Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Interim Medical Examiner Also Reported in Oklahoma

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Sexual harassment allegations were made against the interim chief medical examiner during his tenure in Oklahoma, NEWS 9 has learned.

Earlier this week, NEWS 9 reported that newly appointed interim Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Sibley was once named in a sexual harassment lawsuit in Tucson, Arizona.

Now, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation report obtained by NEWS 9 showed that an employee at the Tulsa Medical Examiner's office had reported being harassed by Sibley.

Among the allegations by the female employee, Sibley routinely had "pornography up on the morgue computer."

The woman also reported being harassed by former Chief Investigator Kevin Rowland.

Rowland is charged with raping the woman. A trial is set for November in Tulsa County District Court.

Dr. Sibley was appointed interim medical examiner this weekend.

Attorney Scott Adams said he was frustrated by the hiring of Sibley as chief of the M.E.'s office. Adams also said Sibley's behavior was part of grand jury testimony into the agency.

"I can't release all of it. I can just tell you it's much worse allegations came out against Dr. Sibley than what's named in that report," Adams said. "We feel like if we had known we would have investigated."

Adams is the attorney representing Dr. Collie Trant, who was fired from the job and who is now suing the state for damages.

"He had no allegations of anything like this. The problem I'm having is the reputation we're getting here in Oklahoma for our state agencies," Adams said.

M.E.'s office Spokesperson Cherokee Ballard said the Oklahoma allegations weren't known when Sibley was hired as interim chief. By law, all grand jury testimony and reports must remain confidential, but board members did know about Sibley's history in Arizona. He moved to Oklahoma ten years ago after being named in the sexual harassment lawsuit there.

"Certainly would never put anyone in a position to cause any further turmoil or damage to the agency so it was their decision we're sticking by it," Ballard said.

But Adams said he isn't buying it. He said he thinks someone should have known.

"The Attorney General is the advisor to the Oklahoma Medical Board. They have an Attorney General in that board meeting at all times. So they're aware of all this and were aware of all this when they appointed Dr. Sibley," Adams said.

Adams said he requested Wednesday afternoon that the grand jury testimony be unsealed.

Sibley was not available to comment on the allegations.

The troubled M.E.'s office has been without leadership since chief medical examiner Dr. Collie M. Trant was fired earlier this year and the deputy chief medical examiner, Eric Duval, resigned.

Last month, Chief Administrative Officer Tom Jordan resigned after six months on the job.

New Interim Chief Medical Examiner Formerly Accused of Sexual Harassment