Vanderburgh Co. Prosecutor accused of sexual harassment by former employee

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - A former employee is claiming sexual harassment and retaliation by Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann.

Samantha Merideth released a statement through her attorney. She is represented by the law firm Danks and Danks.

Read her full statement here.

Read Hermann’s full response here.

14 News does not usually release the name of alleged victims of sexual nature, but the victim has come forward with a public statement.

No criminal charges have been filed against Hermann.

Scott Danks confirms Merideth’s statement was filed as a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Merideth’s statement says she worked for the Prosecutor’s Office from 2011 until January 2019.

According to Merideth, during a business to Chicago in 2013, Hermann made inappropriate comments during dinner, and asked her back to his hotel room for a drink. Merideth says she didn’t want to disappoint her boss, so she agreed.

At one point, Merideth claims, Hermann put her in handcuffs, and put a gun on the desk. Merideth says Hermann blocked her when she tried to leave, then picked her up, threw him over his shoulder, and carried her back to a chair.

She says she was eventually allowed to leave.

After the trip, rumors were spread, which lead to a hostile work environment, harassment, and bullying, Merideth states.

Merideth says she didn’t come forward out of fear of losing her job. She says she was forced to resign as soon as Hermann started his new term in 2019.

Hermann says he disagrees with Merideth’s assessment of events that happened in Chicago, and he denies making advancements towards her.

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