Jackson County faces a $600,000 lawsuit filed by a former sheriff’s deputy who claims he was wrongfully terminated in the wake of an unfounded criminal allegation.

Robert Tancredi alleges the sheriff’s department in 2003 initiated personnel and criminal investigations against him in retaliation for taking a leave of absence at the time of the birth of his child. Tancredi, who worked in the Jackson County Jail, was labeled as a "troublemaker," according to his complaint filed last month in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Tancredi’s suit alleges that when he returned to work, his performance evaluations worsened without any change in his work habits or performance. In August 2003, the department opened a criminal investigation against Tancredi, based on a female inmate’s allegation of inappropriate sexual contact with him, said Tancredi’s attorney, Jeffrey Boiler. The woman was a felon with a history of drug use, Boiler said.

"Her innate unreliability was ignored," Boiler said.

The inmate’s story was unsubstantiated by video surveillance, other inmates’ testimony and physical evidence, according to Tancredi’s suit. A grand jury convened by Oregon Department of Justice officials refused to return charges against Tancredi, and an administrative law judge awarded him unemployment benefits, Boiler said. However, Tancredi was fired in December 2003.

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The Grants Pass resident claims sheriff’s department officials violated his constitutional rights by searching his home and interrogating his wife on "highly personal and offensive" matters unrelated to the allegation against him. Since his termination, Tancredi has been unable to obtain work in law enforcement.

Tancredi is seeking $100,000 in lost wages from the county as well as a judgment to reinstate his employment with back pay and benefits. For suffering public humiliation, worry, fear and anxiety, Tancredi also is asking $500,000 in non-economic damages.

Sheriff Mike Winters on Thursday refused comment, adding he had not been served with the lawsuit. County Counsel Mike Jewett was unavailable for comment.