, as jail clerk, had not properly processed, filed documents as required, including bank records that were not reconciled and expungement documents that had not been filed as required.
"Attorney (Kinsley) Nyce and Nancy Porter were asked for their statement in response to the allegations charged and Attorney Nyce stated Not Guilty on all charges," Reinhart said. Both declined to make a statement again, the report stated.
"It is my finding therefore that the facts support the allegations presented," Reinhart said.
"If the accused does not respond in an administrative disciplinary hearing, the hearing officer must report the accusations were founded." Neff said,
"With that statement, I am left little choice."
The decision was not determined before the hearing took place or the results were issued, he said. Neff said he consulted with the county's labor consultant, Gortz and Associates, and the county commissioners before making his decision.
As an administrative matter, Neff is going to turn the matter over to the county prosecutor for review.
"This is just nasty, vindictive," Nyce said.
Last week, Neff fired Democratic sheriff candidate Dennis Brady and former Sheriff's Office Major Tim Thwaits. They, along with Porter, had been on administrative leave pending the results of the criminal trial against Neff, Barb Gracemyer and Lt. James Browning. Neff, Gracemyer and Browning were all acquitted earlier this month.
Porter does have appeal options, and Nyce said the commissioners were seriously considering a proposal to hire Brady and Thwaits to work for the courts.
He compared Brady and Thwaits to soldiers who are used to being in battles, but said Porter was different.
"To hurt her, that's just a bully," Nyce said.