Ex-Sheriff Villanueva sues Los Angeles County over placement on 'Do Not Rehire' list

Alex Villanueva, a former Los Angeles County sheriff, sued the county Thursday, claiming he was placed on a “do not rehire” list and investigated for harassment without having the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

The lawsuit filed in federal court lists charges of defamation, civil rights violations and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging the county investigated complaints against Villanueva without informing him and without allowing due process. An oversight committee has launched an investigation into complaints of harassment and retaliation related to comments the ex-sheriff made about Inspector General Max Huntsman as well as allegations that he targeted and harassed women of color.

Besides the county, the lawsuit also names the county Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff's Department and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) as defendants, among others.

Los Angeles County responded to CBS Los Angeles with the following statement from the County Council: “Los Angeles County denies the allegations made by the former sheriff.”

The Board of Supervisors, the OIG and the Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The result of the investigation, Villanueva claims, was his placement on a “do not rehire” list barring him from further employment in the county. He claimed the county's actions were politically motivated.

Carney Shegerian, Villanueva's attorney, said the lawsuit seeks to have the “no rehire” notation removed from the former sheriff's record and seeks $25 million in compensation for alleged damage to his reputation.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the oversight committee recommended that Villanueva be deemed ineligible for rehire after finding that the former sheriff discriminated against Inspector General Huntsman. Citing an initial complaint filed in March 2022, the Times reported that Huntsman accused Villanueva of using the inspector general's birth name, Max-Gustaf, as an act of “dog whistling at the extremists he addresses “.

A few weeks later, Villanueva publicly accused Huntsman of being a Holocaust denier – allegedly without any evidence.

Villanueva was also accused of targeting and harassing women of color in a complaint filed by a law enforcement aide to County Supervisor Hilda Solis. After reviewing both cases, the county's Equity Oversight Committee recommended that Villanueva be deemed ineligible for rehire.

By then, the ex-sheriff had already lost his re-election bid. Additionally, Villanueva lost the March 5 primary election to incumbent Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn.