Lawsuit Considered Against Oklahoman Following Arrest of Reporter

A civil lawsuit is being considered against The Oklahoman as the FBI conducts a criminal investigation against a former reporter for the newspaper.

Agents say Nathaniel Zeke Campfield took inappropriate pictures of girls during the 2013 Moore High School graduation ceremony while on assignment for The Oklahoman.

On Friday, the family of one of Campfield's alleged victims told News 9 it is considering suing the state's largest newspaper after the FBI says The Oklahoman had previous knowledge of Campfield's "improper behavior" but did nothing about it.

Federal agents also say Campfield had sex with a 16-year-old prostitute. On May 25, Campfield was accused of snapping pictures up young girls' dresses at the graduation ceremony held at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City. Now, one of his older alleged victims, 20-year-old Maegan Hughes, is no longer staying silent.

"I was embarrassed," Maegan Hughes told News 9. "Completely embarrassed."

5/30/2013 Related Story: Reporter For The Oklahoman Accused Of Taking 'Upkirt' Photos

Standing next to her mom for emotional support, Maegan recalled her run-ins with Campfield at the convention center.

"Every time I turned around, this guy was there," Maegan said. "He was bumping into me, several times."

The Oklahoman did not answer News 9's request for comment Friday. The newspaper reports Campfield was fired about a week after being arrested at the convention center by Oklahoma City police. The newspaper's editor was quoted by her employer saying Campfield was not assigned to cover the graduation, but the FBI and Campfield's accusers disagree.

"The Oklahoman knew that he had a past like this, and they sent him on an assignment like this," Maegan's mom, Chrissy Hughes said. "It's like letting him loose."

The FBI says Campfield was being investigated for violating federal sex trafficking laws with a 16-year-old girl prior to the graduation ceremony incident.

"It disgusts me," Maegan said.

The former reporter is also accused of taking pictures up girls' skirts at the Oklahoma State Fair in 2012, according to a search warrant filed in federal court Thursday. Court records also show Campfield was arrested in 2003 in Montana for burglary of female undergarments, but that case was later dismissed.

Agents have searched Campfield's Oklahoma City home for evidence. The Oklahoma County jail tells News 9 Campfield was released from jail on May 26. Charges have not yet been filed.